The Tech Trek

Guest: Viraj Narayanan, CEO of Cornerstone AI 🔑 Key Takeaways Healthcare data is messy by default. It's generated by countless sources with different standards—think EMRs, Apple Watches, and pharmacy systems—making research data fragmented and hard to use. AI can clean up the mess. Cornerstone AI applies automation to standardize and improve the fidelity of clinical research data, significant...

On this episode of The Tech Trek , we're diving deep into the intersection of engineering, product, and business thinking with Vineet Goel — Co-Founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer at Parafin , a fast-growing fintech startup powering small businesses on platforms like DoorDash, Amazon, and Walmart. We unpack what it really means to build a company where engineers are product thin...

In this episode, Amir sits down with Meg Henry, Head of People & Talent at Companyon Ventures, to unpack a critical—yet often overlooked—aspect of growing technical teams: onboarding. Engineering leaders spend weeks hiring top talent, only to fumble the first 90 days. Meg shares a tactical, startup-friendly approach to onboarding that actually helps new hires ramp faster, become productive soo...

In this episode, Carlos Peralta returns to The Tech Trek to dive deep into data culture in the wearable tech space, sharing how WHOOP turns petabytes of real-time biometric data into personalized, actionable insights. We explore the technical complexities behind data ingestion, transformation, and delivery, and how the mission-driven nature of WHOOP influences both their engineering decisions and...

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand sits down with Max Mergenthaler-Canseco, CEO and co-founder of Nixla, to explore the nuanced reality behind startup success. A multi-time founder with experience as both CEO and CTO, Max shares hard-earned lessons from his entrepreneurial journey—including why theoretical knowledge often clashes with real-world execution, how to build a resilient star...

In this episode, I sit down with Jason Rogers, CEO & Co-Founder of Invary, to explore an unconventional approach to building a cybersecurity startup—leveraging a tech transfer agreement with the NSA. Jason shares his journey of launching a company around licensed technology, the benefits and challenges that come with it, and why runtime system integrity is becoming a crucial factor in modern s...

In this episode, Amir sits down with Kaustav Das to discuss one of the most critical yet challenging aspects of analytics—asking the right questions. They explore how analytics leaders can better navigate conversations with stakeholders, ensuring they gather the correct requirements and deliver actionable insights. The conversation touches on the evolving role of analytics, the impact of generativ...

What happens when you build a business around what you genuinely love? In this episode of The Tech Trek , Amir sits down with Michael Farb, CEO of Boatsetter — the Airbnb of boats — to unpack how passion can be a strategic advantage in tech entrepreneurship. Michael shares his journey of launching multiple businesses rooted in personal interests, from college sports to global philanthropy to now,...

In this episode, Zachary Hanif, VP of AI, ML, and Data at Twilio, joins Amir to talk about the engine behind B2B AI innovation. From selecting the right tools to navigating the shift from POCs to production, Zachary offers an insider's look at how enterprises can thoughtfully and effectively integrate AI. We unpack: The danger of "boiling the ocean" with AI Why chatbots aren’t always...

In this episode, Amir chats with Bobby Touran, the non-technical CEO and co-founder of Rainbow, an insurance tech company that thrives on strong engineering culture. They dive deep into how non-technical founders can effectively collaborate with technical teams, foster a hybrid office culture, and ensure that engineers are closely aligned with business objectives. Bobby shares how Rainbow maintain...

In this episode, Vijay Sankararaman breaks down how to intentionally build a low-churn, high-impact team culture . Whether you’re a tech leader, manager, or individual contributor aiming to level up your leadership skills, Vijay shares tangible lessons and frameworks to keep your team motivated, productive, and resilient—without sacrificing authenticity. 📚 Lessons & Leadership Takeaways Lesso...

In this episode, Amir sits down with Santhosh Kumar, Head of Data at Trepp, to unpack the evolving world of Data as a Product. Data is no longer just a support function—it’s becoming a core business driver. Santhosh shares how data teams are embracing a product-oriented approach, aligning closely with business goals while mirroring software engineering practices. If you’ve ever wondered: How data...

In this episode, Amir sits down with Trevor Lee, Co-founder and CEO of Myko AI, to unpack his unconventional leap from the finance world to building a cutting-edge tech company. Trevor shares how he navigated leaving a comfortable corporate job, using an MBA to break into tech, and the iterative process of finding product-market fit, including pivotal moments and lessons learned while bootstrappin...

In this episode, Amir is joined by Sachin Nene to explore what it really takes to thrive as a modern CTO. Sachin shares actionable strategies for balancing vision and execution, managing relationships with CEOs and fellow executives, and staying relatable and credible with engineering teams. They dive deep into the challenges of expectation management, engineering metrics, and how AI tools like LL...

In this episode of The Tech Trek , Amir Bormand sits down with Nirmal Ranganathan , CTO, Global Public Cloud at Rackspace, to dissect one of the hottest and most crucial topics in today’s tech landscape— trust in AI applications . They explore how enterprises can drive adoption of AI solutions, what key factors are needed to foster trust, and why guardrails, security, and change management play a...

In this episode, we dive into the real-world experimentation of Generative AI (Gen AI) with Naveed Asem. Naveed shares his hands-on experience in identifying, testing, and scaling AI-driven solutions. We discuss how organizations should approach experimentation, set success metrics, manage stakeholders, and navigate governance challenges. If your company is exploring Gen AI or struggling with movi...

In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Jeremy Goldsmith, VP of Engineering at Branch, to explore leading with purpose and how it impacts engineering teams. Jeremy shares his philosophy on leadership, the psychology behind motivation, and how connecting individual contributions to a larger purpose can unlock potential and drive performance. This conversation is a must-listen for engineering l...

In this episode, I sit down with Nate Sullivan, the CTO at Academia.edu, to discuss technology strategy and special projects. Nate shares insights on identifying and prioritizing emerging technologies, balancing innovation with business needs, and collaborating with product teams to drive impactful technical advancements. Key Takeaways The Role of a CTO in Special Projects Nate focuses on explorin...

Join Amir Bormand in a captivating discussion with Anand Madhavan, VP of Engineering at Everlaw, as they explore innovative development models, the art of integrating into new company cultures, and why Everlaw prioritizes quality code over strict deadlines. Anand reveals how Everlaw's unconventional engineering practices cultivate a sustainable, high-quality development environment focused on...

In this episode, Amir Bormand welcomes Scott Persinger, CEO of Supercog AI, to discuss the rise of agentic AI and its applications in modern businesses. They explore the evolving role of AI agents in knowledge management, team collaboration, and enterprise automation, particularly in environments like Slack. The conversation delves into how AI is reshaping work, privacy and ethical considerations,...

In this episode, Amir Bormand chats with Jake Moshenko about his journey from engineer to founder, the challenges of identifying the right startup ideas, and navigating both venture capital and bootstrapping. They also discuss decision-making, failure, and the growing role of AI in authorization systems. Key Takeaways Turning an Idea into a Startup: Jake emphasizes the importance of picking the ri...

In this episode, Srini Rajagopal joins us to discuss how Generative AI (Gen AI) is transforming the engineering landscape. We explore the challenges of integrating AI into legacy products vs. building AI-first solutions from the ground up, the impact on developer productivity, and how teams prioritize AI-driven innovation while bringing stakeholders along for the ride. 🔹 How should engineering te...

In this episode, Amir Bormand is joined by Jay Como to discuss how organizations can simplify data governance. Jay shares insights on shifting the perception of governance from a bureaucratic burden to a business enabler, how emerging technologies like Gen AI can assist in governance challenges, and strategies for making governance policies more effective and accessible. 🔑 Key Takeaways Data Gove...

In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Ganesh Datta, Co-founder & CTO of Cortex, to dive deep into engineering excellence—what it means, how to measure it, and how to build it into the culture of a technology organization. They explore product thinking, shared standards, accountability, and continuous improvement, as well as the challenges of maintaining excellence across different types...

Artificial intelligence is moving beyond proofs-of-concept and into real-world production—but how do you make it work in highly secure environments? In this episode, Ben Van Roo, CEO & Co-Founder of Yurts, joins Amir Bormand to discuss the challenges of implementing Gen AI in government, financial institutions, and enterprises with strict security requirements. Ben breaks down why 2024 is the...