The Connect Current

In this episode of The Connect Current, host James Zanewicz sits down with Abubakar "Abu" Jalloh, Site Director of BioLabs San Diego, to explore the infrastructure, community, and support systems that help life science startups move faster. Abu shares how BioLabs San Diego helps early-stage biotech companies access lab space, equipment, operational resources, and strategic connections without the...

In this episode of The Connect Current, host James Zanewicz sits down with Gian Luca Araldi, PhD, PharmD, MBA, PMP and Founder/CEO of Avanti Biosciences, to explore the challenge of developing new therapies for fibrotic diseases and what it takes to advance promising science toward the clinic. Gian Luca shares how Avanti Biosciences is developing novel small-molecule therapies for conditions like...

In this episode of The Connect Current, host James Zanewicz sits down with Trevor Laudate, Co-Founder of Ecodrive, to explore how businesses can turn everyday customer actions into measurable environmental impact. Trevor shares how Ecodrive helps companies connect purchases, bookings, signups, and other customer interactions to verified sustainability initiatives, making it easier to create meanin...

In this episode of The Connect Current, host James Zanewicz sits down with Ivana Mikić, PhD, CEO of Sarpeda Inc., to explore how AI is helping researchers unlock more value from the biological imaging tools they already use. Ivana shares how Sarpeda is using AI-powered software to improve fluorescence microscopy, reduce imaging challenges, and extract more biological information from existing rese...

In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Aadeel Akhtar, Founder and CEO of Psyonic, to explore how advanced robotics and human-centered technology are reshaping the future of prosthetics and mobility. The conversation dives into Aadeel’s journey from research and engineering into company building, the mission behind Psyonic’s work, and how innovation can create more accessible, res...

In this special episode of The Connect Current, Tre Braquet flips the script and interviews Connect CEO James Zanewicz about the vision behind Connect 3.0 and the future of San Diego’s innovation ecosystem. The conversation explores how Connect is evolving beyond events to become a front door, connective platform, and amplification engine for founders, investors, universities, companies, and civic...

In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Mike Krenn, Managing Director of Prebys Ventures, to explore what investors are really looking for in founders and early-stage companies. The conversation dives into how Prebys Ventures is approaching investment in San Diego’s innovation economy, what makes a company truly investable, and where founders most often struggle when raising capit...

In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Hala Madanat, Vice President for Research and Innovation at San Diego State University, to explore how universities can play a larger role in helping founders build and scale companies. The conversation dives into SDSU’s growing strengths across AI, National Security, technology, workforce development, and applied research, along with how st...

In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Will Bright, Founder and CEO of Saferide.ai, to explore how personal experience can shape meaningful innovation. Will shares the journey that led to building a company focused on safety and mobility, and how lived insight can translate into real world solutions. The conversation highlights what it takes to turn an idea into action, the chall...

In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Holly Smithson, CEO of Athena, to explore how leaders are navigating one of the largest workforce transformations in decades. As AI rapidly reshapes how work gets done, Holly shares what it takes to upskill teams, stay competitive, and lead responsibly through change. The conversation dives into where organizations are falling behind, what e...

In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Dr. Garrett Smith and Dr. Nick Mourlas of Reef Haven Ventures to unpack what it really takes to move from strong science to a scalable, investable company. The conversation is built for founders, offering a clear look into how early-stage investors evaluate opportunities, what separates compelling research from a real business, and how teams...

In this episode of The Connect Current, we sit down with Rachel Costello to explore the intersection of innovation, execution, and real-world impact. Rachel shares her journey into company building, the insights that shaped her perspective, and what it takes to move from idea to meaningful traction. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities founders face today, along with a cand...

In this episode of The Connect Current, host James Zanewicz sits down with Rupak Doshi, Co-founder and CEO of OmniSync, to explore how better systems can accelerate innovation. Rupak shares how OmniSync is helping founders and organizations navigate funding, market intelligence, and commercialization through AI-powered tools, and why the path from idea to traction is still more fragmented than it...

In this episode of The Connect Current, host James Zanewicz sits down with Debbie Chen, Founder and CEO of Hydrostasis, to explore how nontraditional journeys are shaping the next generation of innovation. Debbie shares how Hydrostasis is advancing hydration science through wearable technology, and why better understanding hydration as a vital sign could unlock new opportunities in health and perf...

In this episode of The Connect Current, host James Zanewicz sits down with Adam Jacobs, President of xZom, to explore how early disease detection and accessible diagnostics are shaping the future of health innovation. Adam shares how xZom is building point-of-care solutions designed to make diagnostics faster and more accessible, and what it takes to stand out in a complex, competitive space. Draw...

In this episode of The Connect Current, host James Zanewicz sits down with Denise Bevers, Co-founder, President and CEO of VETmAb BIO, to explore what it really takes to build an animal health biotech company in one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems. Denise brings decades of experience in drug development and company building, and she shares why animal health remains an underexplored bu...

This trailer introduces The Connect Current, a podcast exploring the people, ideas, and momentum shaping San Diego’s innovation ecosystem. Hosted by James Zanewicz and produced by Connect, the series features conversations with founders, investors, and leaders across life science, technology, AI, climate, defense, and more. New episodes launch April 15th and release weekly on Tuesdays.