Innovation Origin Stories: Recent Episodes
Neil Israel
Have you ever asked yourself what the backstory is behind your favorite invention? Have you ever wondered what events brought about big achievements in biotech, education, or mass media? In this podcast, we will focus on interviewing people that can help answer those questions. Leaders behind specific innovations, or environments of innovation where great ideas come to life.
In this week's Innovation Origin Story podcast , we sat down with Benny Pekala, the CEO of Birdwell Solutions.
Birdwell Solutions helps their clients navigate through the complex would of Web3, including NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and Cryptocurrency.
The team has ambitious goals, as they seek to be an international, multimillion dollar juggernaut within 10 years.
Be sure to listen to learn more about how cryptocurrency and NFTs work, and some of the challenges facing these technologies.
We hope you enjoy the show!
This week, we got to speak with Jeff Citty, Ed.D., Director of the University of Florida’s Innovation Academy.
You will want to listen in to learn about this program that develops intelligent hard-working talent and offers a Minor in Innovation.
The Innovation Academy is a 10 year-old program that allows students to get a minor in Innovation. There are roughly 1,000 students, who come from Majors as diverse as Accounting, English, Chemistry, and History.
In the interview, Dr. Citty talks about what makes someone an ideal candidate for the program, how AI is infused into the program, and the great opportunities for internships and jobs received by graduates.
This week's Innovation Origin Story guest is Ron Stein, the Co-Founder of Innovate to Win where he works with tech founders, executives, and their teams to grow sales from go-to-market strategies and lead generation to closing huge deals.
You will want to listen to this episode to learn about key challenges for new businesses as well as the primary differences between leading a team and mentoring a mentee. Enjoy our interview with Ron Stein!
This week we had the opportunity to sit down with Susan D’Costa, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Technology at Alcyone. Dr. D’Costa is a molecular virologist with over 25 years of experience in virology and viral vector analytics, process development, and manufacturing.
Dr. D’Costa is very passionate about infusing quality into manufacturing, design, and delivery at Alcyone.
In addition to her current role at Alcyone, Dr. D'Costa's has held leadership roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Viral Vector Services, and its predecessor companies – Brammer Bio.
Please enjoy this episode of Innovation Origin Stories
This week we sat down with Parth Shah, from the innovative company, Abilitare.
Abilitare creates technology that allows individuals who have lost mobility to use their computers and cell phones.
Parth and his co-founder, Mohit Patil are hoping to make a big splash with their upcoming pilot to launch their voice and eye-controlled devices. For details on the pilot, visit abilitare.com/speech.
Be sure to listen in to the shout-out that Parth gives to startGNV, and learn the origin story of Florida P&L's incubator, 35 Mules.
This week I sat down with Kyla Frye, the Director of Sceince and Technology Ecosystem for Concept Companies.
Kyla leads the new, innovative commercial real estate project in Alachua's Progress Park, Momentum Labs. Momentum Labs is an office and shared laboratory space for startup biotechs
.
Kyla talks about the great opportunity that Momentum Labs will provide to future residents, and how space fits very comfortably in the Alachua Tech Ecosystem.
For more information about Momentum Labs, check out www.conceptcompanies.net.
This week I sat down with Adrian Miller, a long-time New York-based Sales Coach, Business Development Consultant and Networking superstar.
Adrian runs the hybrid in-person AND virtual "Adrian's Network." Typically, Adrian leads between 5 and 10 networking events a month.
From her unique perch as the master of ceremonies, Adrian inspires people to be diligent and think-outside of their boxes.
In this way, Adrian drives innovation with all of her engagements.
For more information, check out Adrian’s Network at https://adriansnetwork.com/. We hope you enjoy the show!
On this week's Innovation Origin Story, we sat down with Eufinity CEO, and 4th-year pre-med student, Aashi Faldu.
Listen to our show to find out how her app, helps college students handle mental health concerns with text-based support from peers or coaches.
In our interview, Aashi explained that Eufinity provides students with an outlet for addressing mental health concerns that is "affordable, anonymous, and accessible."
Eufinity is currently alpha testing its application with 50 interns located throughout the U.S.
Look out for big things to come!
Our podcast this week features our interview with Dr. Sara Kuppin-Chokshi, a longtime friend and director of research for HITLABs.
HITLab, or Health and Information Technology Lab, offers digital health research, teaching, and advisory services to improve health delivery around the world.
If you are part of a Health Biotech Startup, you’ll want to listen to this episode to learn about how Sara helps startups navigate big research decisions!
**In our interview, Dr. Kuppin-Chokshi talked about the exciting experience she has had working with companies participating in HITLAB's Women's Health Tech Challenge.
HITLAB leads the Women's Health Tech Challenge, to reward companies for developing technological solutions that address, the "unmet health needs of women globally and increasing gender equity in technology and venture" (https://www.hitlab.org/wht/)**
Our podcast this week features our interview with Alachua, Florida City Manager, Mike DaRoza.
This is the final in the three-part series on leadership in Alachua County (with Mayor Coerper and Merrie Shaw in weeks #1 and #2 respectively).
We discussed several advantages Alahcha has, as a nimble, business-friendly environment with lots of green space (e.g., Progress Park and Convergence Research Park). Mr. DaRoza also emphasized Alachua's focus on the Alachua's focus on aligning resources to address workforce shortage issues.
Thanks again to Mike, and to the team at UF Sid Martin for making the introduction.
Join us as we sit down with the former Assistant Director of Sid Martin Biotech Center in Alachua, Florida, Merrie Shaw. We discuss the front-seat Merrie had to the wonderful work happening at Sid Martin. She speaks of the substantive value being added by companies graduating from Sid Martin and the friendships she has gained. Thanks again to Merrie, and to the team at UF Sid Martin for making the introduction.
Join us as we sit down with the Mayor of Alachua, Florida, Gib Coerper. We discuss the tremendous partnership that exists between local businesses, civic leaders, and the University of Florida. From Progress Park to San Felasco Tech City, Alachua is a world-class culture of innovation. Mayor Coerper also talks about the critical role that Sid Martin Biotech Center plays in launching and growing cutting-edge businesses of all sizes. Out of Town business owners: If you are looking for a thriving, supportive community to grow your business, and raise your family, be sure to ask Mayor Coerper for a tour!
Have you ever looked at a great invention and thought, how did that idea get started? What key decisions made it happen?
Hi, I am Neil Israel and I am here with Suzie Israel to introduce you to the Innovation Origin Story PODCAST, where we ask questions of innovative Educators, Politicians, Marketers, and Executives to answer questions like "What led up to that innovation." or "How did your innovation-supporting environment start?" Each episode will be bite-size, so you can finish the whole thing in 22 minutes or less.
We will post new podcasts every Thursday on all of the popular podcast sites like Apple, Spotify, and Google podcasts beginning June 23.