The Digital Footprint: Recent Episodes
Tyrannosaurus Tech
The Digital Footprint is for leaders in healthcare, public health and education who are looking to use technology to solve problems. We interview entrepreneurs and innovators who are solving the most challenging problems facing these industries. In each episode, youβll learn about the colossal tasks involved with bringing a new digital product to life.
Are you feeling like your phone is taking over your family life? Don't worry, you're not alone.
In this episode of Digital Footprint, Richard Simms talks with Joey Odom, co-founder of Aro, about the unique challenges parent's face balancing home life with smartphones.
According to Joey, the way you use your phone today is the #1 predictor of how your child will use their phone someday. Fortunately, the solution isn't to eliminate technology, but to use it in a way that enhances rather than detracts from your life.
Key Takeaways To Listen For:
- How kids observe & mimic their parents' device usage
- Establishing rules and expectations for device use in your home
- Why finding alternative activities can help your family use devices more mindfully
- Joey's personal wake-up call about the impact of smartphones on his relationships
- Starting early with healthy device habits makes it easier for your families to maintain them
- How constant proximity to your devices can negatively affect interactions with loved ones
If you're ready to improve your family's relationship with technology:
- Visit goaro.com to learn more about Aro's solutions
- Tune into the Aro podcast
- Follow Joey on Instagram
Want to bring a SaaS product to market, quickly?Book a consultation: https://tyrannosaurustech.com/contact/
Connect with our cohosts Richard Simms & Carlos Gonzalez on Linkedin
In this episode of Digital Footprint, Richard Simms talks with industry experts Mickey Mellen & Chris LaFay to learn how business leaders can stay competitive as the digital marketing landscape keeps evolving.
With AI-powered tools changing how people search for and consume information, traditional marketing strategies, including SEO, are becoming less effective.
According to our guests, organizations who want to stay relevant, will need to rethink how they reach consumers and measure success, including, potentially embracing, dark social metrics.
Key takeaways to listen for:
- How to balance your marketing efforts between the fundamental and what's trending
- What marketing metrics matter now & how to redefine your KPIs
- Why focusing on relationships is still the #1 marketing strategy
- When to leverage pay-to-play on social media platforms
- Why you still need SEO
If your digital marketing strategy is struggling to see results:
Connect with Mickey Mellen, Technical Managing Partner at Green Mellen Media.
Need a marketing-optimized WordPress website?
Book a call with Chris Lafay, Founder at Classic City Consulting.
Want to bring a SaaS product to market, quickly?Book a consultation: https://tyrannosaurustech.com/contact/
Connect with our cohosts Richard Simms & Carlos Gonzalez on Linkedin
If you're worried about AI upending your industry, organization, or career β you are not alone.
Across the globe, business leaders, like you, are secretly stressing about how generative AI is going to impact their position in the market, their roles, and their teams.
But knowing how and where to introduce AI within your organization can be overwhelming, leaving many stuck in "AI analysis paralysis."
In this episode, Richard Simms chats with Sarah Woodward, founder of AI Growth Ops, an organization leading executives through AI transformation, about your biggest concerns, including:
- The #1 place to start utilizing generative AI (hint: It may not be content creation)
- Making better business decisions about generative AI tools
- Which jobs & roles are actually at risk of disruption
- Getting your teams excited about adopting AI
Does your organization need help getting started with generative AI?
- Connect with Sarah Woodward on Linkedin
- Book a discovery call with AI Growth Ops
Stay Connected:
- Need help launching or scaling a SaaS product? Let's talk
- Follow our hosts, Richard Simms & Carlos Gonzalez on LinkedIn
Connect with our cohosts Richard Simms & Carlos Gonzalez on Linkedin
Tech leaders: Want a competitive edge in 2024?
A strong brand could be your secret weapon.
In this episode, Richard Simms and Carlos Gonzalez chat with Craig Johnson & Blake Howard from Matchstic, a brand identity house. They'll reveal strategic ways to leverage your brand equity.
By treating branding as a differentiation strategy, you can:
- Build a moat around your organization
- Challenge established players
- Command premium pricing
- Attract & retain top talent
Howard & Johnson also discuss how service-based businesses can use AI, scale effectively, and future-proof their organization.
Tune in to learn how to measure your brand's ROI, AI trends, and prioritize efforts for the new year.
Ready to level up your brand strategy?
- Connect with Craig Johnson & Blake Howard via Matchstic.com
- Check out Blake Howard's podcast: A Change Of Brand
Stay Connected:
- Need help with your next tech project?Let's talk
- Follow Richard Simms & Carlos Gonzalez on LinkedIn
Connect with our cohosts Richard Simms & Carlos Gonzalez on Linkedin
In this episode of Digital Footprint, Richard Simms sits down with Brian Lyman, the Co-founder and COO of MOVES to explore the boom in veterinary specialty care.
By merging technology with a people-first approach to pet care, the MOVES platform is bringing on-demand board-certified specialists to animal hospitals nationwide.
As a result, pet owners across the country can access potentially life-saving, high-quality care when their four-legged family member may need it most.
Key takeaways to listen for:
- How making smart operational decisions during good times enables your startup to survive bad times.
- Combatting industry-wideΒ burnout and turnover by empowering veterinary specialists with greater autonomy and decision-making authority.
- Grassroots marketing is still a powerful tool to connect with prospective clients, including direct mail, email, phone banking, and personal introductions.
Connect with our cohosts Richard Simms & Carlos Gonzalez on Linkedin
In June 2016, when Tyrannosaurus Tech was born, we had one goal: build a profitable, purpose-driven company.
With only 9% of small businesses reaching $1 million or more in revenue, we knew the odds were against us. Through determination, we evolved into a seven-figure organization helping people bring their ideas to life..
Now, as we celebrate 7 years strong π we are sharing our heartfelt gratitude, and the most powerful lessons learned from scaling a service-based business to help you grow faster.Β
Lesson #1: Be Militant About Cash Flow
Lesson #2: Good Owners Operate, Great Owners Delegate
Lesson #3: Don't Hire Until It Hurts
Lesson #4: ALWAYS Choose Your Team Over Clients
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this special series.
Do you agree/disagree with any of the lessons or need help with your next tech project? We want to know!
Connect with our cohosts Richard Simms & Carlos Gonzalez on Linkedin
Grief is a universal. Everyone loses a friend or loved one at some point in life... likely multiple times. When someone passes, friends and family rally around the grievers, eager to support them in their time of need. While the initial rush of support typically passes quickly, the grief carries on. So, how can we better support grievers and honor the memories of those lost?
In this episode, we sit down with Scott Arogeti of Mi Alma. Scott and his team are on a mission to reimagine how we remember those who have passed. Their platform offers a new type of collective support for those experiencing a loss.
Mi Alma acts as a digital place to share memories, centralize support efforts, and improve ongoing communications. A Mi Alma page gives grievers a place to revisit fond memories of those they lost and supporters a clear way to help.
Tune in to hear more about the impact Scott hopes to make with Mi Alma, his perspective on the ever-shifting startup landscape, and more.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Scott Arogeti
π‘ What he does: Scott is the co-founder & CEO of Mi Alma.
π‘ Company: Mi Alma
π‘ Noteworthy: Along with his wife Jordan, Scott built Mi Alma, a digital platform that connects grievers and supporters during the tough times of losing a loved one. On this platform, they can not only share memories of the deceased but also build a community that enables supporters to provide adequate help to grievers during the time of loss and beyond.
π‘ Where to find Scott: LinkedIn
Did you know that homeschooling is the fastest growing education alternative in the U.S.? In fact, with school unsatisfied families on the rise, the number of homeschooled kids is going up by 10% each year.
As a parent with two kids being homeschooled, Chris Turner started Moonrise in 2018 with a vision for reinventing education. Through Moonrise, Chris sought to push back on the misconception that kids learn best by having a set curriculum simply dumped into their heads and instead reframe learning as an active process that requires human creativity.
Moonrise offers a beautiful space where kids can explore, take on real-world projects, be a part of a community, and learn from qualified and specialized learning guides. Initially created as a place for child enrichment and supplemental learning, Moonrise is now shifting to cater more specifically to the homeschooling market.
In this episode, Chris shares more about his journey as an entrepreneur, biggest lessons learned so far with Moonrise, and what he sees as the future of education.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Chris Turner
π‘ What he does: Chris is the Founder and CEO of Moonrise.
π‘ Company: Moonrise
π‘ Noteworthy: Chris Turner is a tech and education entrepreneur who founded Moonrise as a co-learning space for kids in Decatur, Georgia. The mission at Moonrise is to build a world for kids. They offer a space where students can build things, follow their interests, and learn together. Friendly on-site guides support kids and motivate them to push their limits. Before Moonrise, Chris was the founder of Tenrocket, a company that helped entrepreneurs launch new apps in 10 days for $10K.
π‘ Where to find Chris: LinkedIn l Website
Did you know that since 2005, 80% of all startups that reached "unicorn" status were started by more than one founder? Or that founding teams with more than one race, gender, or ethnicity on average give their investors a 30% better return? It's true, but 70% of founders surveyed say they struggle to find a co-founder.
Stats like these are what drove our guest, James Oliver, Jr., to start Kabila, an inclusive co-founder matching app. Kabila also provides minority founders with access to incredible resources including mental health therapy, discounted or free legal services, discounts on various SaaS platforms, and more. With Kabila, founders have an opportunity to build an inclusive team and thrive via Kabila's supportive ecosystem.
In this episode, James shares his vision for Kabila, talks about his recent experience of going through Techstars, and explains his "give first" mentality that drives him each day.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: James Oliver, Jr.
π‘ What he does: James is the CEO & co-founder of Kabila
π‘ Company: Kabila
π‘ Noteworthy: James is obsessed with inclusion and has a strong entrepreneurial spirit. James runs several different organizations, and his focus is on supporting entrepreneurs, especially founders of color and parent founders. First, he founded WeMontage, the world's only website that lets you turn digital images into removable photo wallpaper. Then, during COVID, James started the ParentPreneur Foundation, which empowers Black parents to leave a legacy for their children. And finally, he recently started Kabila, an inclusive co-founder matching app and global community for tech startup founders.
In addition, James is the author of The More You Hustle, The Luckier You Get: You CAN Be a Successful ParentPreneur and a single dad of twins.
π‘ Where to find James:Linkedin l Website
When we think of venture capital, let's be honest, we think about the #1 goal being to make money. That's all well and good, but why don't we just as readily think of venture capital amplifying positive impact? The unfortunate reality is that many people view these two things as at odds with each other. You can either focus on making a lot of money or making a positive impact in the world. What can't it be both?
In this episode, we sit down with Mark Hubbard, Managing Partner at Renew Capital. Mark and his team are on a mission to dismantle the "growth vs. impact" mindset and remove barriers to capital for bold, diverse founders looking to generate impact at scale. By leading with empathy, Renew Capital is committed to investing in women and historically excluded founders solving some of society's biggest challenges.
Tune in to hear Mark's perspective on how the startup and investment landscape is changing, his advice for founders, and more.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Mark Hubbard
π‘ What he does: He's the managing partner of Renew Venture Capital.
π‘ Company: Renew Venture Capital
π‘ Noteworthy: Mark has either founded, invested in, or mentored thousands of enterprises β from startups to global corporations β in his almost 30 years in venture capital, global private equity, and institutional asset management. He has directed billions of dollars of capital, launched one of China's most successful asset management JVs, founded a global private equity firm, and built innovation centers for cities and states.
π‘ Where to find Mark: LinkedIn
In recent years, Atlanta has increasingly gained national recognition for its growing startup scene and vibrant tech community. A dense mix of Fortune 500 companies, excellent colleges and universities, a relatively low cost of living, and more have created a perfect recipe for innovation.
Always at the heart of the hustle and bustle is Jacey Cadet, VP of Marketing and Community at Atlanta Ventures, a venture capital firm with a mission to serve entrepreneurs. With a portfolio packed with success stories such as Calendly, Salesloft, Terminus and more, Atlanta Ventures clearly knows a thing or two about navigating the myriad challenges that founders face.
Jacey has built her career around creating community, empowering entrepreneurs, and helping new businesses get off the ground. Let's just say Jacey stays busy; she also serves as President of the Board for Community Bucket and runs Pitch Practice weekly at Atlanta Tech Village.
In this episode, we speak with Jacey about how the Atlanta startup community has changed since COVID, what she sees as the key ingredients for startup success, and more.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Jacey Cadet
π‘ What she does: Jacey is the VP of marketing and community at Atlanta Ventures
π‘ Company: Atlanta Ventures
π‘ Noteworthy: Jacey is an extreme extrovert with a passion for people, skilled in high-level strategy and operational minutia. As a self-starter who thinks outside the box, she is organized, outgoing, and reliable. In addition, Jacey is an experienced designer and marketer with expertise in brand strategy, employee engagement, and development across all media. Jacey is also president of the board of directors at Community Bucket and leads Pitch Practice at ATV.
π‘ Where to find Jacey: LinkedIn | Website
When we think about giving back, it is hard to imagine a better focus than supporting kids in our communities. The resources and opportunities kids are exposed to at a young age can have long-term life changing benefits.
So when Brent Macon became CEO of Daymaker, the self described "Big Little Kid" knew where he and his team could make the biggest impact. The Daymaker platform makes giving easy and rewarding, allowing organizations and individuals to participate in seasonal giving campaigns to children in underserved communities.
What makes Daymaker unique is the one-to-one connection each giver has with an individual child and their specific needs. With non-profit partners such as the Boys & Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters, Daymaker helps organizations build habits of generosity that can transform company culture.
In this episode, we speak with Brent about his vision for the company, innovation in corporate giving, and the lessons he's learned along the way.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Brent Macon
π‘ What he does: He's the CEO and Big Little Kid at Daymaker.
π‘ Company: Daymaker
π‘ Noteworthy: Before joining Daymaker, Brent worked as an operations and logistics manager at Uber and an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company.
π‘ Where to find Brent: LinkedIn
Refugees face enormous challenges. Completely starting over. Learning a new language and navigating a new culture. Finding work and attempting to redefine their careers. For most of us, it is hard to even imagine.
After being exposed to Atlanta's large refugee population and drawing from his own life changing experience with software engineering, Brenton Strine founded Refcode, a non-profit that introduces refugees to computer programming. As Brenton explains, it is not just about teaching refugees how to code. Setting off on a new career in tech requires so much more. Refcode continues to expand its broader programming and currently offers not just classes but labs, mentorship, access to paid projects and apprenticeships, and more.
In this episode, we speak with Brenton about his mission to change the typical refugee story. He shares lessons he's learned along the way, how software engineering transformed his life, and how he hopes to open that opportunity for others.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Brenton Strine
π‘ What he does: He is the founder of Refcode.
π‘ Company: Refcode
π‘ Noteworthy: Brenton holds a master's degree in Theology, but he began teaching himself to code in the β90s and has gone on to have an extensive career as a software engineer. For the last 20 years, he has been involved with non-traditional software engineering education as a learner, a teacher, a creator, and an innovator. Now he is working to solve the opportunity gap for refugees in tech by creating an ironclad talent pipeline that teaches skills that are usually only gained through traditional education or extensive experience.
π‘ Where to find Brenton: LinkedIn | Website
In our healthcare system, women often struggle to get the support, information, and tests they need. This reality is especially prevalent and dangerous in breast cancer risk assessment and detection where delayed diagnosis can have dire consequences
Drawing from her own experience, Kaitlin Christine, CEO and Founder of Gabbi, is on a mission to increase early breast cancer detection and save lives. With a proprietary AI-driven risk assessment model and app, Kaitlin and her team are giving women the tools they need to understand their risk, connect, and advocate for the care they need.
In this episode of The Digital Footprint, we speak with Kaitlin about her mission, the highs and lows of startup life, and lessons learned along the way.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Kaitlin Christine
π‘ What she does: Founder and CEO of Gabbi.
π‘ Company: Gabbi
π‘ Noteworthy: Kaitlin Christine is a breast cancer survivor who has dedicated her life to empowering women to understand their bodies and advocate for themselves. Kaitlin has spent over nine years in women's health, and with the Gabbi team, she is on a mission to decrease delayed diagnosis. Kaitlin has been selected as Oregon's Entrepreneur of the Year 2021, the HITLAB Women's Health Tech Challenge winner, and HITLAB's Audience Choice Award.
π‘ Where to find Kaitlin: LinkedIn | Website
When you donate to a nonprofit, what happens to that money before it makes its way to those in need? Endowments, donations, and reserves left sitting idle in a savings account can translate to missed opportunities and dwindling spending power. Nonprofits need savvy tech-enabled investment strategies, especially in a time of rising inflation.Β
In this episode of The Digital Footprint, we interview Seth Radman, CoFounder and CTO of Infinite Giving. Seth and his team are on a mission to help nonprofits grow their giving by introducing modern, financial technology. Their platform empowers nonprofits to better invest reserve funds, donations, and endowments with tools, automation, and passive strategies more typically marketed to individual investors.
We speak with Seth about what it's like selling into the nonprofit space, his perspective on work/life balance and countering burnout among entrepreneurs, and more.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Seth Radman
π‘ What he does: He's the co-founder and CTO of Infinite Giving.
π‘ Company: Infinite Giving
π‘ Noteworthy: Seth is a 4x startup founder who has designed, built, and launched over 40 mobile and web apps.
π‘ Where to find Seth: LinkedIn
Let's face it. Many of us grew up with the perspective that math was intimidating, hard, or "just not our thing." For those of us that felt this way early in childhood, those feelings were hard to shake. Math wasn't very approachable and it certainly wasn't "fun."
In this episode of The Digital Footprint, we speak with Marcus Blackwell, Founder and CEO of Make Music Count. Marcus and his team are on a mission to make math fun and approachable by mixing pop and hip hop music into engaging math lessons. By injecting this innovative approach into more traditional math curriculum, Make Music Count looks to help all students reach their full potential. With Make Music Count, for many students, math can go from a dreaded obligation to a fun and interactive learning experience.
We speak with Marcus about the challenges of innovating in education, his growing partnerships in the music industry, and the ongoing challenges students face in the classroom.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Marcus Blackwell
π‘ What he does: He's the Founder & CEO of Make Music Count.
π‘ Company: Make Music Count
π‘ Noteworthy: Marcus is passionate about helping students overcome their biggest obstacles, one of them being math. He wants to eliminate math phobia and help kids find their true potential.
π‘ Where to find Marcus: LinkedIn
Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, but around the world, up to 1 billion people struggle with homelessness. For those affected, this struggle cascades into problems in virtually all aspects of daily life. Without a safe home, kids don't have a place to do their homework, families don't have reliable access to clean water, and parents struggle to get on a stable financial footing.
In this episode of The Digital Footprint, we're joined by Morgan Lopes, CTO of New Story Charity. New Story is on a mission to end global homelessness, starting with a goal of housing 1 million people in Latin America by 2030. By leveraging innovative approaches and technology, New Story is creating a system and mindset that opens up potential for real transformational impact.
We talk with Morgan about New Story's mission, his perspective on innovating in the non-profit space, and lessons he's learned in entrepreneurship along the way.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Morgan Lopes
π‘ What he does: Morgan is the CTO of New Story Charity, a non-profit focused on pioneering solutions to end global homelessness.
π‘ Company: New Story Charity
π‘ Noteworthy: Although he spends most of his time focused on his mission with New Story Charity, Morgan is also one of the authors of Code School Book, a book that helps more people transition into careers in tech.
π‘ Where to find Morgan: LinkedIn
Giving global public health organizations the tools they need to succeed is more important now than ever. But efficiently collecting and managing data across teams, initiatives, and continents is no easy feat. Many public health organizations struggle with how to properly organize, format, and analyze their extensive data sets in a way that drives action and impact.
In this episode of The Digital Footprint, we sit down with TJ Muehleman, Founder and CEO of Standard Co. With their Standard Data toolkit, TJ and his team have created a powerful platform that simplifies data management in public health, empowering organizations with technology so they can do more and help more people.
We talk with TJ about Standard Co's transition from services to product and the ups and downs along the way. A tech and startup veteran, TJ shares advice on how to be in it for the long haul and define your own path to success.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: TJ Muehleman
π‘ What he does: TJ is the CEO and Founder at Standard Co, a company focused on helping public health organizations better utilize data to make better decisions and broaden their impact.
π‘ Company: Standard Co
π‘ Noteworthy: TJ and his team also built the COVID Mapping Project, a tool that curates and provides analysis of a broad range of state and local COVID data sources across the U.S.
π‘ Where to find TJ: LinkedIn
We all know that getting out in the sunshine can boost our mood when we're feeling down, but it turns out that exposure to nature is more broadly impactful and beneficial than we previously understood. The science to back this up is mounting and indisputable. Nature exposure provides profound mental and physical health improvements. Access to nature, however, is not equitably distributed throughout our communities.
In this episode of The Digital Footprint, we sit down with Jared Hanley, Founder and CEO of NatureQuant. NatureQuant focuses on delivering technology to assess and promote nature exposure.
By synthesizing multiple nature quantification data-sources through a machine-learning process, Jared and his team are able to deliver a βNatureScoreβ that helps qualify and quantify the natural elements for a given location. With their NatureDose mobile application, NatureQuant also offers a personalized nature prescription tracker that helps users optimize the benefits of time outdoors.
Join us as Jared shares more about the far reaching impacts of exposure to nature and the challenges that stem from inequitable access to nature throughout the U.S. Jared also shares the challenges and wins he and his team have experienced as they've grown their vision and impact with NatureQuant.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Jared Hanley
π‘ What he does: Jared is the CEO and Founder of NatureQuant
π‘ Company: NatureQuant
π‘ Noteworthy: Although he has a rich background in financial services and data science, the the great outdoors has always been one of Jared's true passions. That analytical background has helped Jared craft a vision for quantifying nature exposure, making it easier to measure and promote more equitably.
π‘ Where to find Jared: LinkedIn
With the global pandemic pushing students of all ages into remote learning, tech-fueled innovation in education is more important and impactful than ever.
In this episode of The Digital Footprint, we sit down with Junior Bernadin, Dean of Students and Director of IT at The Ron Clark Academy. The Ron Clark Academy has a global reputation for leadership in education through their unique teaching methodologies, professional development, school culture, and more. During the pandemic, they've stepped up in a big way with the RCA House Points App, enabling schools around the globe to drive engagement and create a transformative school culture.
In our discussion, Junior shares more about RCA's House System, how it evolved, and how he and his team have leveraged technology to bring this innovative approach to school culture into schools all over the world.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Junior Bernadin
π‘ What he does: Dean of Students and Director of IT at The Ron Clark Academy
π‘ Company/Project: The Ron Clark Academy. The Ron Clark Academy (RCA) is a highly-acclaimed, nonprofit middle school located in Southeast Atlanta. The Academy has received both national and international recognition for its success in educating students with academic rigor, passion, and creativity. Schools from around the world send teachers to RCA to be trained on their innovative teaching methodologies.
π‘ Noteworthy: One of the most unique aspects of RCA is The RCA House System, in which students are sorted into one of four houses (Altruismo, Amistad, Isibindi, or Reveur) and earn
points throughout the year for demonstrating honesty, hard work, outstanding effort, and dedication. The system has been proven to foster a positive culture for students, parents, and staff and to build character, relationships and school spirit.
π‘ Where to find Junior: www.juniorbernadin.com
Mental health plays a major role in our quality of life, relationships, personal and professional success, and more. Unfortunately, mental health is also something a large percentage of our population struggles with day by day.
In this episode of The Digital Footprint, we sit down with Dr. Nick Allen, Founder and CEO of Ksana Health. Ksana Health is on a mission to transform mental health care through objective measurements and personalized prevention. Utilizing mobile technology, Dr. Allen and his team are looking to move beyond the traditionally subjective "How have you been feeling?" approach to mental health care by gathering objective data on patient behavior.
Ksana Health's digital products, EARS and Vira, leverage remote sensing, objective data capture, centralized dashboards, and AI driven insights to bring new tools and insights into mental health care.
Dr. Allen talks about his experience in academia and research and how it compares to leading a startup. He also shares advice and lessons he's learned along the way.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Dr. Nick Allen
π‘ What he does: Dr. Nick Allen is co-founder and CEO of Ksana Health
π‘ Company/Project: Ksana Health
π‘ Noteworthy: Dr. Nick Allen is a professor at the University of Oregon in clinical psychology and director of clinical training. He's been working primarily in the area of mental health of young people.
π‘ Where to find Nick: LinkedIn
Did you know that acquiring a new client costs more than keeping an existing one? Consequently, it is quintessential for software companies to maintain healthy, long-standing relationships with their clients or customers to grow their revenue in the long run. But do these companies dedicate enough time to their clients? Or are they more focused on themselves?
Ken Lundin, the President at Ken Lundin and Associates, admits that most SaaS companies make mistakes because they are more focused on driving revenue instead of crafting client-centered campaigns that solve customers' problems. Additionally, he claims that a product or service can succeed if it meets a client's needs and solves their problems. Otherwise, it doesn't stand a chance.
Ken provides a meaningful piece of advice to sales teams focusing on the client acquisition process, encouraging them to pay more attention to messaging and market fit. In the new episode of Digital Footprint, Ken and Carlos Gonzales also discuss whether it is possible to create a predictable sales pipeline and the obstacles one must overcome when crafting one.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Ken Lundin
π‘ What he does: Ken is the President at Ken Lundin and Associates
π‘ Company: Ken Lundin and Associates
π‘ Noteworthy: Ken Lundin and Associates is the company focused on helping SaaS founders grow their ROI by creating a unique consulting plan based on the company's specific goals.
π‘ Where to find Ken: LinkedIn | Official Website
We all know that exercise is a vital part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, most people still have the misconception that strength training is reserved for young folks looking to bulk up their muscles.
According to Eric Levitan, the CEO and Founder of Vivo, strength training can be an entirely safe and highly beneficial activity for older adults, as well. In fact, for older adults in particular, loss of muscle mass is a natural part of aging and has far reaching health and lifestyle implications. Regular strength training can prevent muscle loss which in turn lowers the risk of falls, increases mobility, and more. Strength training can also improve a person's cholesterol levels and bone health, promoting weight loss. Vivo's strength training program for older adults also offers a strong sense of community and achievement, important contributors to mental health.
Eric explains that some older adults are hesitant to embrace this kind of activity because of potential injuries or misconceptions about what kind of exercise is appropriate for their age. In this new episode of the Digital Footprint, Eric Levitan talks to Richard Simms and explains how Vivo helps people overcome these fears and build habits for a healthier lifestyle as they age.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Eric Levitan
π‘ What he does: Eric is the Founder and CEO of Vivo
π‘ Company: Vivo
π‘ Noteworthy: Apart from being a successful entrepreneur in B2B and B2C environments, Eric is a passionate music lover.
π‘ Where to find Eric: LinkedIn | Email
In this episode of The Digital Footprint, Ed Thomas of 412 Technology, joins us to talk about his journey developing Arbor, aΒ marketplace where consumers can discover and back inspiring carbon removal projects around the world. The Arbor mobile app makes it easy for each of us to do our part in the fight against climate change.Β
Ed shares his insights on app development, green technology, and his scrappy approach to launching a startup. He also announces Arbor's upcoming public launch and calls on our communities to join the fight for a healthier planet.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Ed Thomas
π‘ What he does: Ed is a co-founder and CEO of 412 Technology which has developed a mobile app, Hazel, that empowers consumers to help reverse climate change.
π‘ Company/Project: Hazel is a marketplace for consumers to find out and back specific carbon removal projects.Β
π‘ Noteworthy: "What we've seen is that there's a ton of great work that's focused on directly removing carbon from the atmosphere. That carbon is what's causing the climate crisis that we see right now."
π‘ Where to find Ed: LinkedIn, 412 Technology
Clean energy and equity issues are among the most pressing challenges faced by our society. These issues are complex and are often intertwined in ways that are difficult to illustrate and understand. How do we get everyone around the table looking at the same data in an intuitive format that drives positive change?
**In this episode of the Digital Footprint podcast, Richard Simms talks with Matt Cox, the CEO of Greenlink Analytics. Matt sheds light on his team's data driven approach to understanding and addressing these challenges across our communities and country.
Matt also shared his journey in launching the Greenlink Equity Map (GEM), a SaaS product that provides users with powerful and dynamic data map-based visualizations related to various equity indicators. He speaks about the challenges along the way and what he and his team have learned as they transition to offering not just consulting services but also their own digital product.**
Tune in to hear more about how this software tool is helping communities and nonprofits drive positive change.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Matt Cox
π‘ What he does: Matt is the CEO of Greenlink Analytics.
π‘ Company/Project: Greenlink Analytics / Greenlink Equity Map (GEM). Check them out on Facebook, Twitter, and the official Greenlink Analytics LinkedIn profile to find out more about the company's social outreach.
π‘ Noteworthy: Matt and Greenlink Analytics focus on helping people understand and address some of the most pressing challenges facing American society. Through powerful data visualization and expert insights, they help cities, states, and NGOs hone in on data-backed strategies to drive positive change in our communities.
π‘ Where to find Matt: LinkedIn.
Everyone deals with some type of financial debt at some point in their life. Aside from causing all sorts of limitations, debt can be very harmful to our mental health. Luckily, a group of enthusiasts gathered and developed a platform that helps people pay down debt while developing good financial habits through coaching and education.
In this episode of The Digital Footprint, Carlos Gonzalez talks to Christian Zimmerman, co-founder of Qoins. Interlocutors discuss the difference between having an idea and executing it. The guest reveals what led him to think about developing a financial wellness platform.
He also advises those who are thinking about building and launching a digital product. He reveals what the most difficult challenges are and how to overcome them. Christian also talks about his business partner, Nate Washington, and the importance of having a technical co-founder and good technology partners along the journey.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Christian Zimmerman
π‘ What he does: Christian is a co-founder of Qoins.
π‘ Company: Qoins
π‘ Noteworthy: Qoins is a financial wellness platform that helps consumers take control of their financial future. To date, they've helped pay off over $16 million worth of debt.
π‘ Where to find Christian: LinkedIn
Are you aware of how many people are struggling with food insecurity right now? Probably not. It is a global issue governments and non-profit organizations are fighting against daily. But what can each of us do to help resolve this problem? Many would say not much. But that was not the answer from young Jack Griffin.
Jack was a teenager when he watched a news story dedicated to those fighting poverty and hunger. He looked for ways to help, but he could not find many food and social services providers online. Then he thought, what can I do to make this information available on the internet?
During high school and later in college, Jack developed a platform called FoodFinder. It is an online resource where those in need can find nearby food pantries, soup kitchens, and school meal providers.
In this episode of the Digital Footprint podcast, Jack talks about his professional journey, the challenges he had to confront, and the mission and goals of FoodFinder.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Jack Griffin
π‘ What he does: Jack is the founder and CEO of FoodFinder.
π‘ Company: FoodFinder
π‘ Noteworthy: The idea for FoodFinder was born when Jack was just 14 years old. A dream of helping others in need came into reality as a non-profit organization with over 46,000 food providers in its database.
π‘ Where to find Jack: LinkedIn
The founder of Public Health Innovations, Dr. Hal King, joins Richard Simms and Carlos Gonzales on the first episode of the Digital Footprint. In this episode, Hal, Richard, and Carlos explore the intersection of public health and technology. The conversation highlights the importance of preventing the spread of infectious diseases and foodborne illnesses at work, in restaurants, and other institutions while focusing on the vital role of technology in public health management.
Hal discusses public health concerns during a critical point of the conversation, especially regarding food safety. He mentions using technology to raise awareness of foodborne diseases, which may be as hazardous as respiratory infections (coronavirus). Hal also breaks down the various challenges of developing technology to solve problems without understanding how apps get created.
Guest-at-a-Glance
π‘ Name: Hal King
π‘ What he does: Dr. Hal King is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Active Food Safety, LLC and the Founder/Owner of the Public Health Innovations, LLC. As a public health professional, Dr. King has worked in the investigation of food-borne and other disease outbreaks with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. King is also the author of three books, several book chapters, and various peer-reviewed scientific publications on infectious disease prevention.
π‘ Company: Active Food Safety, LLC., Public Health Innovations, LLC.
π‘ Noteworthy: Dr. Hal King is the recipient of the 2018 NSF International Food Safety Leadership and Innovation Award.
π‘ Where to find Hal: LinkedIn.