TechxDesign: Recent Episodes
Nick Serfass and Alex Otanez
rvatech/ CEO Nick Serfass and Shockoe CEO Alex Otanez bring you interviews and thoughts about the beautiful, the elegant, and the sublime in technology. This is a show about tech products and the stories behind their design.
Get ready for the Summer Olympics with the TechXDesign team. Learn about the rise of micro-moments and how technology is reshaping the fan experience from anywhere.
Following Apple's AI announcements at WWDC the team takes a look at the evolution of AI. Are we expecting too much or too little from today's AI solutions, and what can we learn from first-movers and innovators of past technology waves?
The team talks the latest in mobile app design, and the ethics of creating intentional apps in an increasingly addictive space. How can we balance apps that make an impact with digital experiences meant to pull us away from what matters?
Heramb Dandeker shares his expertise in the smart home and automotive space to discuss the latest in user experience and design. Listen now for the latest takeaways and insights on designing impactful, intuitive and long-lasting solutions.
Alex Olesen from Babylon Microfarms joins the episode to discuss sustainability in the tech space and the future of agriculture. Listen now to learn more about this exciting Richmond company and what's ahead for the RVA tech scene.
Catch up on Richmond's Data Summit, the future of UX powered by AI, and what you can learn from Wrestlemania. The team dives into the evolving landscape of user experience and what an AI-powered future means for all of us.
What makes good creative? Justin Bajan from Familiar Creatures joins the podcast to share his insights on the world of advertising, the role technology and AI play in the space, and how brands can stand out in a crowded field.
The team breaks down the Super Bowl from brand authenticity and the good and bad of ads to the takeaways for businesses here in RVA. Listen now to learn more about tech's growing role in sports for fans and athletes.
Nick and Alex dive into the digital transformation in architecture and its impact on the buildings of the future. How has technology already redefined the industry and what's next for AI as an architecture tool?
AI is ready to shake up the way we work, but will it be for the better? The team looks at AI's current and future impact on the workforce and how the Richmond community is poised to benefit.
Nick and Alex take a look back at the biggest stories from 2023 and look ahead to the trends and technologies that will shape 2025 and the future tech scene in Richmond.
What were the biggest trends of 2023 and what will be their impact in Richmond? From AI and the metaverse to immersive experiences the team takes a look back on what shaped the year.
The team looks ahead at the impact of AI, breaking down the latest advancements in the industry, the evolution of AGI, and what the latest innovations mean for our work and lives.
What does the future of AI hold? This week we discuss what an AI-powered future looks like and how companies are preparing.
Dustin Dunbar with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation joins the podcast to give his insights on the startup scene across Virginia and the trends driving innovation in Richmond.
Norm Crandall, Senior Director of Technology for Paymerang joins the episode to discuss the future of finance and payments, the tech talent pipeline in Virginia, and how innovations like AI are reshaping the industry.
How can new technologies like AI and immersive experiences highlight what sets Richmond apart? This week's episode looks at the opportunities that exist, and how they can promote RVA.
On this week's episode, Founderway's founder Cody Jung joins us for a conversation on the startup environment, and the role AI can play in supporting new businesses.
NIRSense CEO Casey Boutwell joins this episode to discuss the future of medical devices and the role technology plays in increasing accessibility.
In part two of our conversation on the Richmond tech environment and it's national reach the team discusses the latest Gala finalist announcement, and what the changing environment means for standing out and being brave.
In part one we look at the pros and cons of conferences and how to make a splash on the national stage. Alex and Nick share what's on their conference horizon and we tee up part two with a look at where Richmond's tech brand can go in the future.
The team discusses Richmond startup MINTangible and what's ahead for blockchain and web3 in the future. How can web3 and NFTs evolve in an AI-powered universe nationally and here in Richmond?
On this week's episode, we sit down with Tapped.ai CEO and co-founder Johannes Naylor to discuss the future of the music industry and AI's role in shaking it up.
Is Richmond the country's future AI and machine learning innovation hub? This week's episode dives into the EDA Tech Hub opportunity, the existing AI scene in Richmond, and the potential for the future.
In this week's TechxDesign Nick, Alex, and Lauren begin a broader conversation on the tech scene in Richmond, what it means to be a tech town, and the changing face of digital innovation.
How will AI improve the finance industry, for banks and for consumers? In this week's episode, we look at the ways AI is already used in banking and the ways it can be used to streamline operations and improve the customer experience in the future.
What does the future of home technology look like? In this week's TechXDesign episode, Alex and Nick discuss the latest on smart home technology and the role generative AI plays in this space, and more.
Nick and Alex break down the biggest news from ProductFest and how innovations like generative AI are shaking up the tech scene in Richmond, and across the country.
How does a Richmond beauty brand leverage tech to build a loyal user base? Nick and Alex dive into Brandefy, a Richmond-based beauty company changing the way consumers find and buy skincare products, all through a mobile lense. Learn more about what sets them apart, and the potential for other industries to learn from their success.
Nick and Alex take a deep dive into the Richmond tech scene, kicking things off with Babylon Micro-Farms, a nationally recognized company started here in RVA. What can other companies learn from their use of tech, including AI? And does Babylon pave the way for the farming of the future?
Nick and Alex dig in on what makes a city a Tech Town and what separates Richmond from the rest. The debate heats up on the city's creative culture, the opportunities ahead for businesses to stand out in this economy, and what we can learn from the Richmond brewery scene.
Nick and Alex talk all things sports tech in the latest episode of TechxDesign. From the basketball court to the golf green we break down the future of wearables for athletes, the latest in fan experiences, and what's next in mobile.
In a podcast of infinite universes and possibilities, Nick and Alex dive in on the business landscape of Richmond. How can the city set itself apart from others around the county? This week’s episode highlights the opportunities ahead to transform Richmond into the Tech Town it can be.
This week Alex and Nick talk all things SXSW. How does Richmond differ from Austin and other tech hubs? What's the difference between attracting versus growing your tech talent community and which is right? From the need for experience buses at SXSW to helping RVA stand out in the tech field we break it down.
The week in tech and how we're using it to design our lives in Richmond. Is ChatGPT the next Meerkat? Alex gifts the rvatech/ Edge Conference NFT to the Mayor of Miami. Black Mirror's "The Entire History of You" foretells the future of AR/VR. And Alex wants to create an XperienceRVA food truck for SXSW.
We welcome Virginia Museum of Fine Arts CEO Alex Nyerges for a verbal exhibit on how he and his team evaluate art exhibits, think about space, and use technology to enhance the museum experience. The VMFA is one of the nation’s top 10 comprehensive art museums with exciting and far-reaching strategic initiatives that have transformed the institution, making it more accessible, diverse, and inclusive.
Today's episode goes mach speed into the world of cybersecurity startups - MACH37 that is. A premier accelerator for cyber startups. Mike McCoy is MACH37's Director of Operations & Product Engineering and talks to us about what it takes to be a great cybersecurity company founder.
We welcome http://will.i.am/ (will.i.am)'s former CTO, Lee Kebler of Journey, to the show to talk about what the metaverse really is, virtual world building, parlaying a gaming hobby into a metaverse career, and his most recent project - Walmart Land in Roblox.
We welcome http://will.i.am/ (will.i.am)'s former CTO, Lee Kebler of Journey, to the show to talk about what the metaverse really is, virtual world building, parlaying a gaming hobby into a metaverse career, and his most recent project - Walmart Land in Roblox.
Nick & Alex welcome RVA newcomer Patrick Moran to the pod to chat about designing for streaming in relation to his company Applause, an online event platform that aims to enhance and increase engagement between music artists and their fans.
Mark Badger of CapTech joins the show to discuss how digital products are designed for transit. We chat websites, apps, overall UI/UX, and how transit authorities are evolving beyond just schedules and way finding.
Sleep is the greatest (biological) technology ever invented. On this episode we speak with Dave Weiss about how Hatch is amplifying the impact of sleep by creating products that align behavior, environment, and stimulus to help people get the most out of their shut-eye.
On this episode we chat with Mason Brown, Director of Strategy at Shockoe, on what strategy even means, the importance of it, how it shifts and changes, and how to design for it.
EVP and Head of Enterprise Digital Banking at Truist, Dan Massey, joins the show to cover the massive range of considerations one needs to manage when designing digital products for the finance industry. Whether it's the breadth and complexity of available financial instruments, the variability and diversity of the user, or the differentiation provided by the overall institution, finance ain't easy, but Dan and his team are working to make it more seamless and comfortable.
Don't bogey this episode - it's not about golf, it's about data. We talk with Eric Hanson, Sr. Director of Digital Product Design at the PGA about all things TourCast, the PGA's comprehensive content tracking product that amalgamates output from the most data driven sport in the world - professional golf.
Kristen Cavallo, CEO of The Martin Agency, joins to talk about designing for ads, designing a leadership team, and designing for sustainability. The Martin Agency is based out of RVA and was recently recognized as Adweek's 2021 Agency of the Year in a repeat performance from 2020.
rvatech/ CEO Nick Serfass and Shockoe CEO Alex Otanez bring you interviews and thoughts about the beautiful, the elegant, and the sublime in technology. This is a show about tech products and the stories behind their design