A podcast network exploring startups, technology, and entrepreneurship in Kentucky and beyond.
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288. Awesome Inc: Brian Raney on Building Kentucky's Startup Ecosystem
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Brian Raney is the CEO and Co-Founder of Awesome Inc - a company that exists to create and grow high tech startups through a variety of initiatives, such as hosting community events, leading technology education courses, and offering a shared workspace environment.This episode was part of a live recording event in collaboration with Awesome Inc and…
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287. Cloverleaf: Darrin Murriner and Kirsten Moorefield on Transforming the way Teams Interact
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Darrien Murriner and Kirsten Moorefield are the co-founders of Cloverleaf - a platform that enhances team performance through personalized coaching and behavioral insights. By integrating tools like strength-based assessments and continuous, automated coaching, Cloverleaf helps teams improve communication, collaboration, and overall effectiveness.C…
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286. borderless: Raffi Kayat on the Progress and Evolution of borderless Payments
46:08
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In this episode of Middle Tech Podcast, Logan Jones and Evan Knowles welcome back Raffi Kayat, founder of borderless, a global payments platform. Rafi discusses the challenges and surprises of fundraising in Kentucky compared to the coastal tech hubs, emphasizing the need for determination and grit in the entrepreneurial journey. He also shares upd…
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285. Endeavor: Jake Budler on the Positive Trend Line of Entrepreneurship in the Midwest
53:35
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In this episode, Logan and Evan sit down with Jake Budler, the Director of Entrepreneur Experience at Endeavor Midwest. They discuss various topics, including Jake's experience as a founder of a small business, the Indy Tech Tour, the strengths of the Midwest startup ecosystem, and the importance of building relationships. Jake emphasizes the value…
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284. Blue North: Dave Knox on The Future of Northern Kentucky’s Startup Scene
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In this episode of the Middle Tech Podcast, hosts Logan Jones and Evan Knowles sit down with Dave Knox, Executive Director of Blue North. They delve into the mission and impact of Blue North, part of the Kentucky Innovation Hub network, and explore how it serves as a vital connector for high-growth tech entrepreneurs in Northern Kentucky. Dave shar…
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283. CleanSpace: Aram Street & Eric Griffin on Disrupting Traditional Cleaning
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In this episode, Logan sits down with Aram Street and Eric Griffin from the CleanSpace team, winners of the recent Five Across pitch competition. They explore their entrepreneurial journey, the inception of CleanSpace, and how they are innovating the cleaning service industry. The duo shares insights on their transition from offering a traditional …
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282. RealizedCare (formerly BehaVR): Aaron Gani on Acquiring Fern Health, VR Therapeutics, & Digitized Healthcare
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In this episode, Aaron Gani, Founder and CEO of RealizedCare (formerly known as BehaVR, from episode 150), discusses the journey of building their VR therapeutics company and the recent acquisition of Fern Health. After acquiring Fern Health, BehaVR rebranded as RealizedCare as they broadened the scope of their technology to include more than VR. R…
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In this episode, Logan and Evan delve into two major news stories that are shaping the business and technology landscape: the FTC's proposed ban on non-compete agreements and the potential ban or forced sale of TikTok in the United States. They kick off the discussion by exploring the FTC's initiative to restrict non-compete clauses, examining its …
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280. Chase Minnifield of EZOS on the Continuous Evolution and Expansion of the Kentucky Market
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In this episode, Evan and Logan interview Chase Minnifield, the CEO and co-founder of EZOS, a software platform for property management. Chase shares his journey from being an NFL player to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He started with a services-based company called Helping Hands and then transitioned to building Easy Turn, a software soluti…
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279. Amanda Ralston of NonBinary Solutions on Pioneering Change in Neurodivergent Healthcare
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In this episode, Logan and Evan sit down with Amanda Ralston, founder of NonBinary Solutions. They explore her transition from applied behavior analysis to tech entrepreneurship, focusing on innovative solutions for neurodivergent conditions. Amanda discusses the challenges in standardizing autism treatment, her forthcoming SaaS product, and her un…
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278. Stevens Bonhomme of Feedcoyote: From Microsoft to the Startup World
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In this episode of the Middle Tech Podcast, Logan Jones and Evan Knowles welcome back Stevens Bonhomme, CEO of Feedcoyote, a platform connecting freelancers globally. Stevens discusses his transition from Microsoft to launching Feedcoyote, driven by a passion to solve freelancing challenges. He sheds light on the journey of creating and growing Fee…
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277. Brian Frey on the Intersection of AI and Copyright Law
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In this episode, Logan and Evan are joined by Professor Brian Frey, a law professor at the University of Kentucky's College of Law. They discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on copyright law, delving into the complexities and controversies surrounding AI's ability to generate texts, images, and videos. Frey shares insights into how AI chal…
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276. Complet3D: Eric Sparks on the Transformative Power of 3D Printing
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In this episode, Logan and Evan explore the world of 3D printing with Eric Sparks, founder and CEO of Complet3D. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Complet3D began by addressing the urgent need for PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since expanded into various sectors. Eric discusses how 3D printing technology has evolved, sharing insights into it…
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275. goTenna: Andrea Garrity & Jameson Morgan on Empowering Critical Connections Off-Grid
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In this episode, Logan and Evan welcome Andrea Garrity, Chief Growth Officer, and Jameson Morgan, Director of Partnerships from Gotenna. They discuss goTenna's transition from consumer-focused products to vital communication technologies in defense and emergency situations. The conversation explores the role of goTenna's mesh network radios in ensu…
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274. Edelen Renewables: Adam Edelen on Bringing the Promise of Renewable Energy to Forgotten Places
1:03:07
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In this episode of Middle Tech Podcast, Logan Jones and Evan Knowles talk with Adam Edelen, CEO of Edelen Renewables. The discussion explores Adam's transition from Kentucky state government to renewable energy, focusing on his goal to introduce sustainable energy solutions to overlooked regions in America. The conversation covers the challenges of…
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273. AI Advancements: Sora’s Ai Generated Video, Google’s Gemini 1.5, and Nvidia’s Staggering Valuation
1:13:05
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In this episode, Logan Jones and Evan Knowles dive into the latest developments in the artificial intelligence space. They discuss the AI revolution, emphasizing NVIDIA's rise as a key player in the AI gold rush. The episode delves into the transformative impact of AI on media production, illustrating how tools like OpenAI's Sora are reshaping cont…
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272. Powderkeg: Midwest Momentum with Matt Hunckler
1:06:51
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In this episode, Logan and Evan sit down with Matt Hunckler, the entrepreneurial mind behind Powderkeg – a platform connecting developers, investors, and employers in tech hubs outside of Silicon Valley. Matt shares his journey of starting the platform, the growing probability of tech opportunities in the Midwest, and the importance of cultivating …
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271. Wicked Technologies: Alli Truttmann on Tackling Night Sweats & Incontinence with Innovation
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In this episode Logan and Evan are joined by Alli Truttmann, the founder of Wicked Technologies. They explore Alli’s entrepreneurial journey, from the conception of her idea while recovering from a sports injury, to building and scaling her business. The conversation dives into the details of her invention, Wicked Sheets, blogging as a key SEO stra…
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270. Vsimple: Building Profitable Businesses with Buddy Bockweg
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In this episode, Logan and Evan talk with tech entrepreneur Buddy Bockweg. Buddy shares insightful and contrarian perspectives about entrepreneurship and the challenges he faced when integrating AI into his business platform, Vsimple. They delve into the importance of understanding the meaning of entrepreneurship, building strong partnerships, the …
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269. Moolathon: Transforming Fitness into Fundraising with Mac Wilkinson
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Join us on this episode of the Middle Tech Podcast as we catch up with Mac Wilkinson and hear about his platform, Moolathon. As we walk through his journey from being a former athlete to the founder of a performance-based fundraising platform, our hosts Evan and Logan discuss Moolathon’s transformation, its impact, and how Mac harnessed the potenti…
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268. Evan's Start-Up Journey: Building, Learning, Failing, and Trying Again
1:15:47
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In this episode, Logan and Evan discuss Evan's journey of building his startup, from inception to it's recent acquisition. We dive into the challenges encountered in fundraising venture capital, defining go-to-market strategies, and the mental toll of managing a business under pressure. Evan shares his insights about the importance of team dynamics…
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267. Season 6 Recap with Logan Jones, TJ Barnett, and Evan Knowles
32:30
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In this episode, Logan, TJ, and Evan reflect on season six and provide updates regarding various aspects of their projects. They discuss highlights, table their favorite episodes, and explore key aspects of the interactions they had in startup ecosystem. With topics ranging from AI to intriguing tech news and in-depth founder interviews, they dive …
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266. Jane Mosbacher Morris of TO THE MARKET: Driving Transformation in Ethical Supply Chains
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In this episode, Logan and Evan go deep into another exciting conversation with Jane Morris. We’re delighted to welcome Jane back after a year, this time, shedding light on her journey with TO THE MARKET. Jane gives a comprehensive update on the fascinating strides her supply chain software has been making in the ethical and sustainable procurement…
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265. Roland Achenjand of C2 Keep on Leveraging Spirituality in Startups
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In this episode, Evan speaks with Roland Achenjand, a pharmacist turned tech entrepreneur. As the founder of C2 Keep, a compliance management tool for pharmacies, Roland brought his intimate knowledge of healthcare regulations into the realm of technology. From Kentucky to the wider United States, C2 Keep has grown to make an impact in the world of…
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264: Katie Trauth Taylor of Narratize on Unlocking the Potential of Generative AI
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In this episode, Evan sits down with Katie Trauth Taylor, the founder of Narratize. Katie is a serial founder with a passion for innovation storytelling and a background in narrative science. Her journey includes spearheading her first company, Untold Content, which focused on accelerating innovation through storytelling. With her expertise in lang…
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263. Riya Shah of Fetal Life: Student Founder Revolutionizing Maternal Health
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In this episode Evan welcomes Riya Shah, an exceptional young founder and the driving force behind Fetal Life. Riya shares her amazing story of inventing a patented at-home contraction monitoring device for pregnant women, revolutionizing the way they track contractions. Join Evan and Riya as they discuss her journey as a student entrepreneur, the …
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262. Matthew Sunday of The Corps on Taking High-Stakes Concepts from Ideas to Reality
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In the latest episode of the Middle Tech Spotlight Series, we sat down with Matthew Sunday, the founder and Chief Engineer of The Corps. The Corps specializes in bringing ideas and concepts to reality for the Department of Defense and other high stakes organizations where lives are quite literally on the line. Our conversation covered various aspec…
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Middle Tech Live | A Panel Discussion on The State of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in KY
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For this week’s episode, we’re releasing a panel discussion recorded live at the 2023 SOAR Summit in Corbin, Kentucky. Moderated by Logan Jones, our panelists included Lincoln Brown, Geoff Marietta, Sabrina McWhorter, and JP Blevins. A primary theme of the discussion was diving into the differences between small business entrepreneurship and high-g…
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261. Akhil Suresh Nair on AI-Driven Ecommerce Success
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In this episode, we're joined by Akhil Suresh Nair, the founder of Xena Intelligence, a remarkable company based right here in the heart of Kentucky. Xena Intelligence has pioneered an AI-powered eCommerce tool that's making a significant impact on businesses. We'll delve into Ankil's entrepreneurial journey, starting from what motivated him to cre…
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260. Becca Self & Wes Murry of Hunsicker on Building a Lexington-Based Venture Studio
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In this episode, Logan sat down with Becca Self and Wes Murry from Hunsicker, a Lexington-based Venture Studio. Our conversation covers the venture studio model, Hunsicker's "Kentucky Advantage", and their approach to social impact through their ventures. Visit us at MiddleTech.com Follow Us …
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259. Koby Hastings & Chris Michelson on Navigating the SalesRiver: Evolution, Fundraising, and Growth
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In this episode, Logan and Evan sit down with Koby Hastings and Chris Michelson from SalesRiver (formerly Leadrilla) in Lexington, Kentucky. SalesRiver's software is transforming how insurance sales teams work, making them more efficient, transparent, and compliant. Today, we'll catch up with Koby and Chris, discussing their recent achievements: Th…
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258. Nick Durham on Investing in the Built World
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On this week’s episode, we sat down with Nick Durham, one of the general partners at Shadow Ventures. Shadow Ventures focuses on investing in companies building technology for the “built world” (ie construction & real estate) and they recently established an office in Louisville, led by Nick. Our conversation covered Shadow Venture’s investment the…
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257. Albert Lukonga on Establishing Kentucky's First Fashion House
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On this week's Spotlight Series, caught up with Albert Lukonga, Founder and CEO of Albert Couture - Kentucky's First "Fashion House". We originally spoke with Albert back in 2020 for ep. 112, right when he was getting the business off the ground. Since then, Albert has been making waves not only in Kentucky, but in the fashion world as a whole. He'…
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256. Tech Transforms Real Estate: Jennifer Mason's TitleWise Vision | Spotlight Series
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In this episode, we're excited to sit down with Jennifer Mason, the driving force behind TitleWise, an innovative company that's making waves in Southern Indiana. Jennifer Mason is no stranger to the world of entrepreneurship, and as the creative mind behind TitleWise, she's taken her own experiences and translated them into an inspiring solution. …
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255. Fusion Reaction Success, Sentient Solutions Acquisition, Neuralink's $280M Raise
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In this week's episode, Logan and Evan explore the world of fusion energy with groundbreaking news from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. For the second time, they've achieved net energy gain in a fusion reaction, pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery. We break down the significance of this achievement and its potential implicati…
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Adam VanWingerden of Silver Fern on Building Beyond Buzz | Spotlight Series
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In the latest episode of the Middle Tech Spotlight Series, we had an enlightening conversation with Adam VanWingerden, the co-founder and CEO of Silver Fern, a company that is simplifying the complex world of the horticulture industry. Silver Fern offers modular ERP software designed to help growers make key changes for growth without the typical g…
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254. Forecastr's $4.5M Raise, Worldcoin's Real Human Verification, and Meta's AI Persona Advancements
18:28
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This week, Logan and Evan start off by discussing Forecastr, a promising business-to-business, software-as-a-service company that recently raised an impressive $4.5 million in funding. With plans to allocate the capital to product development, sales, and finance, Forecastr aims to further expand its presence in the market. Join us as we explore For…
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Armando Diaz of Working With Saint on the Intersection of Creativity & Business | Spotlight Series
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On this episode of the Middle Tech Spotlight Series, we sat down with Armando Diaz, the creative force behind Working With Saint, a design agency making waves in the creative space. Armando shares his journey from the inception of Working With Saint to its current success, discussing the challenges of running a design agency, managing cash flow, fi…
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253. AppHarvest's Bankruptcy, AI Job Risks, and Room-Temperature Superconductors
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In this episode, Logan and Evan start by discussing the recent bankruptcy filing of AppHarvest and its efforts to reorganize and improve operational efficiency. Next, they delve into the KY Solar project, an ambitious initiative to transform a former coal mine into a massive solar energy center. They also share exciting news about a groundbreaking …
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252. Microsoft & Meta Join Forces, Apple's Ajax Framework, and Hollywood Strikes
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In this episode, Logan and Evan discuss the recent announcement of a game-changing partnership between tech giants Microsoft and Meta. They are teaming up to bring you Llama 2, Meta's open-source LLM (Large Language Model), as a free resource on Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform. This move opens up unprecedented opportunities for innovatio…
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Adam Bowe of Cake on Disrupting Industries | Spotlight Series
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In this series, we bring you candid conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem supporters who are shaping the future of innovation. Today, we sit down with Adam Bowe, the mastermind behind Cake, a game-changing platform based in Lexington, KY. Cake is the one-stop marketplace for buying and selling insurance agents' books of busines…
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251. AppHarvest Updates, Facebook Data Dilemmas, and Musk's xAI
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Welcome to Middle Tech Podcast, in this episode, we bring you the latest updates on AppHarvest's struggles as founder Jonathan Webb steps back, and the agricultural startup faces challenges with creditors and potential eviction. Our hosts, Logan and Evan, share their insights on the implications of these developments for the Kentucky-based company …
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Randall Stevens of Avail on The Role of Natural Language Search in Streamlining Workflows | Spotlight Series
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In this episode, we feature Randall, founder of Avail, a groundbreaking software platform in the architecture and engineering industry. We discuss leveraging Exif data, the power of generative AI, and balancing innovation and regulation. Tune in to hear Randall's entrepreneurial journey and learn about the milestones achieved by Avail. Get ready fo…
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250. Meta's Threads Launch, Rivian's $10M Kentucky Investment, Twitter's Rate Limits
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In this episode, Logan and Evan kick off by highlighting Rivian's game-changing investment in Kentucky, where they plan to establish a state-of-the-art remanufacturing facility. Discover how this move will support warranty, repair, and service needs for their electric vehicles. Next, we dive into the highly anticipated launch of Threads by Meta, a …
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JP Blevins of Live Oak Bank: The Journey of Building a Publicly Traded Company | Spotlight Series
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Welcome to the Spotlight Series, where we shine a light on extraordinary individuals who have forged their own path to success. In the latest episode of the Middle Tech Spotlight Series, we sat down with JP Blevins, a former University of Kentucky basketball player who has played a significant role in building two hyper-successful companies: Live O…
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249. The Battle of Tech Titans: Musk vs. Zuckerberg and Meta's P92
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In this episode, Logan and Evan cover the intriguing clash between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, as they consider a cage fight and engage in a Twitter feud. We'll dive into the details of their challenge and discuss the potential charitable aspect of the fight. Plus, we explore Meta's move to develop a Twitter competitor under the working title P9…
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Monique Quarterman of KY Innovation on Empowering Entrepreneurs | Spotlight Series
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On this episode of the Middle Tech Spotlight Series, we sat down with Monique Quarterman, Executive Director of KY Innovation.KY Innovation is the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development’s Office of Entrepreneurship, and they’re responsible for supporting and developing our state’s startup ecosystem. Through the support of organizations such as M…
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248. Reddit API Drama, Intel's Quantum Leap, and Shadow Ventures' Expansion
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In this episode of the Middle Tech Podcast, Logan and Evan discuss the recent changes to the Reddit API, Intel's groundbreaking quantum chip, and the opening of Shadow Ventures' operations in Louisville. We explore the controversies surrounding Reddit's API changes and the implications for AI companies training on its data. We also delve into Intel…
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Josh Lau of Nymbl Systems: Revolutionizing Healthcare | Spotlight Series
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In this episode of the Middle Tech Spotlight Series, we sit down with Josh Lay, the founder of Nymbl Systems, a medical records and practice management system. Josh shares the elevator pitch for Nymbl Systems, highlighting its efficiency in managing patient records, scheduling, and billing, allowing healthcare providers to spend more time with pati…
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247. AppHarvest Foreclosure Lawsuit, Tesla News, and Crypto SEC Regulation
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In this episode of the Middle Tech Podcast, Logan and Evan discuss the AppHarvest foreclosure lawsuit, where Equilibrium Capital alleges that AppHarvest breached its obligations, leading to a potential liquidation of assets. Logan and Evan share their insights on the implications and possible outcomes of this legal battle. Next, we explore the rece…
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