Deep Tech

The Spreadsheet Trap: Why Growth Equity Fails Without Operator Rigor with Joe Kaiser, CEO and Managing Director at Mercato Partners

Real growth investing creates durable outcomes when disciplined capital allocation is matched with operator-level rigor and clear value creation. In this episode, Joe Kaiser, CEO and Managing Director at Mercato Partners, shares how his experience at Blackstone and in operating roles, including scaling Vivint Solar from zero to $200M in revenue through an IPO and a $5B exit, shaped his “show me” mindset, quantitative rigor, and focus on unit economics. He explains Mercato’s heartland thesis, how geography affects founder incentives, talent development, and board dynamics, and what coastal investors often misunderstand about scaling outside major hubs. Joe outlines Mercato’s “head in, hands out” board approach, when engagement is most critical in balance sheet decisions, and why respectful, direct communication matters. He also critiques growth equity overcapitalization, warns against spreadsheet-driven projections, and shares views on AI, deep tech diligence, hardware-enabled moats, and hiring leaders who’ve done it before. Tune in and learn how to build and fund enduring companies without chasing hype or relocating to the coast. Resources: * Connect with and follow Joe Kaiser on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-kaiser-a88a142/].  * Follow Mercato Partners on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mercato-partners/] and explore their website [https://www.mercatopartners.com/].  * Watch the interview here [https://youtu.be/_5ncJ1Pm7es].

How AI Can Earn Trust Without Becoming A Black Box with Ken Fine, CEO of Affinity

Strong decision-making systems are built when data quality, human behavior, and trust are treated as inseparable. In this episode, Ken Fine, CEO of Affinity, shares how his career path from naval engineering and physics to enterprise SaaS leadership shaped his thinking about data, systems, and decision-making. He reflects on designing high-stakes systems in the Navy, applying behavioral economics at Financial Engines, and learning how to separate signal from noise at Medallia. Ken explains why differentiated data matters more than algorithms alone, how speed and accuracy work together to build trust, and why transparency is essential as AI becomes more embedded in workflows. He also discusses leadership, emphasizing accountability balanced with empathy, and introduces his “nail it, then scale it” framework for building sustainable companies. Tune in and learn how data, trust, and human judgment come together to power better decisions at scale. Resources: * Connect with and follow Ken Fine on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmfine/]. * Follow Affinity.co on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/project-affinity/posts/] and explore their website [https://www.affinity.co/].

Electricity as Medicine: Inside the Future of Personalized Tremor Therapy with Deanna Harshbarger, CEO of Cala Health

What if treating tremor meant personalizing therapy to your exact physiology, every single day? In this episode, Deanna Harshbarger, CEO of Cala Health, discusses how precision neuromodulation is transforming care by measuring each patient’s unique tremor and tailoring therapy in real-time. She explains why millions of essential tremor and Parkinson’s patients are left undertreated under today’s pharma-first, procedure-heavy system. She shares how Cala’s wearable, watch-like device restores daily function and dignity without habituation or invasive surgery. She also explains why modernizing reimbursement, regulation, and clinical workflows is crucial for digital therapeutics to scale. Tune in to discover how electricity is becoming medicine. Resources: * Connect with and follow Deanna Harshbarger on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-harshbarger-mba/]. * Follow Cala Health on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/cala-health-inc/] and explore their website [https://calahealth.com/].

From Lab to Lunch: How AI Is Reimagining Nutrition and Health with Dr. Ilias Tagkopoulos, chairman and founder of PIPA

What if the future of health starts not in a pharmacy, but in the food we eat? In this episode, Dr. Ilias Tagkopoulos, chairman and founder of PIPA, professor at UC Davis, and director at the USDA AI Institute, talks about how academia shaped his pursuit of long-term, high-impact innovation and how that led him to build AI platforms reshaping food, nutrition, and health. He shares a personal story that shifted his company's focus from broad AI applications to the power of diet and lifestyle. He explains how AI-as-a-service has evolved, why global talent has been crucial to scaling, and where AI can have the most immediate impact on nutrition. He also explores the future, from personalized diets based on biomarkers to the rise of agentic AI. Tune in to hear how AI is redefining the way we nourish and care for ourselves! Resources: * Connect with and follow Dr. Ilias Tagkopoulos on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilias-tagkopoulos-97a3342/]. * Follow PIPA on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pipa-llc/] and explore their website [https://pipacorp.com/]. * Follow UC Davis on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/uc-davis/]and visit their website [https://www.ucdavis.edu/].

The Untapped Potential Of AI To Tackle Complex Medical Problems with Viwat Visuthikraisee, Co-Founder and COO of Auransa

The most valuable breakthroughs in drug development come from finding the right direction before picking up speed. In this episode, Viwat Visuthikraisee, Co-Founder and COO of Auransa, discusses his journey from studying theoretical physics in Japan to building an AI-driven biotech company in the Bay Area. His early fascination with computers led to a career in software and, ultimately, to applying computational power to biopharma using human-derived molecular data to identify promising drug candidates early. He reflects on the role of large language models like ChatGPT as productivity tools that expand human capabilities without immediately replacing core programming skills. Viwat also discusses the challenges of drug discovery and advises founders to raise funds whenever possible, build the right team, and focus on long-term success. Tune in and learn how AI is transforming drug discovery, why direction matters more than speed, and what it takes to lead innovation in a high-stakes industry Resources: * Follow Auransa on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/auransa/about/] and visit their website [https://www.auransa.com/].