Tech Talks Daily

When building a successful startup, the difference between thriving and failing often lies in understanding the journey itself. Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Gregory Shepard, the entrepreneur behind "The Startup Lifecycle" and the founder of the Startup Science platform. Gregory's research-driven insights offer a clear and practical roadmap that challenges the myths that have surrounded startup culture for decades. In our conversation, Gregory shared how his five-year research project revealed why so many startups fail and what can be done to reverse that trend. With data showing that 47.1 percent of startups fail within the first 18 months, Gregory highlights the critical importance of getting the earliest decisions right.  Overvaluation, misunderstanding capital needs, premature scaling, and neglecting to consider an exit strategy from the start are some common missteps he passionately helps founders avoid. Gregory also discussed the seven stages of the startup lifecycle he created, paying particular attention to the often overlooked stages of standardization and optimization.  Rather than rushing from product development to rapid growth, he emphasizes the need to stabilize and streamline operations first to ensure that scaling brings real profitability, not just top-line growth. This mindset shift alone could dramatically alter the success rate of new businesses. Beyond the book, Gregory has built the Startup Science platform, a comprehensive ecosystem designed to give founders access to mentors, investors, grants, classes, and curated resources all in one place. It is not just about reading a book or attending a workshop. It is about systematically embedding success principles into every aspect of the entrepreneurial journey. We also talked about the current startup climate and why economic downturns often lead to a surge in entrepreneurial activity. Gregory's advice is simple yet powerful: bunker down, stay focused, and view this period as an opportunity rather than a barrier. Investors still back good companies even when the broader environment feels uncertain. Throughout our conversation, Gregory's passion for supporting marginalized entrepreneurs and his commitment to the social and environmental impact of startups shone through. His belief that entrepreneurship is a true driver of global progress resonated deeply with me. Every aspiring founder can learn from their structured approach to resilience and success. For those curious about the real factors behind startup success, I highly recommend checking out "The Startup Lifecycle" and exploring the resources available at GregoryShepard.com and StartupScience.io. If you are serious about your entrepreneurial dreams, this is one conversation you cannot afford to miss.

How can computer vision and AI reshape the future of coaching, player development, and fan engagement in sports? In today's episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Lauren Pedersen, CEO and co-founder of Sport AI, to explore how AI brings advanced sports analysis to athletes and coaches everywhere, not just to elite professionals. Lauren shares the inspiring journey that led her from New Zealand to Norway and from NCAA Division 1 tennis player to tech entrepreneur. Sport AI is leading a movement to democratize access to professional-grade coaching tools, offering real-time tactical and technical analysis in racket sports like tennis, paddle, and pickleball.  Using computer vision to track body movement and ball contact points from video alone without the need for wearables, Sport AI delivers data-backed insights directly to coaches and players through integrations with camera-enabled courts and coaching platforms. We also dive into how Sport AI's technology serves sports organizations, academies, equipment brands, and broadcasters, providing valuable performance data and creating new revenue streams for local clubs. Lauren talks about the balance between AI and human coaching, how AI enhances but never replaces the coach's role, and why social engagement and player empowerment are at the heart of this sports technology evolution. Lauren's vision stretches beyond racket sports, hinting at future expansions into golf, basketball, and baseball, wherever repetitive motion training can benefit from biomechanical analysis. As the sports world embraces AI and camera technology at scale, what does this mean for the future of training, competition, and how athletes of all levels experience the game? Tune in to learn how Sport AI makes advanced sports insights accessible to all and what lies ahead for this exciting intersection of sports and technology.

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I'm joined by Sunil Singhvi, Head of Arts & Culture at TriliTech, the London-based blockchain hub helping shape the future of digital experiences through the Tezos ecosystem. Sunil brings a rare blend of deep tech, culture, and media expertise, having held senior roles at Twitter, Instagram, and Rarible before joining Trilitech. His mission? To explore how blockchain isn't just about tokens and ledgers but about real human connection, particularly between creators, brands, and their communities. What stood out in our conversation is how Sunil views blockchain as a vehicle for restoring creative autonomy and rebuilding trust in the creator-fan relationship. Through compelling examples like Manchester United's Fantasy United game and McLaren's collectible-driven fandom, we explore how Tezos enables ownership, co-creation, and authentic engagement that outpaces traditional social platforms and algorithms. We unpack the evolution of NFTs, moving beyond the speculative bubble of the past into more grounded use cases that offer tangible benefits. From supporting emerging artists through royalty-respecting marketplaces like objkt.com to enabling fans to co-create digital artwork through platforms such as editart.xyz, the conversation highlights a meaningful shift in how digital creativity is produced and experienced. Sunil paints a future where fans become collaborators and artists regain long-lost visibility into who their supporters truly are. We also reflect on the power of community, where smaller and more engaged groups increasingly matter more than vast but disengaged audiences. And perhaps most importantly, we explore what happens when creative expression is no longer dictated by opaque systems but driven by transparent, decentralized tools. Could blockchain finally deliver on the promise of a fairer and more inclusive creative economy? And if so, how can artists, brands, and everyday users participate in this movement without repeating the missteps of earlier digital revolutions? Let us know your thoughts. Could Web3 be the reset button creative industries have been waiting for?

In today's episode, I sat down with Mary Hamilton, Global Lead for Accenture's Connected Innovation Centers, to explore how the landscape of artificial intelligence is shifting. As we mark the 25th anniversary of Accenture's Technology Vision report, this year's insights reveal a profound transition into an era of AI-powered autonomy—reshaping how enterprises operate and how people and technology work together. Mary took us inside the key findings from the Tech Vision 2025 report, which is centered on the growing role of AI as a true partner rather than just a tool. From acting as a co-developer to becoming a brand ambassador and even powering robotics in the physical world, AI is on a fast trajectory toward becoming a foundational layer across every business function. However, Mary made it clear that technology alone isn't enough. Without trust in the systems being built, none of this innovation will land as intended. As she shared, building confidence in AI must be both cognitive and emotional—leaders must ensure that AI systems behave in expected, transparent ways and that people feel confident in their interactions with them. We also discussed how enterprises can harness what Accenture calls "cognitive digital brains" through multi-agent systems that enable intent-driven rather than instruction-led technology. Mary unpacked how these architectures, combined with AI platforms like GenWizard and SynOps are already transforming how companies create, operate, and innovate. We explored how brands can differentiate themselves in an AI-first world, where intelligent systems increasingly mediate customer interactions. She explained that one of the most significant risks is that ever sounds sound the same unless companies inject their values and personality into their AI experiences. We also touched on the rise of general-purpose robots, which have gained specialist capabilities and brought flexibility to logistics and manufacturing. Through examples with companies like KION and Schaeffler, Mary described a future where AI-enhanced robots work alongside humans in more agile, adaptive ways Finally, we tackled the human side of adoption. Mary shared why upskilling employees, giving them time to experiment, and aligning culture with AI goals are vital for lasting impact. Measuring success in this space requires more than cost savings or productivity gains. Ethical compliance, trust-building, and workforce empowerment are also essential signals that businesses are moving in the right direction. So, what does it take to turn AI from a buzzword into a practical driver of reinvention? How can leaders build a digital foundation ready for a future defined by autonomy and intelligence? Tune in to hear how Accenture is answering those questions—and helping the enterprise world do the same.

What does it mean to be a digitally engaged customer in 2025? That question sits at the heart of my conversation with Kim Storin, Chief Marketing Officer at Zoom. Just two days into her role, Kim brings a fresh perspective shaped by decades of experience and a track record of building and transforming iconic brands. She joins me to discuss the evolution of Zoom, the changing expectations of modern customers, and how the CMO role is being redefined in an era of AI-powered transformation. In this episode, Kim shares how Zoom is expanding far beyond meetings. Most people know Zoom for its video conferencing, but the platform now includes capabilities across events, webinars, contact center, email, scheduling, and employee engagement. Zoom is evolving into a complete communications and collaboration platform, and Kim offers insight into how her team will help shift perception while staying laser-focused on customer outcomes. We explore the shift from performance-heavy marketing to a more balanced approach that re-centers brand, storytelling, and product alignment. Kim emphasizes how the modern customer prefers to research independently, often completing most of their journey before ever engaging with a salesperson. This makes marketing more critical than ever, requiring clear, relevant messaging across every touchpoint. She also highlights the need to improve self-service experiences, especially as more enterprises seek the right balance between automation and human connection. Kim offers thoughtful insights on integrating AI in marketing, not as a replacement, but as a superpower. From content development and competitive analysis to strategic planning, she shares how her teams are already using generative tools to enhance productivity and creativity.  This episode is packed with real-world observations on digital transformation, customer engagement, and the changing dynamics of marketing leadership. Whether you're a founder, marketer, or tech leader navigating the future of work, this conversation with Zoom's new CMO will give you ideas to reflect on and strategies to explore. How are you evolving your approach to marketing in a digital-first world?