The Engineering Entrepreneur Podcast

Making a More Efficient Hot Water Heater – Tiago Bandeira – Ep 116

Making a More Efficient Hot Water Heater – Tiago Bandeira – Ep 116 Tiago Bandeira is the founder of Klugit Company. His first product is an electric hot water heater. The problem is that a regular hot water heater does a constant on off cycle due to heat loss. This cycling wastes a lot of energy. We talk about how he started this company while working at Bosch, which is ironically a company I used to work for. Bosch sponsored this project and didn’t take any equity. A very strange thing to hear but great for Tiago. Tiago also ran a kickstarter campaign to prove the concept and that went very well. Number one tip: Go for it. It is normal to feel that you are not good enough. Contact info: https://klugitenergy.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiagosbandeira/

Fulcrum, a SAAS ERP, MRP and MES Platform – Sunny Han – Ep 115

Fulcrum, a SAAS ERP, MRP and MES Platform – Sunny Han – Ep 115 Sunny is the CEO and Founder of Fulcrum. We talked mostly about ERP systems (which stands for enterprise resource planning). Most companies these days have ERP systems but many of them are not good. For example, many are not connected to the internet and therefore you would need to be at the factory to have access to the data. One of the advantages of his company is his software will work for many different types of manufacturers. A lot of the software right now is only good for specialized manufacturing. Number one tip: Start a lot earlier than you think. Start right away The doing of it teaches you what you need to know Contact info: sunny@fulcrumpro.com

DPX Orion Underwater Tablet – Ali Keskin – Ep 114

DPX Orion Underwater Tablet – Ali Keskin – Ep 114  Ali Keskin is the Business Manager of the company, Innovasub.   Innovasub is an underwater innovative technology firm founded by the ‘Design with Divers’ perception 15 years ago.  They have a new product called DPX Orion that just finished a Kickstarter Campaign. The DPX Orion is a water tight tablet case for scuba divers that has many applications like 3D mapping program, dive computer app, visual sensus apps, messaging to other divers, and more.   Number one tip: “In order to be successful you need to find the requirements of the industry.”  Contact info: www.innovasub.com 

TangoTeams Software Development – Alex Murrey– Ep 113

TangoTeams Software Development – Alex Murrey– Ep 113 Alex is the Head of North American Operations for TangoTeams, a startup that’s redefining the software development outsourcing industry. His career started at a law firm where he helped the firm implement their own software for tracking cases. Later he worked for a digital agency. At TangoTeams, they spend a lot of time upfront to truly understand the clients’ needs so that the right product is built. A big problem as a service provider (like me) doing this is that you can waste a lot of time doing research that you never get paid for. TangoTeams works as a subscription service for software development. Number one tip: If you’re going to think about building software, is outsourcing the right thing for you? Contact info: www.Tangoteams.com Linkedin: Alex Murrey

Artificial Intelligence – Peter Voss – Ep 112

Artificial Intelligence – Peter Voss – Ep 112 Joining us today is Peter Voss, a pioneer in AI who coined the term ‘Artificial General Intelligence’ and the CEO and Chief Scientist at Aigo.ai. For the past 15 years, Voss and his team at Aigo have been perfecting an industry disruptive, highly intelligent, and hyper-personalized Chatbot, with a brain, for large enterprise customers. Peter started as an electronics engineer. He quit that and didn’t even finish high school. He taught himself programming and started a company selling accounting software. He grew that company to 400 people and then sold that business. After this company he got into artificial intelligence and a lot of our talk was focused on this subject. We covered areas like chat bots, teaching employees, and an artificial intelligence personal assistant. His number one tip: The thing he regrets the most is he waited to 25 to start his first company. He wishes he started sooner. Contact info: http://www.aigo.ai/ peter@aigo.ai

Sheet Metal Expert - Andrea Dallan - Ep 111

Sheet Metal Expert - Andrea Dallan - Ep 111 Andrea Dallan is an engineer, an entrepreneur and CEO of Dallan Spa, an Italian family business that has been producing systems for the processing of thin sheet metal since 1978. They have 160 employees that include engineers, technicians and operations. He is the author of the books “The Revolution of Efficiency” (2020) and “Think Thin”. Most mechanical engineers like myself are familiar with sheet metal and how it is processed. However, if you are not, it is pretty fascinating how you can take a thin flat piece of metal and turn it into say a car door or dishwasher housing (my actual experience). Andrea talks about all the problems he has seen and solved in his years of experience in sheet metal processing and wrote 2 books about it. Number one tip: “To write a book, you must have some interesting to say.” Contact info: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreadallan/

CEO of The North Face Company - Hap Klopp - Ep 110

CEO of The North Face Company - Hap Klopp - Ep 110  Hap Klopp spent 20 years as CEO and President of The North Face. In that time, he turned two small retail stores into one of the most recognized and well-respected outdoor gear companies in the world.  He also authored 2 books (and my uncle Brian Tarcy wrote the books).  1. Conquering the North Face  2. Almost  We discussed his background and how he started the company. One thing that he wanted different about his company was that he wanted to women and men to have equal opportunities at his company (at the time, it was common that women were paid less than men). Also, he wanted his products to have a minimal environmental impact.   He has since sold his company and is now a professor at Hult International Business School.  Number one tip:  Great quote from German philosopher: “You can sit and talk forever about what you are going to do, but you must get started to succeed.”   Contact info:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hap-klopp-b3b976/ 

Outer Space Logistics – Luca Rossettini- Ep 109

Outer Space Logistics – Luca Rossettini- Ep 109  Luca Rossettini is the CEO and Co-founder of D-Orbit, Expert at the Space Advisory Group of the European Commission. He is an Aerospace Engineer with a Ph.D. in advanced space propulsion, awarded with honors by Politecnico di Milano.  Early in life, his goal was to be an astronaut, but he was not selected. So, he pivoted and started his company.  His company runs logistics for satellite operators. Think of a telecom company that needs a satellite put into orbit. D-orbit will handle all the logistics of getting this satellite in position.  Number one tip:   D-orbit is Luca’s 3rd company. He has learned that the initial team is very important. Need everyone fully committed.  Contact info:  www.dorbit.space  ceo@dorbit.space   

Create a business that can thrive without you – John Warrillow - Ep 108

Create a business that can thrive without you – John Warrillow - Ep 108  John Warrillow is the Founder of The Value Builder System, a simple software for building the value of a company used by thousands of businesses worldwide.  John is an expert on how to guide business owners to structure their business so that is sellable. John has built and sold 4 companies. He has written 3 books on the topic.  When you want to sell your business, the key is to make sure your business is not dependent on you. One of the key ways to do this is to make sure you have recurring revenue.   John’s number one tip: “Find something that makes you unique and protect the idea.”  Contact info: www.Builttosell.com 

Blockchain-powered Gold - Nick Prouten - Ep 107

Blockchain-powered Gold - Nick Prouten - Ep 107 Nick is a veteran in public speaking and a team leader able to pitch projects, ideas and concepts. A firm believer that diversity is strength. Nicholas has worked in a wide array of industries ranging from cyber security, gaming, real estate, entertainment, tech and blockchain.  We first discuss the basics of crypto and blockchain. Then we talked about how investing gold and silver is a good idea to diversify your investing risk.   Number one tip:  “If you don’t have a digital strategy, get learning now. Everything will be held on a blockchain in 10 years.”  Contact info:  Website: https://lode.one/  Twitter: @NicholasProuten