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PODCAST

The Tech Trek

The Tech Trek is a podcast for the people building the next generation of technology companies. Host Amir Bormand talks with founders, CTOs, and engineering leaders about the real decisions behind scaling teams, shipping product, and growing a technical organization from the ground up.

technology

All Episodes

00:31:03

How a Serial Founder Builds Enduring Companies

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/28

What does it take to build startups that last and come back for more? In this episode, Amir sits down with Russ Fradin, serial founder, longtime investor, and now CEO of Larridn. With nearly 30 years of experience and billions raised across multiple ventures, Russ shares what he’s learned about founding companies, hiring the right people, navigating pivots, and representing other people’s money with integrity. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a grounded, real-world look at what actually makes a

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00:24:31

Why the Boring Business Wins

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/25

What do founders get wrong when trying to build a startup? Jeff Gibson, CTO and co-founder at Kintsugi, joins the show to break down how he approaches building around real business problems—not flashy features. Drawing from pre-IPO roles at Atlassian and his journey scaling Kintsugi, Jeff shares why understanding cash flow, revenue mechanics, and operational bottlenecks is critical for building something that lasts. Whether you're a startup founder or tech leader, this one’s full of sharp

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00:25:08

How Great Engineering Leaders Show Impact

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/23

Ashok Srinivas, SVP of Engineering at Aledade, joins The Tech Trek to break down what it really means to have impact as an engineering leader. With experience at Microsoft, Snapchat, Indeed, Dropbox, and now Aledade, Ashok brings clarity on how to assess your value, earn trust, and align technical strategy to business outcomes. Whether you're leading at a scrappy startup or an enterprise giant, this conversation offers a grounded and practical lens on leading with purpose, adjusting your

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00:24:41

Left Facebook at 41 to Start From Zero

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/22

Vijaye Raji, CEO and founder of Statsig, left two decades of success at Microsoft and Facebook to start from scratch—at age 41. In this episode of The Tech Trek, we unpack the mindset, planning, and trade-offs that come with becoming a first-time founder later in life. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to leave the safety of big tech to chase a startup dream, this one’s for you.What You’ll Learn• Why Vijaye treated the decision to become a founder separately from the idea for Statsig•

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00:30:02

Why Most Data Teams Fail

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/17

What if your data science team could drive business outcomes across products, not just models? In this episode, Hicham El-Hassani shares a tested blueprint for building data teams that are adaptable, retention-proof, and ready to ship.With 18 years of experience, Hicham has led high-impact data science orgs across insurance and software—and he’s not afraid to challenge the standard playbook. He explains why most teams fail to scale, how generalist data scientists can outperform specialists, and what

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00:25:06

AI Isn’t the Threat. It’s the Upgrade

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/16

What does the “long tail” of AI really look like in a highly regulated industry? In this episode, Dave Wollenberg, VP of Enterprise Data & Analytics at Scan, breaks it down. From cautious experimentation to enabling non-technical users to build AI-driven POCs, Dave shares a grounded, practical perspective on AI adoption inside a Medicare Advantage organization.You’ll hear why the real transformation isn’t just technical—it’s cultural. We talk about how to shift employee mindsets, educate

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00:26:02

Unsexy Industry. Big Upside.

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/15

What happens when you bring Silicon Valley tech thinking into an “unsexy” industry? Alex Jekowsky, Co-founder and CEO of Cents, shares how his vertically integrated platform is quietly transforming garment care—starting with laundromats. In this conversation, Alex breaks down what it takes to digitize an analog industry, earn operator trust, and build deep value with a lean team. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to build vertical SaaS for SMBs, this is a masterclass.Key TakeawaysStart

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00:25:15

Turning GenAI Hype Into Enterprise Action

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/14

How do you turn GenAI excitement into real enterprise value—without leaving people behind?In this episode, Amir talks with Mike Urban, Chief Technology Operations Officer at Best Egg, about the overlooked muscle every company needs to build: change management. Mike shares how his team is navigating the real-world complexity of bringing GenAI into production across a highly regulated fintech org—while aligning control and risk teams as unexpected champions of innovation.If you’re trying to move fast

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00:19:10

How an AI Council Actually Drives Adoption

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/10

What does it take to build and scale AI responsibly inside a major media organization?In this episode, Amir sits down with Arvind Thinagarajan, formerly Head of Enterprise Data Science & Analytics at Gannett (publisher of USA Today), to unpack how they built a volunteer-driven AI Council that governs, guides, and accelerates AI initiatives across the company.From prioritization frameworks to cross-functional subcommittees, Arvind shares the inner workings of a model that supports nearly 90 AI

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00:24:58

How to Future-Proof Your AI Stack

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/09

What does it take to build AI systems that are private by design—and ready for tomorrow’s regulations?In this episode, I’m joined by Rishabh Poddar, CTO and Co-founder of Opaque Systems, to explore how data privacy, compliance, and AI innovation intersect in a rapidly evolving landscape. Rishabh breaks down the impact of emerging privacy laws, the risks with agentic AI systems, and why building cryptographic guarantees into the foundation of your AI stack isn’t optional—it’s essential.Whether you're

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00:25:26

Leaving Big Tech to Solve a Bigger Problem

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/08

What happens when a data-driven founder leaves Big Tech to tackle a broken healthcare system?In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Tim Edgar, Co-founder and CTO at Venteur, to unpack how deep personal insight, emotional connection, and data all play a role in identifying real-world problems worth solving. From launching Bing under Satya Nadella to co-founding companies with his sister, Tim shares how his experience across startups and Microsoft shaped his approach to product,

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00:26:07

Building a Startup Engineering Team from Scratch

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/07

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Davy Li, Head of Engineering at Mesa, a startup redefining how homeowners earn rewards on everyday home expenses. Davy shares his personal journey from Big Tech to startup life, unpacks how he’s built Mesa’s engineering team from scratch, and offers a refreshingly candid look at what it means to be an effective leader in a small but growing organization.From defining cultural values to hiring without a brand name, Davy drops wisdom on leadership,

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00:28:29

Leading with Curiosity: What Makes a Great Tech CEO

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/02

In this candid conversation, Bryan Mahoney unpacks his journey from CTO to CEO, exploring what it really takes to evolve beyond the engineering org into leading an entire company. We talk about how his curiosity and hands-on technical skills still shape how he leads today, the mental shifts required to manage AI-driven teams, and how leadership demands evolve as a company scales from services to SaaS.Along the way, Bryan reflects on AI’s role in shaping engineering culture, the future of career

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00:25:34

This Is How Founders Actually Build Culture

The Tech Trek ·

2025/07/01

What does it really take to build company culture from the ground up—especially when you’ve done it more than once? In this episode, Amir sits down with Darren Nix, founder and CEO of Steadily Insurance, to talk about the wins and missteps that come with building startups. Darren shares what’s stayed the same (and what hasn’t) across the four companies he’s founded, and why being deliberate about culture is more important than ever.They get into how founders leave their fingerprints on

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00:31:44

AI Is Reinventing the Car Buying Experience

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/30

In this episode, Amir sits down with Jay Vijayan, Founder and CEO of Tekion, to explore how digital transformation and AI are modernizing the automotive retail industry. They dive deep into the complexities of dealership systems, the supply chain ripple effects of tariffs, and the evolving consumer experience. Jay explains why legacy systems can't meet today’s expectations and how Tekion is building a unified platform that supports everything from purchase to after-sales. They also unpack why

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00:27:33

Are Your Apps Ready for AI Agents?

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/26

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Reed McGinley-Stempel, co-founder and CEO of Stytch, to explore what it means for applications to be agent ready. With the rise of agentic AI—intelligent systems that can take actions on behalf of users—the landscape for SaaS and consumer-facing apps is rapidly evolving.Reed breaks down the core concepts around agent integration, including how apps must prepare to serve not just human users but also AI agents acting on their behalf. They discuss

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00:24:00

What Is Growth Engineering? Here's How It Really Works

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/25

In this episode, Amir chats with Jason Fellin, Head of Growth Engineering at OnX Maps, to unpack what makes growth engineering unique. Jason shares how his team focuses on speed, experimentation, and measurable business impact rather than long-term architecture. From hiring strategies to cross-functional collaboration with marketing, this conversation offers a tactical look at building and leading a growth engineering org.🧠 Key Takeaways:Validate, Don’t Overbuild: Growth engineering emphasizes

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00:20:58

Her Journey: Sales Leader to Cybersecurity CEO

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/24

In this episode, Amir sits down with Brooke Motta, CEO and co-founder of RAD Security, to unpack her career pivot from sales leadership to becoming a founder in the cybersecurity space. Brooke shares how her go-to-market background shaped her approach to building RAD, the challenge of stepping into technical leadership, how she’s managing growth through hiring, and what’s ahead for security and AI. Whether you're a technical founder or commercial operator, this one’s packed with practical

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00:22:01

Forge Your Own Leadership Path

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/23

In this episode, Richard Girges, CTO at MNTN, breaks down the appeal and risk of emulating high-profile leaders like Elon Musk or Steve Jobs. From startup life to scaling teams, Richard shares how leaders can avoid the missteps of mimicry and instead cultivate their unique "mode of genius." You’ll learn how intuition, failure, and self-awareness play a vital role in effective leadership—and why copying the “death stare” won’t make you a visionary.🔑 Key TakeawaysEmulating leaders can be a

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00:22:24

The Secret to Winning a Two-Sided Marketplace

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/20

In this episode, Amir sits down with Brian McMahon, CEO and co-founder of Pickle—a fashion rental marketplace aiming to become the Airbnb for everyday items. Brian unpacks how Pickle solved the classic two-sided marketplace dilemma, why hyperlocal supply is their secret weapon, and how AI is powering everything from product tagging to customer support. They also dive into the evolution of Pickle’s fundraising strategy—from getting no investor traction to securing repeat backers. Whether you're

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656 results

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