Techweek Podcast

Host, Brendan McCarthy visits the office of Cubii, makers of the first smart under-desk elliptical. CMO, Shivaji Jain, chats about combatting the 8-hour, sit-at-your-desk job with an extended, low-intensity workout routine. She shares insights on the impact Cubii demonstrates on metabolism, cognitive function, productivity, and weight loss. We also find out what surprising markets have really taken to Cubii, and why. Moving along, Shivani talks about the future of Cubii and what new markets and products they plan to introduce to become the biggest name in fitness tech. Be sure to listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud.

We chat with Toronto's own Vikram Somasundaram, the Co-founder & CEO of Edusight. Unlike other learning data platforms, Edusight innovates by assigning a trained learning advisor for every account. This helps school communities monitor student progress in alignment with state and national education standards. We cover learning data at the classroom level, all the way to the district level. We also look at pain points in the classroom, and the unique value of having a learning consultant to inform lesson planning and design. Lastly, Vikram shares his advice to young and aspiring entrepreneurs. Remember to listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud.

We interview ReviewTrackers Founder & CEO, Chris Campbell. ReviewTrackers recently raised $4M in funding, making them one of the companies to watch in the Chicago tech ecosystem. Chris tells you everything you didn't know about online product and service reviews. We find out why the first significant hire at ReviewTrackers was the Director of Customer Happiness, Crystal Shuller, and how that move has made all the difference in customer retention. Be sure to listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud.

Listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud. New episodes every #techtuesday!

We chat about The Nerdery's brand new UX Lab, where Dan and his team run simulations and tests with the goal of optimizing UX for their client's consumers. Dan will speak to the painpoints that come with building and operating a UX Lab. He'll also share stories about his recent projects, providing insight on his day-to-day and highlighting the amazing new technology he gets to work with. Listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud. New episodes every #techtuesday.

Ringr Founder & CEO, Tim Sinclair, joins us on the Techweek Podcast for the "No Pain, No Gain" segment, all about the painpoints that inspire innovation. Tim draws from his extensive background in broadcasting to tell the origin story of Ringr. Radio and broadcasting still hold on to an antiquated approach to content, one that's not easily sharable on social media nor marketed effectively to today's tech-equipped audience. Ringr came about as a solution to the problem of making audio recording an accessible and portable process. Listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud. New episodes every #techtuesday!

SPLT co-founders Anya Babbit and Yale Zhang talk about the painpoints that inspired their product. SPLT is improving both your daily commute and the world by making it easy for businesses to coordinate logical carpooling opportunities for employees. This is a great way for employees to save money, learn from mentors, and help the environment by reducing CO2 emissions. Later, Anya and Zhang offer helpful tips to startups looking to enter pitch competitions. They conclude by sharing their most recent startup endeavors. SPLT is definitely a company you want to keep an eye and an ear out for in 2016. Listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud. New episodes every #techtuesday.

This week we interview CEO of Sisters Code, Marlin Page. Sisters Code is an educational program for mature women looking to learn how to code, transition to a new career, or gain the skills to start that dream company. I love hearing about the way women, who may have never thought of themselves as "techies," find success in learning to code. Marlin shares stories about graduates who not only completed the Sisters Code education, but went on to make a powerful impact on the Detroit tech landscape. Marlin is a true, home-grown Detroitian. She draws from her keen knowledge on the city to suggest ways to improve it with tech entrepreneurship. She also takes the perspective of a parent to emphasize the importance of improving Detroit with education and encouragement. Listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud. New episodes every #techtuesday!

University of Michigan lecturer, Dr. Lauren Bigelow joins us to talk about Detroit's evolving tech economy. Lauren is also the CEO of Growth Capital Network out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. It's interesting to hear how her work at Growth Cap inspires her to share her wisdom with aspiring entrepreneurs. Lauren speaks candidly about the issues of blight and socio-economic stratification in the Detroit land-area. I'll get an inside view on how her several programs and initiatives have worked to combat these issues, and bring the tech community together. Listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google PLay, and SoundCloud. A new episode comes out every Tuesday morning.

Ned Staebler is the CEO of TechTown Detroit as well as the Director of Economic Development for Wayne State University. Ned chats with host, Brendan McCarthy about the intersection of education, tech, and the revitalization of Detroit. Ned shines a light on the grit and perseverance of the Detroit community. The local high school students in community programs are intelligent, capable, and hungry to build a better city. Ned also offers advice to young innovators based on his experience in academia. Ned points out the animosity between "new" and "old" citizens of Detroit. He concludes with a call to action, inviting techies from across the nation to consider Detroit as a home for their business. Listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud. New episodes every #techtuesday!

This week we bring you our favorite keynote speech from Techweek Detroit 2016. Shinola CMO, Bridget Russo, emphasizes the importance of shaping brand identity with the help of authentic storytelling. Bridget begins with her humble beginnings, growing up around factories and learning from her mother, a first-generation immigrant. She explains that Shinola's brand will always prioritize the community and consumer over traditional marketing tactics. Bridget encourages prospective business leaders to focus on mastering a skill before pursuing success on a higher plane. Listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud. New episodes every #techtuesday!

Imagine a music-sharing platform where you make friends, share music, and cultivate a music feed tailored specifically to your taste in music. Thankfully, this platform exists as Noted.fm. Brendan McCarthy chats with Co-Founders, Ben Hewitt and Tim Welch about their home for music lovers and sharers. Tim speaks to the innovating algorithm that filters your music feed to strictly users that tend to share your taste in music. Later, Ben and Tim take the Techweek Ten, where they discuss database plugins, emojis, and favorite artists. Listen, download, and subscribe to the Techweek Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud. New episodes every Tuesday morning.