Deep Tech

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.

Follow Affinity.co on LinkedIn and explore their website.

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.

Follow Cala Health on LinkedIn and explore their website.

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.

Follow PIPA on LinkedIn and explore their website.

Follow UC Davis on LinkedIn and visit their website.

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 and visit their website.

Scientific integrity, mission-driven purpose, and great teams are the true drivers of innovation.

In this episode, Dr. Chris Murphy, CEO and founder of Ocular Services on Demand, a distinguished veterinary ophthalmologist and serial healthcare entrepreneur, shares his journey from veterinary ophthalmology into entrepreneurship and medical innovation. He describes how his early curiosity about raptor eyes led to a passion for research and business, influenced by his academic foundation at Cornell. Dr. Murphy explores the comparative anatomy of vision across species and how animals adapt their sight for survival. His work on ocular wound healing expanded into broader medical ventures, resulting in companies like Imbed Biosciences and OSOD. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes integrity in leadership, science-driven innovation, and the importance of building teams for societal good.

Tune in and learn how one man bridged the gap between science, startups, and service to leave behind a legacy that truly heals!

Resources:


Connect with and follow Dr. Christopher Murphy on LinkedIn.


Follow Ocular Services on Demand (OSOD) on LinkedIn and visit their website.


Learn more about Imbed Biosciencies on their LinkedIn and explore their website.


Read Confucius: The Secular As Sacred by Herbert Fingarette here.