Brought to you by the Apkudo team
Podcast Overview
Brought to you by the Apkudo team
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
6/5/2024
1 verified contact email on file for Apkudo Podcast
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
February 6, 2026
From Wild West to World Standard: The Evolution of CTIA Grading (Flavio Rossi)
Could a "Carfax for phones" eliminate billions in waste from the device supply chain? Flavio Rossi, Apkudo advisor and wireless industry veteran with experience at T-Mobile, Asurion, and as co-founder of Rexy Resale, discusses the critical work of the CTIA Reverse Logistics and Service Quality Group. The challenge? Multiple grading languages create confusion and erode trust in device trading. "You could have company A describe their device as a grade A, while company B would describe that same device as a grade B," Rossi explains. With major players like Apple, Samsung, and Verizon collaborating, the group has released five revisions since 2019. Rossi reveals humans are only 50% accurate at grading—can automation and standards like Device Passport finally create the "Carfax for phones" that the industry desperately needs? Flavio Rossi is an advisor to Apkudo and a seasoned wireless industry veteran with decades of experience spanning network infrastructure, carriers, and reverse logistics. His career includes leadership roles at Alltel, Verizon, Asurion, and a long tenure at T-Mobile, where he was first introduced to Apkudo in 2014 during the MetroPCS acquisition. In 2019, Rossi partnered with Apkudo to co-found Rexy Resale, which has grown to operate three facilities serving major carriers and OEMs across the US. He is an active member of the CTIA Reverse Logistics and Service Quality Group, working to standardize device grading across the industry. In this episode: (00:00) Introduction of Flavio Rossi and his wireless industry journey (02:31) CTIA grading standards and the reverse logistics working group (05:31) Evolution from revision one to five addressing device innovation (10:08) Automation removes subjectivity, humans only fifty percent accurate (12:40) Cost savings through trust, eliminating redundant grading and waste (15:53) US standards influence global markets and device passport initiative Send us your comments, ideas for future shows, and feedback. Subscribe to catch future episodes, and share this episode with someone who might be interested! Resources: Flavio Rossi LinkedIn Rexi Resale Apkudo Device Passport Apkudo LinkedIn Apkudo Second Sense Podcast
January 8, 2026
No Ports, No Problem: How CypherBlk Unlocked the Wearable Resale Market
Join Apkudo’s Allyson Mitchell (VP of Sustainability) as she welcomes Andrew Kroeger, Co-Founder of CypherBlk. Andrew reveals how his company solved what seemed impossible: testing and grading Apple Watches without a physical port. When Apple removed diagnostic ports from the Series 7, reverse logistics companies faced a crisis. Manual processes destroyed margins. Kroeger's background in data centers and cybersecurity led him to recognize the larger sustainability implications—60 million metric tons of e-waste annually. "We have to do such a better job partnering to keep up," he explains. How did CypherBlk crack the code? What role does Apkudo's platform play in scaling this innovation across the industry? Andrew Kroeger is Co-Founder of CypherBlk, a company specializing in portless device diagnostics and data sanitization for smartwatches and wearables. With over 25 years in technology, Andrew previously led teams at CDW and worked extensively in data centers and cybersecurity before entering the reverse logistics space eight years ago at Blancco. His work focuses on solving critical gaps in device lifecycle management while addressing the environmental and social impacts of e-waste. Through CypherBlk's partnership with Apkudo's ecosystem, Andrew is helping scale innovative solutions that enable accurate testing, grading, and data erasure for devices once considered impossible to process efficiently. In this episode: (00:00) Andrew Kroeger and CypherBlk ecosystem partnership (00:55) From VAR sales to sustainability in reverse logistics (10:42) Cracking the Apple Watch Series 7 portless diagnostics challenge (22:09) Scaling smartwatch solutions through Apkudo's platform integration (25:48) Collaborative future of device lifecycle and circular economy (28:43) Industry mindset shift from competition to cooperation Send us your comments, ideas for future shows, and feedback. Subscribe to catch future episodes, and share this episode with someone who might be interested! Resources: Andrew Kroeger LinkedIn Apkudo LinkedIn Apkudo Second Sense Podcast
December 2, 2025
Unlocking the Network Effect with the Powered by Apkudo Ecosystem
What happens when two specialized companies share data to create a complete technology ecosystem? Join Apkudo’s Allyson Mitchell (VP of Sustainability) as she welcomes Josh Beasley. Josh serves as partner and president of both Quick Ship Brands and Early Upgrade, two companies operating within the Powered by Apkudo ecosystem. With over 20 years of combined company experience, Quick Ship specializes in high-value device remarketing while Early Upgrade processes 2 million pieces of electronic equipment monthly for end-of-life recycling. Josh explains how these complementary businesses create a complete technology lifecycle solution without compromising expertise at any stage. "Finding one company that can manage them all and manage them all well, it doesn't exist," he notes. The conversation explores how standardized data sharing through the Apkudo ecosystem enables better decision-making across the supply chain. Can collaboration replace the inefficiencies of siloed operations? Josh shares his vision for modernizing industry standards to match the pace of technological advancement. In this episode: (00:00) Josh Beasley and his dual company roles (04:34) Josh's background from marketing internship to tech industry leadership (09:31) The powered by Apkudo ecosystem and benefits of standardized data (19:57) Supply chain complexity and managing devices across multiple partners (27:56) Industry standards evolution and sustainability in device lifecycle management (34:30) Closing thoughts on redefining end of life standards Send us your comments, ideas for future shows, and feedback. Subscribe to catch future episodes, and share this episode with someone who might be interested! Resources: Early Upgrade Quick Ship Brands Apkudo LinkedIn Apkudo Second Sense Podcast
18 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for Apkudo Podcast
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Apkudo Podcast?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates bi-weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Information about guest appearances is not available.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.