In an era defined by technologies like Generative AI, concerns have arisen about technology's potential dominance. Nevertheless, there exists a multitude of individuals harnessing technology for the betterment of society. The Impact-Up podcast aims to illuminate the journeys of startups, visionary business leaders, and tech practitioners who are harnessing technology to foster positive change. We will focus on the popular startup space but offer our own unique slant by drawing unexpected linkages between the worlds of startups and enterprise.
Harnessing urban wind, with Katrick Technologies’ Karthik Velayutham
Katrick Technologies is revolutionizing wind energy with its device designed specifically for urban environments. In this podcast episode, Founder and CTO Karthik Velayutham explains how traditional large wind turbines don't work well in cities due to turbulent wind conditions and the large blades. His solution uses an array of independently oscillating aerofoils contained within an aesthetic, noise-reducing hexagonal duct, to efficiently capture turbulent wind energy. Karthik describes how this technology is complementary to conventional wind farms and solar: able to access wind energy in areas like airports, highways, and buildings that larger turbines cannot. Michael Jacobs from the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, talks about the impact on communities when moving to renewables, and the role of AI in determining patterns of supply and demand.
Check out Katrick Technologies' wind panels: https://www.katricktechnologies.com/wind-technologies (https://www.katricktechnologies.com/wind-technologies)
Learn more about how the IBM Sustainability Accelerator helps local communities: https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator (https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator**)
27 Feb 2024
How climate data is helping smallholder farmers make better decisions, with Plan21's Fabián Román
In this episode of Impact-Up, Daryl Pereira interviews Fabián Román, a partner and beneficiary of the IBM Sustainability Accelerator. Over the last few years, Fabián has been working through Plan21 to connect smallholder farmers in Latin America to the technologies developed via the IBM Sustainability Accelerator to understand their environmental footprint and optimize resource usage. Through using the simple YvY mobile app and the data it provides, these farmers have learned how to improve their economic and sustainability strategies for more resilient agriculture. Hendrik Hamann from IBM Research also explains the latest in climate science, including the role of artificial intelligence (AI). Tune in to learn more about the collaboration between the IBM Sustainability Accelerator and Plan21.
Explore Plan21’s initiatives: https://plan21.org/en/ (https://plan21.org/en/)
Learn more about how the IBM Sustainability Accelerator is helping local communities: https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator (https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator)
18 Jan 2024
Sensors and sustainability with Nick Zennaro from The Connected Shop
In this episode of Impact-Up, host Daryl Pereira welcomes Nick Zennaro, founder of The Connected Shop. From smart home to smart agriculture, The Connected Shop creates technology that can help users save time, money, and energy. Joined by Michael Jacobs, leader of Sustainability and Social Innovation for IBM, this conversation touches on how collecting the right data can help everyone from vulnerable communities to larger real estate companies.
Learn more about how Nick turned his valuable business idea into a sustainability driver through developing meaningful technologies that change peoples lives.
Explore The Connected Shop, take a look at their website: https://theconnectedshop.com/ (https://theconnectedshop.com/)
Learn more about how the IBM Sustainability Accelerator is helping local communities: https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator (https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator)
14 Dec 2023
Using data & AI for climate adaptation with Project OWL's Bryan Knouse
In this episode of Impact-Up, host Daryl Pereira welcomes Bryan Knouse, developer and entrepreneur behind Project OWL. What started as a disaster relief solution has turned into a sustainable technology business that helps communities across the world understand climate change and adapt. Joined by Suzanne Livingston, VP of Engineering at IBM's Sustainability Software, this conversation explores how technology can help communities become more resilient in the face of the impacts of climate change.
Learn more about Bryan’s journey from becoming a serial hackathon participant to a full-fledged entrepreneur through his love for competition and creative problem solving. In this episode we continue to explore the perspective of sustainability as the foundation of a business and how it allowed Project OWL to adapt to use cases outside the typical “sustainability” market. Join us for an intriguing conversation about technology, artificial intelligence, creative problem solving, and sustainable practices shaping the future of our environmental solutions and more!
Key takeaways:
Project OWL originally started as a disaster-resilient communication network using solar-powered devices to help disaster response
They have expanded their offering to include sensor networks and climate/emissions monitoring
They use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to identify climate change patterns and help organizations with climate adaptation
To explore Project OWL, take a look at their website: https://www.project-owl.com/ (https://www.project-owl.com/ )
Learn more about IBM solutions for climate adaptation: https://www.ibm.com/products/environmental-intelligence-suite (https://www.ibm.com/products/environmental-intelligence-suite)
7 Nov 2023
Navigating the path between business and sustainability with BAE Boats
In this episode of Impact-Up, host Daryl Pereira welcomes Robyn and Logan, the visionary entrepreneurs behind Bae Boats, an electric boat rental business in Alameda, CA. Joined by Suzanne Livingston, VP of Engineering at IBM's Sustainability Software, this insightful conversation delves into the world of sustainable entrepreneurship and the journey of Bay Boats from a pandemic-born idea to a thriving reality.
Gain valuable insights into the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned, including the importance of patience and continuous learning in entrepreneurship. In this episode we explore the perspective of how sustainable solutions can be a key factor in business models through solving consumer problems, rather than being used as a sales tactic. Join us for an inspiring conversation that showcases the power of innovative technology, resilience, and sustainable practices in shaping the future of boating and beyond.
Learn more about BAE Boats on their website: https://www.baeboats.com/ (https://www.baeboats.com/ )
Host of Impact-Up: Entrepreneurs on Tech for Good?
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