Next Biz Thing: Unveiling Tomorrow's Business

About Next Biz Thing: Unveiling Tomorrow's Business

The Next Biz Thing is a podcast that delves deeper into the next businesses that will disrupt the way industries function. We showcase the face of the future in each and every episode. It is the innovators and the disruptors from across the globe, as well as the exclusive insights into what they went through and the solutions that they came up with. Next Biz Thing is a podcast where we dive deeper than the surface level to discuss the next wave of businesses that will revolutionize the way a particular industry functions. We bring you the face of the future in every single podcast, which represents the entrepreneurs, disruptors, and innovators across the world. What we aim to do is feature such companies and make them known to the public, and give entrepreneurs an audience to share their vision, achievements, and experiences. We also reveal strategies that such companies are utilizing in their bid to gain rapid growth and influence. Those who will be listening will be not only updated with the latest trends in business innovations but also emotionally influenced through the stories of the Entrepreneurs' spirit, creativity, and Leadership which form the path to the business giants of the future. This is the ideal platform where entrepreneurs, investors, and persons with a passion for business can meet to exchange their insights and perspectives regarding the future of business. Let us explore the newest developments in innovative business and take a sneak peek at the future. https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-next-biz-thing

Publisher

Markus J. Diplama

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Feb 2024

Latest episode

24 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

438 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Oct 2026

   Next Biz Thing #438 precursal.com

   Precursal (https://precursal.com/) https://precursal.com/ In this episode of The Next Biz Thing, Markus J. Diplama explores Precursal, an AI platform that helps inventors ideate, develop and protect their ideas inside one all in one workspace. Listeners learn how Professor Eddi, the five dimension assessment and the invention landscape view support early invention work, and why documenting human contribution matters in an AI assisted world. With early access open to the first one thousand users, Precursal is a business worth watching. Tune in, then check out Precursal to see how it can support your next big idea. What if the next great invention is sitting in someone's notebook right now, a sketch on a napkin, a half-built prototype in a garage, an idea that has never been checked against what already exists in the world? Every inventor knows that feeling. You have a spark, you believe in it, and then comes the question that can slow everything down: is this actually new, and how do I protect it? Welcome back to The Next Biz Thing, the show where we spotlight innovative and emerging businesses and help you understand the worlds they are shaping. I am your host, Markus J. Diplama, and today I am excited to take you inside a company built for exactly that moment of inspiration. It is called Precursal, and it describes itself as an AI platform for inventors. Let me set the scene. Inventing has always been part creativity and part paperwork. The creative part is thrilling. You explore, you tinker, you connect dots no one else has connected. The paperwork part, the research into prior work, the documentation of how an idea came to life, the preparation of materials for people who will review it, is where many promising ideas lose momentum. Precursal was created to bring those two sides of the journey into one place. The company's tagline captures the whole approach in three words: Ideate. Develop. Protect. Those are the three stages of an invention's early life, and the platform is designed to support all of them inside what it calls an all in one workspace. Instead of jumping between scattered notes, search tools and documents, an inventor can work through the whole path from first idea to organized documentation without constantly changing tools. Let us start with the first stage, ideation. Precursal helps people explore an idea and open up the possibilities around it. According to the company, a single run can explore somewhere between fifteen and thirty different invention directions. Think about what that means in practice. Many of us have a single version of an idea in our heads, and we naturally fall in love with it. Seeing a range of directions can reveal angles you never considered, variations that might be easier to build, or paths that sit in less crowded territory. That is the kind of creative breadth a good brainstorming partner provides, and here that partner is software. Speaking of partners, the platform includes an AI assistant called Professor Eddi. I love that name, because it signals the spirit of the product. This is meant to feel like a knowledgeable guide sitting beside you while you work through your thinking, helping you ask better questions about your own invention. For solo inventors who do not have a research team or a patent department down the hall, having a guide like that available whenever inspiration strikes can make a real difference. Now let us move to development, and this is where the platform gets especially interesting. Precursal offers a five dimension assessment of an idea. The dimensions are novelty, overlap, differentiation, contribution and competition. Let me walk through why that mix is so thoughtful. Novelty asks how new the idea really is. Overlap looks at where it touches existing work. Differentiation focuses on what makes your approach distinct. Contribution considers what you personally are adding to the field. And competition looks at who else is operating in the same space. Together, those five lenses give an inventor a structured way to look at an idea honestly, instead of relying only on gut feeling. Alongside that, there is an invention landscape view, and the company talks about mapping what it calls white space. If you have ever looked at a map and noticed an empty region where nobody has built anything yet, you understand the appeal. In the world of inventions, white space is the open territory where an idea has room to stand on its own. Being able to see that landscape visually, rather than reading through endless lists, is a powerful shift for anyone trying to decide where to focus their energy. Research is a big part of this stage too. Precursal supports prior art research, which simply means looking at what has already been published or patented so you understand the existing world around your idea. The company states that it draws on a database of more than twelve million United States utility patents. Whatever your field, from mechanical devices to software driven tools, being able to search a collection of that size from the same workspace where you develop your idea is a genuine time saver. And that brings me to the protect stage, which is where Precursal's philosophy really shines. The platform is built around a human first approach to documenting conception. Here is why that matters. In a world where AI tools are increasingly part of how people create, it becomes important to record clearly who contributed what and how an idea developed. Precursal focuses on documenting the human contribution in AI assisted invention work, creating a clear record of the inventor's own thinking and decisions along the way. For founders, engineers and research teams working with modern tools, that kind of organized documentation is a thoughtful answer to a question that is only going to become more common. I also want to highlight something the company is careful and transparent about. Precursal states clearly that it is not a law firm and that it does not provide legal advice. It does not claim to determine or guarantee novelty, patentability, validity or enforceability. Instead, the platform helps inventors prepare materials so that they can walk into a conversation with patent counsel better organized and better informed. I find that refreshingly honest. The best tools know their role, and this one is about preparation and clarity, leaving the professional legal judgment to the professionals. Cost is a topic every inventor thinks about, and the company is upfront about its ambition here. It talks about reducing patent preparation costs by roughly ninety percent compared with traditional routes. Now, every inventor's situation is different, but the intention is clear: make serious invention work more accessible, so that a brilliant idea is not held back simply because the early research and documentation feel too expensive or too daunting. When the barrier to getting started drops, more people get to bring their ideas into the world, and that is good news for all of us. Who is this for? Precursal speaks to independent inventors, founders, engineers, research and development teams, and patent and legal teams. That is a wide and interesting audience. A garage inventor can use it to organize a first idea. A startup founder can use it to understand the landscape before pitching investors. An engineering team can use it to keep a clean record as a concept evolves. And legal teams can benefit from receiving well structured material to review. One platform serving all of those people tells you something about how flexible the approach is. The company is currently in an early access and waitlist phase, and it is offering the first one thousand users the chance to test the product for free. If you have ever wanted a low pressure way to see ho...

2. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Next Biz Thing #437 piacademy.hubhound.com

   Hubhound PI Career Launch Academy (https://piacademy.hubhound.com/license-exam-and-launch-academy) https://piacademy.hubhound.com/license-exam-and-launch-academy This episode of The Next Biz Thing spotlights the PI Career Launch Academy from Hubhound, an online course that pairs state private investigator licensing exam preparation with practical career launch training. Markus J. Diplama explores the fifteen module curriculum, the founder's decades of investigative and law enforcement experience, the practice questions, workbooks and community access, and the business guidance designed to help new investigators find their first clients. Listen in for a clear look at how a modern, self paced program can turn exam study into a working career, then explore the academy to see what fits your path. What does it actually take to become a private investigator? Most of us picture a trench coat, a dimly lit office and a case that unravels in an hour. The real picture is far more interesting, and far more demanding. It involves state licensing exams, legal frameworks, careful documentation, ethical limits and, if you want to work for yourself, the ability to build a business from nothing. And today I want to talk about a program that treats all of those pieces as one journey. Welcome back to The Next Biz Thing. I'm Markus J. Diplama, and this show is all about spotlighting innovative and emerging businesses, and helping you understand the niches they work in. Today's subject is the PI Career Launch Academy from Hubhound, an online course built for people who want to pass their state private investigator licensing exam and then actually launch a working career. Let me set the scene first. Hubhound is the name behind Hubhound Investigations, a licensed investigation firm based in Portland, Oregon, that works with clients nationwide. The firm describes its work in areas such as criminal defense support, family matters, background checks, workplace investigations and surveillance, and it emphasizes discretion, confidentiality and ethical, legal methods. The academy grows out of that real world practice. It is not a course invented by people who have only read about the profession. It is a course shaped by an operating firm. And that brings us to the person at the center of it. The academy is led by Joel Manley, who is described as having more than thirty five years of experience. His story begins in 1987 as a military police officer and investigator, where he received a U.S. Army Achievement Medal for developing a training program. From 1992 he worked in civilian law enforcement, helping with a field training program, and in 2002 he was recognized as Deputy of the Year for investigative service and leadership. In 2018 he founded Hubhound Investigations, and the page describes him as someone who has supervised thousands of cases and trained dozens of investigators. I love that thread running through his career. Again and again, the work is about teaching others how to do the job properly. So what is the course itself? The academy calls it a dual track program, and that phrase is the heart of the idea. One track prepares you for the licensing exam in your state. The other prepares you for life after the exam. Many learners in this field hit a wall right there. They study for the test, they pass, and then they are left asking the obvious question: now what? Who are my first clients? How do I organize a case? How do I stay inside the lines legally? The academy sets out to answer those questions before you even ask them. Let's look at what is inside. The program is organized into fifteen modules and one hundred and forty five lessons, and it includes more than seven hundred and fifty practice and quiz questions. Every lesson comes with a study guide and a workbook, so the material does not just wash over you, it gives you something to work through with a pen in your hand. There is also a master study guide, a study schedule, review checkpoints, practical exercises and a certificate of completion when you finish. For anyone who has ever tried to prepare for a licensing exam on their own, that kind of structure is a gift. Having a schedule and checkpoints can be the difference between steady progress and a stack of notes that never gets opened. The curriculum covers the topics you would hope to see. Licensing and legal frameworks come first, because every investigator needs to understand what the law allows. Then surveillance and privacy principles, documentation and case organization, and the ethical limits of an investigator's authority. I want to dwell on that last one for a moment, because it says something about the culture of the program. The academy is open about the fact that its instructors are licensed investigators and not attorneys, that the content is educational, and that students are responsible for verifying the requirements in their own state. It also states that the case studies are simulated and that it makes no promises about licensure, job placement or income. That kind of clarity is refreshing, and it speaks to the professional standards the program says it wants to raise across the industry. Now, the business side. This is where the academy really stands apart from what it calls the typical exam only path. Included in the course is a First Ten Client Playbook, along with a list of fifty sources for private investigator clients. The idea is to help a new investigator understand where work actually comes from, whether that is corporate, insurance or legal contracts, and how to approach those opportunities with confidence. If you have ever dreamed of running your own investigations business, you know that finding the first few clients is often the hardest part. Putting that guidance inside the course, rather than leaving it as an afterthought, is a smart move. Flexibility is another strength. The course is self paced, with access around the clock on any device, so it fits around a day job, family life or a night shift. You get lifetime access along with course updates, which matters in a field where regulations and best practices evolve. And there is access to an online community and networking group, which is a wonderful touch. Anyone who has built a career knows that the people around you matter. Having a place to ask questions, swap experiences and meet others on the same path can keep motivation high long after the first lesson. On pricing, the academy offers a one time payment of three hundred and ninety seven dollars with immediate access, or three monthly payments of one hundred and forty nine dollars. Checkout is described as secured with industry standard encryption. For a program that combines exam preparation, practical training and business launch guidance, offering both a single payment and a split payment option makes it reachable for a wider range of learners. Let me step back and talk about why this matters. Private investigation is a profession built on trust. Clients come to investigators at stressful moments, whether that is a legal matter, a workplace concern or a family situation. The quality of the investigator's training shapes the quality of that experience for everyone involved. A program that puts legal compliance, documentation and ethics at the center of its curriculum is helping to raise the floor for the whole profession. And a program that also teaches you how to find clients and run a business is helping to create more independent professionals who can serve their communities. There is also a bigger story here about how education is changing. Skilled trades and specialized professions used to be learned almost entirely through apprenticeship, shadowing someone for years. Online programs led by working practitioners now let people absorb decades of field experience in a st...

3. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Next Biz Thing #436 dfre.dev

   DFRE (https://www.dfre.dev) https://www.dfre.dev This episode spotlights DFRE, a design-driven real estate company in Miami rooted in architecture and urban design. Markus explores its focus on urban infill, workforce housing, mixed-use development, and neighborhood revitalization, and the four principles guiding every project: contextual planning, human-scale design, sustainability, and walkability. From a workforce housing project on a once-vacant lot to the adaptive reuse of historic Art Deco buildings near Calle Ocho, it is a look at how thoughtful development can strengthen neighborhoods. Listen in, then explore DFRE and its projects for yourself. What if the most exciting thing happening in a city is not the tallest tower or the flashiest launch, but an empty lot on a quiet block that somebody finally decided to see differently? Every great city has these overlooked places, and every so often a company comes along that treats them as an opportunity rather than an afterthought. Welcome back to The Next Biz Thing. I am your host, Markus J. Diplama, and this show exists for one reason: to spotlight innovative and emerging businesses, and to help you understand the worlds they work in. Today we are heading to South Florida, to meet a design-driven real estate company called DFRE. DFRE is a Miami based real estate development firm, and the first thing worth knowing is where it comes from. The company is rooted in architecture and urban design. That matters, because it shapes everything about how the firm looks at a piece of land. Instead of starting with a spreadsheet and working backward, DFRE starts with a question that architects and city planners have asked for centuries: what would make this place better for the people who will actually live, work, and walk through it? The way the company describes itself is inspired by the great urban centers of the world and committed to Miami's future. I love that pairing. It tells you the team looks outward, studying how the best cities on the planet grow and feel, and then brings those lessons home to a city they clearly care about. So what does DFRE actually do? The firm focuses on four areas: urban infill, workforce housing, mixed-use development, and neighborhood revitalization. Let me take those one at a time, because each one speaks to a real challenge that cities everywhere are working through. Urban infill is the practice of building on vacant or underused parcels inside the existing city, rather than pushing development further and further out. It is one of the smartest ways to grow, because the roads, the transit, the shops, and the schools are already there. A good infill project does not just add a building. It repairs a gap in the fabric of a neighborhood. Workforce housing is the second pillar, and it is a topic that deserves more attention. Teachers, nurses, restaurant workers, tradespeople, and so many others keep a city running, and they need homes that make sense for their lives. DFRE has built a project in this space called 1536 Health District, a three-story workforce housing development that replaced a vacant urban lot with studio and two-bedroom apartments. Think about that transformation for a moment. A lot that once sat empty is now home to people, close to the activity of the city. That is the kind of change that quietly improves a block. The third focus is mixed-use development, where homes, businesses, and public life share the same footprint. Mixed-use places tend to feel alive at many hours of the day, because there is always a reason to be there. And the fourth is neighborhood revitalization, which is perhaps the most human of all, because it is about strengthening what a community already is rather than replacing it. Now, what really caught my attention is how DFRE says it approaches every project. The company follows four principles: contextual planning, human-scale design, sustainability, and walkability. If you have ever visited a neighborhood that just felt right, where the buildings were the right size, the sidewalks invited you to wander, and everything seemed to belong, you have experienced those principles at work. Contextual planning means respecting what is already around a site. Human-scale design means buildings that feel good at street level, not only from a helicopter. Sustainability is about building for the long term. And walkability is about giving people the freedom to live without needing a car for every errand. DFRE also works closely with public agencies, community organizations, and local stakeholders. The goal, as the company puts it, is to turn overlooked sites into places that strengthen neighborhoods, celebrate culture, and create lasting community value. That collaborative spirit is a big part of what makes this model so promising. Development works best when it is done with a community, not simply to it. Let me share a few of the projects, because they show the range of what this team does. Among its current developments are The Triangle in Miami, Gold Lake Industrial in Hialeah Gardens, and 1620 Little Havana, also in Miami. Each one is a different kind of challenge, and together they show a company comfortable working across different property types and different parts of the region. Gold Lake Industrial is a Class A industrial development on 8.4 acres, with flexible facilities, modern infrastructure, and strong logistics connectivity. In a world where e-commerce and supply chains shape how goods reach us, well designed industrial space is more important than ever, and it is great to see a design-minded firm bring care to that category too. Then there is El Jardin Inn, one of my favorites in the portfolio. It is an adaptive reuse of three historic Art Deco buildings near Calle Ocho, combining hospitality, art, and community space. Adaptive reuse is a wonderful idea. Rather than tearing down the past, you give it a new purpose. Art Deco is a defining part of the character of Miami, and finding a way to keep those buildings in active, creative use says a lot about how this team thinks about heritage and place. Think about what it takes to carry a project from a sketch to a finished building. You need patience, because public processes and community conversations take time. You need craft, because the details at street level are what people feel every day. And you need a clear point of view, so that a project in one corner of the city still reflects the same values as a project in another. DFRE's four principles act as that thread, tying together a housing project, an industrial campus, and a restored cluster of historic buildings under one consistent philosophy. It is also worth noticing how varied the portfolio is. Housing, hospitality, industrial space, and mixed-use living each ask different things of a design team. A firm that can move comfortably between them has developed a deep understanding of how buildings and neighborhoods work together, and that kind of versatility is exactly what a growing metropolitan region needs from the people shaping its future. So why does a company like DFRE matter beyond Miami? Because the questions it is working on are the questions of our time. How do we house the people who make our cities function? How do we grow without losing what makes a place special? How do we build things that will still feel right in fifty years? Those are not small questions, and a firm that begins with architecture and urban design is well placed to take them seriously. There is also something quietly optimistic about the whole approach. It treats overlooked land as potential. It treats neighbors as partners. It treats design as a tool for creating value that lasts, for the people who live there and for the city around them. That is a ...

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