"You want to do well by doing good." - Austin GadientIn this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Jeff Martin sits down with Anthony and Austin Gadient, the father-and-son founders of Vali Cyber — the company behind ZeroLock, the first Linux security platform to protect hypervisors against ransomware in real time.With deep experience spanning startups, software engineering, and military service, the Gadients share how they’ve built a company focused on protecting one of the most overlooked layers in cybersecurity — the hypervisor. They unpack the realities of fighting ransomware, the discipline behind risk management, and the lessons of building a business together as family.The conversation dives into the importance of communication, patience, and data-driven decision-making in scaling a sustainable company — and how Vali Cyber’s approach is transforming enterprise and defense-grade security for the Linux ecosystem.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Vali Cyber01:55 Understanding Hypervisors and Their Importance03:48 Market Focus and Competition in Cybersecurity05:44 Founding Story: Family Dynamics and Entrepreneurship07:42 The Impact of Ransomware on Society09:38 Building a Sustainable Business11:16 Organizational Structure and Military Influence15:23 Communication and Team Dynamics in Startups20:37 The Importance of Managing Risk23:25 Lessons in Patience and Persistence26:22 The Learning Loop in Growth Companies28:41 The Role of Data in Decision Making30:29 Teaching Entrepreneurship: Key Insights34:39 Future Product Developments and PatienceWatch now to hear how Anthony and Austin are redefining Linux and hypervisor protection — and what it takes to scale a mission-driven cybersecurity company from the ground up.📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-Backed Companies👉 https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your growth team with the Peak Operating System™👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/⏱️ Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team can level up👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment#Cybersecurity #ValiCyber #ZeroLock #TechScenes #Startups #LinuxSecurity #Entrepreneurship #RansomwareProtection #Leadership #PeakTeams

"You can’t be what you can’t see." - Joey Mak

In this episode of Tech Scenes, Jeff Martin sits down with Joey Mak, CEO of Chicago:Blend, a nonprofit driving inclusion and equity in venture capital. With over two decades in community and economic development, Joey shares how Chicago:Blend is breaking systemic barriers and opening doors for underrepresented investors and founders across the tech ecosystem.

The conversation explores the realities of DEI in a polarized world, the power of representation, and how initiatives like the Chicago Blend Venture Fellowship are creating lasting pathways into venture capital. Joey also reflects on lessons from leading through complexity — from building coalitions to finding gratitude amid challenge.

Chapters:

00:00 The DEI Landscape and Its Challenges

00:49 Introduction to Chicago Blend

02:15 The Mission and Impact of Chicago Blend

04:30 Personal Journey and Motivation

06:32 Breaking Barriers in Venture Capital

09:44 The Chicago Blend Venture Fellowship

11:18 Recruitment and Selection of Fellows

13:16 Addressing Diversity in Venture Capital

14:57 Collaborative Efforts for Inclusion

16:49 Chicago's Tech Ecosystem and Its Potential

17:50 Data Insights on Diversity in VC

20:49 Capital Flow and Investment Trends

22:51 The Importance of DEI in Business

24:13 Humanity in DEI Practices

29:51 Building a Thriving Ecosystem

33:22 Staying Motivated in Challenging Times

36:01 Lessons Learned and Mistakes Made

38:23 A Fun Desert Island Scenario

Watch now to explore how Joey and Chicago:Blend are helping reshape the future of venture capital — one inclusive connection at a time.

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies

https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Growth Team with the Peak Operating System™

https://www.collective-genius.com/

Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team needs to level up

https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment

Music by Andrew Applepie – https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie

#DEI #VentureCapital #ChicagoBlend #TechScenes #Inclusion #EconomicDevelopment #Leadership #PeakTeams

"The why is everything—great storytelling starts with what’s at stake."

In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Jeff Martin sits down with Dmitry Koltunov, a repeat founder and award-winning storyteller, to explore the intersection of AI, creativity, and business strategy.

As CEO of Arbor, Dmitry is building a platform that helps organizations scale authentic storytelling by transforming long-form videos into clips, quotes, blog posts, and more. But this conversation goes beyond software. Dmitry shares deep insights on what makes communication resonate—from startup pitches to musical theater, from product development to customer conversations.

They dive into the power of narrative, the chaos of early-stage startups, and how product teams can listen, learn, and iterate. With a background that spans hedge funds, Broadway musicals, and VC-backed tech, Dmitry offers a unique lens on how to build tools that matter—and stories that move people.

Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Arbor and AI Content Creation02:55 The Shift Towards Authenticity in Business Communication05:41 Understanding Target Audiences and Goals in Content Creation08:40 The Intersection of Technology and Storytelling10:59 The Role of Narrative in Business and Personal Projects13:56 The Importance of Stakes in Storytelling16:48 Building a Narrative in Business Strategy27:03 The Stakes of Vision and Innovation28:02 Defining the Right Thing to Do29:49 The Process of Discovery and Learning32:21 The Chaos of Startups and Systematization33:41 The Importance of Listening to Customers36:44 Aligning Why with Customer Needs39:06 The Role of Customer Success in Product Development41:44 The Dangers of Stubbornness in Product Management47:05 The Art of Listening in Product Development49:50 Final Thoughts and Personal Reflections

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companieshttps://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Growth Team with the Peak Operating System™

https://www.collective-genius.com/

Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team needs to level up

https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment

Music by Andrew Applepie – https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie

#ArborAI #DmitryKoltunov #TechScenes #StorytellingInTech #AuthenticCommunication #AIContentCreation #ProductLeadership #StartupLife #NarrativeBuilding #FounderJourney #ContentStrategy #B2BMarketing #TechStorytelling #CustomerSuccess #StartupLeadership #PeakOperatingSystem #JeffMartin #BroadwayFounder #CreativeTech #FounderToFounder

"A startup is total ambiguity—you need to build many feedback loops."

In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Jeff Martin sits down with Michele Sancricca, CEO and co-founder of Secro, to explore the future of cross-border trade, digital trust, and deterministic AI.

From the Italian Navy to leading global supply chain technology at Amazon, Michele brings a rare blend of technical depth, operational leadership, and product vision. Now at the helm of Secro—with $20M raised and real traction in commodity trade logistics—he’s tackling one of the biggest pain points in global trade: outdated, fraud-prone documentation.

They dive into why real-time, encrypted digital bills of lading are not just a technical innovation but a trust revolution. Michele also shares lessons from building teams across continents, navigating startup chaos, manifesting long-term vision, and building the infrastructure for a more transparent, intelligent global economy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Secro and Workflow Automation

02:45 Understanding Fraud in International Trade

05:34 Michele's Journey: From Navy to Tech

08:12 Navigating Startup Challenges

11:03 Building Effective Teams Across Borders

14:00 Bridging Generational Gaps in the Workplace

20:03 The Challenge of Letting Go

25:33 Navigating Innovation in Conservative Industries

28:39 Defining Deterministic Platforms

30:03 Product Roadmap and Customer Needs

33:29 Lessons from Leadership Experiences

37:54 The Power of Written Vision

41:57 Building a Cohesive Company Culture

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies

https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Growth Team with the Peak Operating System™

https://www.collective-genius.com/

Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team needs to level up

https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment

Music by Andrew Applepie – https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie

#Secro #MicheleSancricca #TechScenes #DigitalTrade #CrossBorderLogistics #AIinSupplyChain #StartupLeadership #VentureBacked #Blockchain #WorkflowAutomation #GlobalTrade #FraudPrevention #B2BPlatforms #DeterministicAI #SupplyChainTech #EnterpriseAI #PeakOperatingSystem #JeffMartin #LeadershipLessons #ManifestationInBusiness

"The future is not just quantum—it's quantum-inspired."

In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Jeff Martin sits down with Abhishek Chopra, founder and CEO of BosonQ Psi (BQP), to explore how quantum-inspired modeling is revolutionizing simulation in aerospace, space, and defense.

Abi’s story is anything but ordinary. From high-fidelity CFD research and award-winning academic work to raising millions in venture and government funding, he’s built BQP into a company that’s reshaping how we model the physical world. Their flagship platform, BQPhy®, uses quantum-inspired algorithms to accelerate simulations 10x faster than existing tools—saving time, reducing costs, and opening the door to radically new engineering capabilities.

They dive into what it takes to turn cutting-edge science into scalable software, why the future of quantum computing is as much about math as it is about hardware, and how a customer-first mindset is essential for building trust in complex technical markets. If you're into deep tech, scientific entrepreneurship, or the future of modeling and simulation—this episode will inspire and inform.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to BQP and Quantum Computing

02:41 Understanding Modeling and Simulation

05:39 The Evolution of Computational Methods

08:07 The Opportunity in Quantum-Inspired Solutions

10:47 Real-World Impact: Case Studies in Aerospace

13:34 The Entrepreneurial Journey of Abi Chopra

16:28 Leadership Lessons and Business Insights

21:48 Building a Strong Foundation for Success

22:49 Lessons from Challenges and Failures

25:48 The Importance of Customer-Centricity

27:38 Effective Communication in Leadership

30:10 The Evolution of Business Education

35:44 Future Innovations in Aerospace

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies

https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Growth Team with the Peak Operating System™

https://www.collective-genius.com/

Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team needs to level up

https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment

#QuantumComputing #Simulation #AerospaceInnovation #Modeling #DeepTech #BQP #BosonQPsi #BQPhy #AbhishekChopra #QuantumInspired #StartupLeadership #Entrepreneurship #TechScenes #JeffMartin #FutureOfEngineering #DefenseTech #AI #ScientificSoftware #SimulationSoftware #VentureBackedCompanies

"If we can succeed in ICUs, we've succeeded."

In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Ophir Ronen, CEO and co-founder of CalmWave, joins Jeff Martin to explore one of healthcare’s most overlooked challenges: alarm fatigue. Drawing from his background in enterprise IT and two prior exits, Ophir shares how he’s bringing product discipline, system thinking, and Transparent AI into the noisy world of critical care.

The conversation dives into the real chaos inside ICU environments—where one patient can trigger over 1,600 alarms per day—and how CalmWave is transforming that noise into signal. Ophir explains how CalmWave’s patented platform integrates high-frequency vitals and EHR data to surface actionable insights, streamline hospital operations, and reduce clinician burnout. From team building to strategic execution, this is a deep look into what it takes to bring mission-critical software into one of the most demanding industries in the world.

Whether you're in healthtech, building AI-powered platforms, or just curious about how systems thinking can change outcomes, this episode is packed with practical insights and hard-won lessons.

Chapters00:00 Understanding Alarm Fatigue in Healthcare02:01 CalmWave: Revolutionizing Alarm Management04:54 The Journey from IT to Healthcare07:32 Data Integration and Real-Time Analysis10:19 The Role of CalmWave in ICU Settings12:51 Future of Alarm Management and Patient Care15:38 Strategic Growth and Market Entry20:55 From Vision to Execution24:35 Building the Right Team DNA27:33 Establishing Effective Communication Cadences30:10 Navigating Decision-Making Challenges32:25 Balancing Speed and Reflection36:25 Personal Stories and Insights

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companieshttps://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Growth Team with the Peak Operating System™

https://www.collective-genius.com/

Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team needs to level up

https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment

Music by Andrew Applepie – https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie

#CalmWave #HealthTech #AlarmFatigue #ICU #TransparentAI #HealthcareInnovation #MissionCriticalSoftware #DataIntegration #StartupLeadership #TechScenes #JeffMartin #OphirRonen #TeamBuilding #AI #Execution #VentureBackedCompanies

"Execution is everything." — Ethan Ruby, CEO and Co-founder of SaaSGrid

In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Ethan Ruby, CEO and Co-founder of SaaSGrid, joins Jeff Martin to explore why metrics matter—and how the right data can change everything for B2B SaaS companies.

Ethan shares the pain that inspired SaaSGrid: endless hours wrangling messy data while running analytics at Craft Ventures. That frustration led to building SaaSGrid, a financial intelligence platform now used by 1,000+ SaaS companies to unify CRM, billing, and ERP data into a single source of truth for ARR, pipeline, retention, and more. The conversation dives deep into which metrics really move the needle at Series A, how execution gets measured, and why business—like jiu-jitsu—is a craft learned over time.

This episode is a must-listen for founders, finance leaders, and operators who want to align their team around clear, actionable insights—and scale with confidence.

Chapters:

00:00 The Importance of Metrics in Business Success

02:05 Understanding SaaSGrid and Its Impact

05:03 The Role of Data in Decision Making

07:51 Craft Ventures: Insights from Experience

10:48 The Art of Crafting a Business

13:52 Key Metrics for SaaS Companies

16:33 Balancing Leading and Lagging Indicators

19:29 The Journey to Series A Funding

22:25 Metrics for Series A Companies

25:01 The Evolution of Metrics in Growth Stages

27:49 Execution and Its Measurement

30:24 Adapting to Market Changes

33:12 The Craft of Business and Jiu-Jitsu

35:56 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies

https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Growth Team with the Peak Operating System™

https://www.collective-genius.com/

Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team needs to level up

https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment

#SaaS #Metrics #StartupGrowth #Execution #SaaSGrid #TechScenes #JeffJamesMartin #EthanRuby #B2B #ARR #Retention #CraftVentures #KPI #BusinessIntelligence #JiuJitsuMindset #Founders #SeriesA #peakos #collectivegenius #peakteamsbook

"The best sellers enable buyers to buy." — Gal Aga, CEO and Co-founder of Aligned

In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Gal Aga, CEO and Co-founder of Aligned, joins Jeff Martin to unpack the future of B2B sales—from broken enterprise workflows to building digital spaces that make buying easier and faster.

Drawing on 17+ years of scaling SaaS companies from $1M to $100M ARR, Gal shares the moment he realized traditional sales enablement was no longer enough. In an era where 95% of buying happens without the seller in the room, Gal and his team built Aligned to offer “Buying Process as a Service”—a digital workspace where buyers and sellers collaborate in real-time, track next steps, and get deals done faster. From enabling cross-functional alignment to generating 65% of leads through LinkedIn, Gal offers a masterclass in modern selling and founder-led growth.

This episode is for anyone navigating high-stakes sales, building GTM systems, or leading a startup in a buyer-led world. Come for the tactics, stay for the mindset shift.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of a Founder

08:42 Understanding Sales Dynamics

17:55 Navigating Enterprise Sales Challenges

26:58 The Role of Alignment in Success

36:15 Leveraging LinkedIn for Growth

45:53 Final Thoughts and Personal Insights

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies

https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Growth Team with the Peak Operating System™

https://www.collective-genius.com/

Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team needs to level up

https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment

#B2BSales #SalesEnablement #FounderJourney #LinkedInGrowth #Aligned #TechScenes #JeffMartin #GalAga #SalesLeadership #EnterpriseSales #StartupGrowth #SalesProcess #CustomerSuccess #BuyerEnablement #StrategicNarrative