Navigating Defense Innovation: Collaborative Piloting with the U.S. Navy & Startups | The Pair Program Ep50

In this compelling episode, we delve into the evolving landscape of defense technology and innovation with three experts leading the charge.

Join us as we speak with Justin Fanelli, Acting CTO for the Department of Navy and Technical Director of PEO Digital; Katie Wildman, Senior Business and Technology Strategist at PEO Digital and Enterprise Services; and Colin Gounden, CEO of VIA.

Together, they explore the critical intersection of defense missions and technological advancements, and how collaboration between the Navy and startups is driving significant progress.In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How the Department of the Navy’s mission is closely linked with advancements in technology and the need for ongoing innovation.
• The Navy’s collaboration with startups: Hear from Colin Gounden on how VIA aligns with the Navy’s mission and the importance of integrating commercial tech solutions within defense operations.
• How the Navy employs structured piloting and challenges to scale and evaluate new technologies.
• Insights on where commercial companies can identify opportunities to work with the Navy, and tips for contributing to defense innovation.

About Justin Fanelli: Justin is the Acting CTO for the Dept of Navy and the Technical Director (TD) of PEO Digital. As CTO, his office is laser focused on measurably improving technology-driven mission outcomes within the Dept of Navy. As TD, his Program Executive Office is expediting the performant, secure transformation of enterprise information technology infrastructure. He currently serves as an Advisor for Advanced Research Project Agency – Health (ARPA-H), the NIST AI Safety Institute and various S&T advisory boards. Outside of the office, he currently teaches graduate courses at Georgetown University. Justin has lectured at a dozen other universities including Harvard, Dartmouth and Penn. He advises on innovation and recently gave a TED talk on innovation adoption.

About Katie Wildman: Katie Wildman is a Senior Business and Technology Strategist supporting Program Executive Office Digital and Enterprise Services (PEO DES) at the Department of Navy (DON). She manages the PEO DES pilot program, accelerating adoption of modern technology and business processes at the DON. When not at work, she loves to run, travel, and volunteer at hospice facilities with her therapy dog, Maisey!

About Colin Gounden: As VIA’s CEO, Colin Gounden has led VIA’s Web3 technology roadmap and secured several of the world’s leading energy companies and the U.S. Department of Defense as customers. Colin is a Harvard University graduate with two previous successful startup exits and is a co-inventor on multiple VIA patents.

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Navigating the Clouds: Decoding FedRAMP with LaunchDarkly and Schellman | The Pair Program Ep49

In this episode of The Pair Program, we dive deep into the complexities of FedRAMP with two industry veterans who have navigated the process firsthand. Sara Mazer, Federal CTO at LaunchDarkly, and Nick Rundhaug, Managing Director at Schellman, join us to shed light on the FedRAMP authorization journey and offer valuable insights for companies seeking to achieve this prestigious certification.

FedRAMP, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, is a critical framework managed by the GSA’s Program Management Office that ensures cloud services meet stringent security requirements before working with the government. LaunchDarkly’s successful FedRAMP authorization is a testament to their commitment to security and compliance, and Sara Mazer, who led the charge from start to finish, shares her experience and the challenges faced along the way.

In this episode, Sara and Nick discuss:

• What FedRAMP is and why it's crucial for Cloud companies working with the government.
• LaunchDarkly’s journey through the FedRAMP process and Sara’s role as the first technical team member.
• Insights into Schellman’s role as a Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) and their partnership with LaunchDarkly.
• Tips and advice for companies aiming to achieve FedRAMP certification, including common misconceptions and the importance of preparation.
• Strategies for successful FedRAMP navigation, including the need for agency sponsors and leveraging readiness assessments.

Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of FedRAMP, learn from the experts, and discover practical advice to help your organization achieve cloud security certification.

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Revolutionizing Clinical Trials: A Technological Leap Forward | The Pair Program Ep48

In this compelling episode of The Pair Program, we dive into the intersection of cutting-edge technology and clinical research with two distinguished guests: Dr. Lawrence Cheskin, a pioneer in obesity research, and Harsha Rajasimha, the innovative founder of Jeeva Clinical Trials. Join us as we explore how their unique expertise is transforming the landscape of clinical trials and healthcare.

Dr. Cheskin, a Professor at George Mason University and former Director of Clinical Research at the Global Obesity Prevention Center, shares his extensive experience in combating obesity through rigorous clinical investigation and public health initiatives. His work in mHealth and behavioral interventions has significantly advanced obesity treatment and self-management.

Harsha Rajasimha, CEO of Jeeva Clinical Trials, brings a fresh perspective to clinical trial execution with his company’s modern platform designed to streamline trials and enhance efficiency. Inspired by a personal tragedy involving a rare genetic disease, Harsha’s mission is to provide universal access to clinical trials, making a profound impact on both rare and common diseases.In this episode, we discuss:

• The journey from startup inception to practical healthcare solutions.
• How Harsha’s personal experiences shaped his mission and the development of Jeeva Clinical Trials.
• Dr. Cheskin’s commitment to obesity research and the intersection of his work with modern technology.
• The collaboration between Harsha and Lawrence to drive innovation in clinical trials.
• The challenges and strategies in integrating new technology into clinical settings and reaching target markets.

Tune in to hear how these leaders are working together to revolutionize clinical trials and make a significant impact on healthcare.

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Driving Innovation: The Partnership Between Champ and W.R. Berkley | The Pair Program Ep47

In this episode, we hear from two guests: Shane Bigelow and Mike Nannizzi. Shane is the CEO of Champ, a Cleveland-based technology company that is changing the way that vehicle titles are created, managed, and transferred in the United States.

Mike runs the venture arm for W.R. Berkley with a specialty in early stage technology companies.

They discuss:

• The inspiring story behind Champ and the critical problems they’re solving in the vehicle title industry.
• W.R. Berkley's role in supporting Champ's mission.
• Insights into early-stage technology investments.
• The challenges of bringing innovation into the federal space.
• The future of government-collaborative technology solutions.

Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, government technology, or strategic partnerships in tech, tune in to get practical insights from industry leaders at the forefront of innovation!

About Shane Bigelow: Shane McRann Bigelow is CEO of Champ Titles, a Cleveland-based technology company that is changing the way that vehicle titles are created, managed, and transferred in the United States. Prior to Champ Titles, Bigelow was a Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Bernstein, where he managed a part of that firm’s U.S. business and sat on the firm’s Responsible Investment Committee that focused on the United Nation’s Principles for Responsible Investment; Environmental, Social and Governance Issues (ESG); and Socially Responsible Investment matters. There, Shane developed a highly informed view of how emerging technologies can help society through reducing the costs of government, which informs the business at Champ Titles today.

About Michael Nannizzi: Mike runs the venture arm for WR Berkley with a specialty in early stage technology companies. Mike primarily focuses on companies within the fintech space, and his investments typically involve both a financial position and role in the respective companies' Board of Directors. Mike lives in Larchmont New York with his wife Kathy, children Sasha, Natalie, and Max, and dogs, Fergie and Malibu.

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How We Hatched: Will Wilson, Co-Founder of Antithesis

Dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Will Wilson, Co-Founder of Antithesis, in this episode of "How We Hatched."

Host, Tim Winkler, interviews Will about:

• HIs journey into technology, including his inspiration to start his own company and the mentor who inspired him to take the leap.
• His career path to becoming the founder of Antithesis, including his time spent at Apple and Google.
• The problems Antithesis is solving and the impact they’re making in the tech industry.
• The decision to operate Antithesis in stealth mode for 5 years and the team’s experience transitioning out of stealth mode.
• The advantages and disadvantages of staying in stealth mode, including access to investors and capital without public exposure.

About Will Wilson: Will Wilson is a former mathematician who switched to software because it seemed easier. He built distributed databases at FoundationDB, Apple, and Google. Along the way, he realized that computers are actually the enemy, and founded Antithesis to put them in their place.

Check out Antithesis: https://antithesis.com/

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The Rise of Fractional Tech Leadership: Perspectives from Industry Experts | The Pair Program Ep46

In this insightful episode, we dive into the evolving landscape of fractional tech leadership with two seasoned experts, Dan Maccarone and Matt Walnock. As co-founder of Charming Robot, Dan brings a wealth of experience as a fractional Chief Product Officer, while Matt, with nine years of mentoring and coaching cloud companies, offers invaluable insights as a fractional Chief Technology Officer.

Join us as we explore the nuances of fractional tech leadership roles, from aligning engineering and product with business objectives to integrating with teams and establishing trust. Our guests provide valuable perspectives on the market for fractional roles, the difference between fractional leaders and consultants, and the ideal stage of company seeking such expertise.Whether you're considering stepping into a fractional tech leadership role or seeking to understand its impact on organizational success, this episode offers practical advice and valuable insights from industry leaders at the forefront of innovation.

About Dan Maccarone: Dan is the co-founder of Charming Robot, a product design company based in NYC. For the past twenty years, he has been helping startups and media companies shape their online product strategy, including Foursquare, Rent The Runway, Jetsetter, The Block, Blade and Skift. His experience also includes television, music and print media, and he has worked with Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Gawker, Saturday Night Live, Universal Music and The Wall Street Journal. One of his most noted projects was creating the original strategy and user experience for Hulu. Prior to Charming Robot, Dan co-founded the design agency Hard Candy Shell.

About Matt Walnock: As a consulting technologist with 28 years in the tech industry, Matt has spent the last 9 years mentoring, coaching, and leading early-stage and scaling cloud companies. His focus is on empowering teams, offering personalized guidance to navigate challenges in technology development. His experience includes roles as CTO, VP of Engineering, and Software Architect at companies like Microsoft, Parature, MCI/Verizon Business, and IBM, where he’s earned seven patents. Matt has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Penn State University. He is the co-founder of Longitude 77, a company on a mission to elevate technology teams and optimize their strategic vision and engineering processes.

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Valor in the Workforce: Unlocking Veteran Talent with Headlamp | The Pair Program Ep45

Join us for an inspiring episode as we shine a spotlight on the crucial role of veterans in the workforce and the innovative solutions driving their successful transition into civilian life. Our guests, Steve Chang, founder of Headlamp, and Jeremy Hitchcock, co-founder of a venture firm backing Headlamp, share their insights and experiences in leveraging veteran talent to solve pressing challenges in the tech industry and beyond.

From Steve's personal journey as a former army recruiter turned startup founder to Jeremy's commitment to supporting Headlamp's mission, this episode explores the untapped potential of veterans and the imperative of optimizing their skillsets for the benefit of both businesses and national security.

Discover how Headlamp's cutting-edge technology is accelerating veteran transition and fostering partnerships with companies eager to harness the unique capabilities of this valuable talent pool. Whether you're passionate about veteran empowerment or interested in the impact of mission-driven startups, this episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of talent, innovation, and social impact.

About Steve Chang. A distinguished former special forces officer and the founder of Headlamp. Steve’s team at Headlamp is on a mission to rebuild the backbone of American business, with veterans.

About Jeremy Hitchcock. Jeremy Hitchcock is a co-founder/partner of New North Ventures, an early stage venture fund investing at the intersection of national security and innovation. He was previously a co-founder of Dyn, an Internet infrastructure company acquired by Oracle and Minim, and IoT cybersecurity company.

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