Tech Leader Talk

Did you know that NASA has patented inventions ready for you to license and commercialize? On this episode of the podcast, I am talking with Dan Lockney. I’m excited about this episode because Dan and I talk about a fantastic program from NASA for technology companies. Dan is the Technology Transfer Program Executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.  He is responsible for managing NASA’s intellectual property and the transfer of NASA technology to promote the commercialization and public availability of NASA’s patented inventions. Dan and I discuss how NASA’s Technology Transfer Program operates and the types of companies that can license the technology.  Here’s a small spoiler:  any size of company can license the technology – from startups to large corporations.  And, you will be surprised at the cost of the license! Dan shares information about the motivation behind the Technology Transfer Program.  He also discusses some of his favorite inventions that have been successfully commercialized. Why is this program exciting to me?  As you may know, as a Patent Strategist I work with tech companies every day regarding patents and inventions.  This Technology Transfer Program is a great opportunity to license patented NASA technology to launch a business or a new product. I encourage you to listen to this episode and see if the Technology Transfer Program is a good option for your business. “Most of the technology in the Technology Transfer Program is outside of the aerospace area. Example technologies include medical devices, public transportation, consumer goods, and safety equipment.” – Daniel Lockney Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How does the NASA Technology Transfer Program work - Program success stories - The motivation behind the Technology Transfer Program - Types of technologies contained in the patented inventions - How a team of NASA engineers designed a new low-cost ventilator in response to the Covid outbreak   Resources: Spinoff publication:  https://spinoff.nasa.gov/ NASA Technology Transfer Program:  https://technology.nasa.gov/ NASA Spinoff temperature-regulating mugs:  https://burnoutmugs.com/ Book:  Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew Crawford - https://www.amazon.com/Shop-Class-Soulcraft-Inquiry-Value/dp/0143117467   Connect with Daniel Lockney: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-lockney-bb5316a8/ Website:  https://technology.nasa.gov/network Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Are you looking for business insights from an experienced tech leader with 20 years of C-suite experience? Today I’m talking with Brian Lillie, who is the President of Rackspace Private Cloud.  Brian is a globally recognized leader in the tech industry and currently leads a team of 3400 people at Rackspace. During our discussion, Brian shares the importance of listening, learning, and leading in tech companies. He also talks about the importance of diversity in innovation and customer-inspired innovation to foster a culture of innovation. Brian shares insights about his leadership approach and how it was influenced by his military experience. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Insights for listening, learning, and leading - Strategies for cloud innovation - Diversity in innovation - Creating a safe environment for innovative ideas Connect with Brian Lillie: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachlillie/ Website:  https://www.rackspace.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Would you like some insights on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve your business innovation and efficiency? That’s one of the topics I’m discussing today with Ajay Malik, who is an Artificial Intelligence expert and the CEO of Secomind.ai.  Ajay is also the author of the book:  Artificial Intelligence for Wireless Networking. During our discussion, Ajay shares his thoughts on how AI will impact business in the future.  He specifically talks about three main areas where AI can be applied in business:  products, processes, and customer support. Ajay explains the best ways for companies to take advantage of AI today to improve innovation and efficiency.  He also discusses his ideas about democratizing AI and business impact. Ajay shares insights about the “Studio X” AI platform developed by the team at Secomind.ai.  He explains his desire to create AI tools to improve personal lives, enhance performance at work, and enable learning and growth. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How to apply AI in your business - Democratizing AI - How AI is shaping the future of business - Examples of using AI to proactively diagnose and solve problems - Integrating AI into all aspects of business Book Recommendation: Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are by Robert Plomin - https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-How-Makes-afterword-Press/dp/0262537982 Connect with Ajay Malik: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/artofai/ Website:  https://studiox.secomind.ai/ Email Ajay at ajay.malik@secomind.ai to schedule a free 30 minute call. Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

On this episode, I talk about the importance of performing an assessment of your systems for identifying and protecting the most valuable inventions created in your organization.  I discuss a 5-step approach to assess your current systems and procedures.  I also talk about how to develop a plan to improve those systems and procedures over the next 12 months. Listen to this episode so you understand how to perform an invention assessment in your business. “I recommend performing an invention assessment at least once a year.” – Steve Sponseller Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How to evaluate your current systems for identifying inventions - Criteria for evaluating the value of an invention to your company - Identifying critical patent filing deadlines - Developing a 12-month plan to identify and protect your most valuable inventions Questions? If you want my help with an Invention Assessment or have any questions about identifying and protecting your critical inventions, schedule a free call with me at https://stevesponseller.com/call Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of my latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover my proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Need help growing your tech company?  Learn from a serial technology entrepreneur who has created and incubated nearly a dozen startups.  On today’s episode, I am talking with Jay Bartot. Jay is a Technical Partner at Madrona Venture Labs.  He is a serial technology entrepreneur and innovator with more than 20 years of experience developing data and machine learning applications.  As a co-founder of several companies, Jay has built technology teams, innovative analytics, and machine learning platforms. Jay is also involved with Go Vertical, which provides startup creation workshops focused on technology entrepreneurship. I hope you enjoy my discussion with Jay, where he shares tips and recommendations for launching and growing tech companies. “Acquiring a tech startup can help larger companies stay at the forefront of technology and innovation.” – Jay Bartot Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Using artificial intelligence to improve business processes - Experiences with company acquisitions - Lessons learned from incubating tech startups - Developments in RPA (Robotic Process Automation) - Maintaining effective communication channels between team members   Connect with Jay Bartot: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-bartot/ (get Jay’s attention by mentioning that you heard him on the Tech Leader Talk podcast) Website: https://www.madronavl.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Are you looking for ways to accelerate and innovate your tech startup? Then you’re in the right place because that’s what I’m discussing today with Zack Weisfeld, who is the VP and General Manager of Intel Ignite, which is Intel Corporation’s early-stage startup accelerator.  Zack has more than 25 years of experience as an executive and a serial entrepreneur. Zack shares his experience in helping startups with funding, mentoring, and C-level executive support.  His experience includes founding and leading tech startups, corporate entrepreneurship, and mentoring tech founders. During our conversation, Zack discusses challenges faced by tech founders and the importance of mental resilience in the tech industry. Zack explains the Intel Ignite program and its unique approach to supporting tech startups and providing mentoring.  He also shares the goals of Intel Ignite and the criteria used to select startups for each cohort. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Mental resilience in the tech industry - The importance of mentorship in building businesses - Challenges faced by tech founders - Intel Ignite’s startup selection criteria Book Recommendation: Give and Take by Adam Grant - https://www.amazon.com/Give-Take-Helping-Others-Success/dp/0143124986 Connect with Tzahi (Zack) Weisfeld: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tweisfeld/ Website:  https://intelignite.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Does your business need a people strategy that can accelerate growth? That’s what I’m discussing today with Andrew Bartlow, who is the CEO of People Leader Accelerator.  Andrew has more than 25 years of HR experience and helps tech leaders be more strategic and more successful. Andrew shares his experience and insights regarding scaling a startup organization and constantly reexamining priorities.  He also discusses his principles for organizational success that include clarity, consistency, and communication. Andrew also discusses his book, Scaling for Success:  People Priorities for High-Growth Organizations.  The book helps readers identify the core people management programs and practices that are best for an organization based on its current stage and size. Andrew also shares information about how and why to reexamine your priorities constantly.  He talks about why things that worked last year likely won’t cut it next year as the company scales and the economic & employment environment changes. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - The 3 Cs of organizational success - Necessary changes when growing your team - Helping tech leaders be more successful - How to constantly reexamine your priorities - Managing change in your organization Book Recommendation: High Growth Handbook by Elad Gil - https://www.amazon.com/High-Growth-Handbook-Elad-Gil/dp/1732265100 Connect with Andrew Bartlow: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartlow/ Websites:       https://www.seriesbconsulting.com/      https://www.peopleleaderaccelerator.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Would you like some insights on a product strategy for your tech company? On this episode, I talk with Eric Weiss, who is an Executive Coach to fast-growing tech companies.  He is also the Host of the Chaos to Clarity podcast. For the past 15 years, Eric has helped companies build amazing products, engage their customers, find the right product-market fit, raise capital, and scale their businesses quickly. Eric has been obsessed with technology since he was a child, which led him to the work he’s doing today with tech companies.  He loves helping tech founders build and implement their product strategy to grow their companies. During our discussion, Eric talks about challenges facing tech companies today and how to overcome those challenges.  Eric also shares a great tip to organize your week and schedule focus blocks in your calendar every day. “Tech leaders can be a bottleneck to their company’s growth if they don’t let go of some activities.” – Eric Weiss Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - The importance of user-centered design - Engaging with customers early and often - Eric’s “continuous discovery” system - The “weekly sprint” Eric uses to stay focused   Eric’s Podcast: Chaos to Clarity podcast:  https://www.fullcycleproduct.com/podcast   Connect with Eric Weiss: Website:  https://www.fullcycleproduct.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmweiss/ Download Steve’s free white paper, InventLock™ Protection Guide for Tech Startups, at: https://stevesponseller.com/guide Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

In this episode, I talk about the importance of identifying all inventions created throughout your company.  Identifying every invention created by your team is more complicated than simply asking, “What have you invented lately?” Invention identification is critical because you can’t protect an invention if you don’t identify it in the first place. Listen to this episode so you understand how to identify every invention created by your team. “Solutions to difficult problems are a great place to look for inventions.” – Steve Sponseller Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Discovering hidden inventions with Invention Mining - Why many people fail to identify inventions - The importance (and value) of incremental inventions - A simple approach for capturing invention details - Be proactive and make inventing fun Questions? If you have any questions about identifying your critical inventions, contact me to schedule a complimentary strategy call at:  https://stevesponseller.com/call Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of my latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover my proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Are you confused about funding options for your tech company? On this episode of Tech Leader Talk, I am talking with Melissa Widner.  She is the CEO of Lighter Capital, which is a leader in revenue-based financing. Melissa has experience as a founder with multiple exits, an angel investor, and a VC investor.  This gives her an interesting perspective on how to fund startups. On this episode, Melissa and I discuss different types of funding options for tech startups – and the advantages & disadvantages of each option. We also talk about revenue-based financing and when that’s a good option to consider. And, Melissa shares her thoughts on when founders should consider bootstrapping their business. “Startup entrepreneurs are the most fascinating people on the planet.” – Melissa Widner Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Different funding options for tech startups – and how to choose the best option - Raising capital without giving up equity or control - How to raise capital in today’s business environment - When should you consider revenue-based financing - Bootstrapping your tech startup Connect with Melissa Widner: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissawidner/ Website:  https://www.lightercapital.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Do you want to simplify your data analysis activities?  That’s what I’m talking about today with my guest, Tim Tutt.  Tim is CEO of Nightshift Development, which helps organizations make sense of their data. Tim and I discuss some of the common problems companies face trying to analyze large amounts of data.  And, Tim explains some of the problems that occur if companies cannot accurately understand their data. Tim also shares information about the constantly changing keywords and phrases used by consumers.  This requires data analysis systems to adapt to these changing keywords and phrases. Tim also talks about improving the efficiency of data analytics and machine learning systems through the use of automation and continuous learning. He also discusses the process for Innovation that he and his team use to identify new solutions and products for their company.  This innovation process led to a valuable feature related to automated insights. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Process automation - The importance of user questions to identify relevant data - Continuous learning in data analytics - Customer-driven innovation - Focusing on the non-technical user Book Recommendation: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz:  https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building/dp/0062273205 Connect with Tim Tutt: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/timtutt/ Website:  https://www.clearquery.io/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.  

Are you looking for a successful approach to implementing engineering processes and building a culture of innovation?  That’s what my guest, Steve Massey, is discussing on this episode. Steve is the CEO and Co-Founder of Prewitt Ridge, which creates software tools for engineering.  He discusses what he and his team are doing to build new and creative approaches to engineering. Steve has previously worked for two Space Tech companies:  SpaceX and Slingshot Aerospace.  He shares his insights and lessons learned while working for those companies. Steve also talks about engineering processes that tackle difficult problems in deep tech.  For example, his team has created an engineering collaboration environment that eases friction when designing, assessing, and managing complex systems. You’re going to enjoy this discussion with Steve and get some valuable insights to implement in your own business. "The most important thing is to make sure you're sharing the right information with everyone so that they're able to make the best decision." – Steve Massey Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Innovative approaches to engineering - Managing difficult problems in deep tech - Mob programming and its effectiveness - Automating the approval process to streamline compliance and safety - Project ownership and sprint cycles Book Recommendations: Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds:  https://www.amazon.com/Terminal-World-Alastair-Reynolds/dp/0316362298 The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber:  https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Everything-New-History-Humanity/dp/0374157359 Connect with Steve Massey: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lostorbit/ Website:  https://www.prewittridge.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.  

This is a special episode of the podcast – I’m celebrating the 3rd birthday of Tech Leader Talk. I’m also sharing my thoughts about a great mentor and friend, Dan Miller, who passed away recently. So, this episode is bittersweet:  celebrating a milestone for the podcast and grieving the loss of an important person in my life. It’s important to talk about Dan Miller when discussing the podcast’s birthday because Dan was one of my biggest supporters and encouraged me to launch the Tech Leader Talk podcast.  Without Dan’s encouragement, I don’t know if the podcast would have launched. Today I share some of the things I learned from Dan Miller and lessons that everyone can benefit from. I enjoyed racing Porsche 911s with Dan, valuable one-on-one conversations, reading his many books, and listening to most of his 950+ podcast episodes (48 Days to the Work you Love podcast) during 17 years. Dan was special. I encourage you to listen to this episode and pick up one or two tips that will help keep Dan’s legacy alive. Dan’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/48-days-to-the-work-you-love-internet-radio-show/id178145160 Dan’s Books (my three favorites): 48 Days to the Work and Life you Love:  https://www.amazon.com/48-Days-Work-You-Love/dp/1642799785 An Understanding Heart:  https://www.48days.com/product/an-understanding-heart No More Dreaded Mondays:  https://www.amazon.com/No-More-Dreaded-Mondays-Revolutionary/dp/0307588777 Thanks for listening!

In this solo episode, I talk about patent filing deadlines that are important to tech companies and inventors. There are three important activities that automatically trigger a 12-month deadline in the United States for filing a patent application to protect your invention. In most situations, if you miss this deadline, you forfeit the ability to protect the invention. This often means your competitors can freely use that invention in their products because you can’t protect it with a patent. Unfortunately, many business leaders are unaware of this deadline and inadvertently lose patent rights to their inventions. Too often, I’ve had to tell company leaders, “It’s too late to protect your invention.” Listen to this episode so you understand the deadlines and make an informed business decision before forfeiting your patent rights. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: The three activities that trigger a 12-month patent filing deadline in the United States: - Public disclosure of the invention - Sale of a product that contains the invention - An offer to sell a product that contains the invention Solution: - Identify all of the three triggering activities. - If the invention is valuable to your business, file a patent application BEFORE the 12 month deadline. Questions? If you have any questions about these deadlines, contact me to schedule a Free Introductory Call so you don’t forfeit any critical patent rights.  Schedule a call at:  https://stevesponseller.com/call Contact me via email:  Steve@SteveSponseller.com Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of my latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover my proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

On today’s episode, I’m talking with Rob Whalen about his experience at several technology companies including the company he co-founded, PTO Exchange. As a serial entrepreneur, Rob discusses when he believes it’s time to “switch” to a new opportunity.  He also talks about how his degree in accounting gives him an edge as an entrepreneur. I love hearing stories about how new business ideas come about.  When working with inventors, I always want to hear about how the inventors came up with a particular invention. During our discussion, Rob shares how a meeting at his house generated the idea behind PTO Exchange.  Anyone listening to this episode can do the same thing! Rob also talks about how his current company found its first customers and how they needed to make some changes early on to attract their “real” target customers. “I look at money as someone’s time that they worked to make that money.” – Rob Whalen Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Testing demand for a product before launching the company - Deciding when to “switch” to a new entrepreneurial opportunity - How the idea for PTO Exchange came about - The importance of failing - How PTO Exchange helps companies attract and retain employees Connect with Rob Whalen: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-whalen-1287077/ Website:  https://www.ptoexchange.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve’s latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.