About Lukas:

Lukas Grillmayer is the Chief Technology Officer at craftguide, a Munich-based software and content provider that has set itself the goal of redesigning the interface between education, industry and craftsmen.

Synopsis:

In this episode of The Technology Leadership Podcast, Lukas Grillmayer discusses providing engaging digital learning content through step-by-step tutorials in video, AR, and VR. Coming from a background in the space industry, Lukas highlights the process-driven nature of the industry, emphasizing meticulous documentation due to the high stakes involved. He applies this experience to introduce structure and processes at craftguide, both in technology and business operations. Lukas advises aspiring CTOs to build relationships, maintain a network of potential collaborators, and consider joining entrepreneurship programs and incubators. The conversation underscores the importance of processes and documentation in companies, particularly for software updates and building independent systems.

Key Takeaways:

• The space industry operates in a highly process-driven manner due to the high stakes and unforgiving environment of space. Meticulous documentation and adherence to procedures are crucial in ensuring the success and safety of space missions. 
• It’s crucial to build relationships and maintain a network of potential collaborators in the startup world. Networking allows for partnerships, knowledge sharing, and access to resources that can contribute to the growth and success of a startup. 
• One of the challenges faced by technology startups is the uncertainty and insecurity surrounding the role of artificial intelligence (AI). Many products, like GPT and neural networks, have raised questions about their capabilities and how they can be effectively utilised in businesses. Understanding the potential impact of AI and identifying suitable applications for startups are essential challenges that need to be addressed.
• The shift towards cloud-based solutions is an important trend. While there are benefits to moving operations to the cloud, such as reduced infrastructure management, the biggest is probably the reliance on subscription-based models where businesses don't own their resources but rent them. This raises questions about the long-term sustainability and ownership of assets. Precautions, such as regular backups and procedures for transitioning between cloud providers, are necessary to mitigate potential risks.
• It’s important to develop a culture of processes and documentation in a company. It extends beyond technology-related processes and includes all aspects of the business, such as purchasing procedures and business operations. Clear instructions, guidelines, and documentation enable efficient execution of tasks, knowledge transfer, and minimise repetitive work. Implementing processes and ensuring meticulous documentation can enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and promote a system with high uptime.

Episode Outline:

[01:02 ] Meet Lukas
[02:42 ] How did Lukas get into the space industry? 
[10:17 ] Advice for those interested in getting to CTO positions
[15:27 ] Step-by-step process to prepare for an update
[20:46 ] Vacation times in the startup world
[22:49 ] How to create a troubleshooting procedure, document a task, and validate the procedure step by step
[27:51 ] An overview of the process of setting up processes and the importance of documenting processes.
[30:39 ] The biggest challenges to technology in Germany and globally
[35:13 ] How does one prepare for the future of technology?