The Innovation Civilization Podcast

On this episode, we're joined by serial entrepreneur and CEO of Manna Bobby Healy (@realBobbyHealy) who runs one of the Top 5 drone delivery companies in the world. We also welcomed back a friend of the pod Pamir Sevincel, Partner at Blackbird. Join us as we talk about the ins and outs of a fundamental technology that'll terraform the way we live: last-mile drone delivery. In this episode, we cover: -Bobby's entrepreneurial journey and the lessons learned along the way -The genesis of Manna and the vision for drone-powered deliveries -The environmental impact of replacing traditional delivery vehicles with drones - Business models and venture funding landscape: current, future and past. - Advice to founders building hardware-heavy companies -The challenges and opportunities in the emerging drone delivery industry -The future of on-demand delivery and its potential to reshape urban living Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets. Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.  (00:00) - Intro (02:25) - Bobby's journey to leading several successful startups (03:16) - What is Manna Aero? (07:50) - Use case of drone delivery for E-commerce businesses (15:04) - Replacing traditional delivery vehicles with drones? (20:00) - How feasible is drone delivery in rural/suburban areas? (22:21) - Economic impact on suburban drone delivery (26:01) - Challenges in the delivery drone industry (33:12) - What factors make places like Texas particularly appealing for startups and investors in the consumer business sector? What should be the focus of startups in the drone delivery space: profitability or scalability? (40:02) - Can AI-generated models help optimize drone delivery services? (52:56) - Future of on-demand delivery and the impending challenges (65:12) - Competitive Advantage and Unique Value Proposition of Manna (67:48) - Quick Fire Round

In this discussion, Taavi Roivas, the Former Prime Minister of Estonia and tech entrepreneur, shares insights on the intersection of technology and politics. He explores how to run governments like startups and the implications of AI and cryptocurrencies on democracy. Roivas also discusses Estonia's pioneering role in e-governance, the challenges of tech on societies, and encourages youth to shape a transformative future. His take on balancing innovation with stability provides a thought-provoking perspective on global trends.

In this episode, we're joined by one of the founding faculties of Stanford's technology ethics course. Professor Rob Reich is the author of the recently published book "System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong & How We Can Reboot." In the face of society-altering AI and advancing technologies, we confront pressing ethical and societal challenges. How do we address them effectively without letting technology wreak havoc? In the episode, we discuss: -how technology is reshaping our society -the problem with the efficiency and optimization-only mindset -the ethical and social impact of the digital technologies -the problems with big tech -is democracy fit for purpose in the age of tech Join us as we analyze the critical challenges faced by the digital society and present thought-frameworks for a feasible system reboot.   Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets. Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.  (00:00)- Intro (03:31)- Origin story of the book -"System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong & How We Can Reboot." (05:17)- Does the specialization of knowledge witnessed in the past 2 centuries contribute more to our advancement or impede it? (09:56)- Is optimization bad for us? (13:23)- Is "stakeholder capitalism" the only way forward (14:26)- Is our current form of democracy optimized sufficiently to guide us towards the right conclusions amidst the rapid acceleration of technological advancements? (19:08)- Is sacrificing short-term prosperity for long-term stability and collective success worthwhile for societies pursuing lasting progress? (20:26)- How can we ensure that our institutions are adept at crafting agile regulations that can effectively address the evolving landscape of technology? (27:01)- How to strike a balance between implementing essential guardrails and the potential risk of losing innovation and economic benefits to jurisdictions with more permissive regulations? (30:32)- What are the limitations and potential drawbacks of relying solely on experts and dismissing the input and perspectives of the general public on important issues? (32:50)- How can we navigate towards a more balanced approach that incorporates stakeholder capitalism? (38:02)- How to assess the ongoing exploration and search for effective governance and cap table structures that successfully balance social impact and economic incentives? (39:00)- What is the problem with Big Tech? (41:25)- Outro

Centuries before the official Renaissance of Europe began as we deem it, there was a part of Europe (i.e. Muslim Spain) which already begun the 'Renaissance' and made the region a powerhouse of innovation and prosperity that would go on to shape the world we live in today. A tale of technical innovations, pluralistic cohabiting of various religions, and translation of ideas that formed our modern universities/libraries today. We uncover a part of history that is often overlooked; our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), delves into the 700-year Muslim rule in Spain - or Al-Andalus as it was called. He is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Drayson, Emeritus Fellow and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cambridge and author of four books on medieval Spanish history who takes us on a journey through the incredible scientific, cultural, economic, and diplomatic innovations that emerged during this time. In the episode we cover,  -the rise of Muslim rule in Spain -the development of science (astronomy, mathematics, agriculture, & medicine, etc.) in Muslim Spain that laid the foundations for all modern innovation and inventions - Jewish-Muslim-Christian cohabitation and relations in Muslim Spain. - The 'Golden Age for the Jews' and the tale of Jewish Viziers (Prime ministers) of Islamic emirates - The Arabic-to-Latin translation movement  - Lessons from 'Convivencia'  for the contemporary world  Join us as we uncover the hidden gems of history and showcase the incredible innovations that have shaped our world today. Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets. Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.  (00:00) - Intro (03:15) - The emergence of Islamic Spain or Al-Andalus (06:07) - The historical significance of the region (07:49) - Exchange of Knowledge: Golden age of Jews under Muslims (16:28) - The contribution of Islamic Spain to modern technologies in the fields of scientific development, innovation, politics, & Governance (25:27) - Knowledge transfer: Importance of the Translation Movement (34:01) - What were some of the shortcomings or failures of Islamic rule in Spain, and how did they impact its legacy and relevance in modern times? (38:31) - How can we apply the lessons of historical collaboration and coexistence between different peoples and faiths to address contemporary conflicts and tensions in the world? (40:58) - Outro

How to build a digital-native nation? How to use digital-native design to solve voter fraud and corruption? For an action-packed episode with an actual builder of digital governments, our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo) takes the seat with one of the world’s most influential people in the field of digital governance, Siim Sikkut. (@sikkut) The man who led Estonia’s groundbreaking E-residency program and also played a builder role as the Estonian government’s former Chief Information Officer (CIO). Siim is also the author of the book ‘Digital Government Excellence: Lessons from Effective Digital Leaders” and helps policymakers and technologists around the globe in building future-ready digital societies.  On the episode we cover: -the fundamentals of building a digital nation -E-residency, virtual identity programs for non-residents -Estonian government's technological and legal approach to transforming the country into one of the most advanced digital nations in the world -strategies and policies needed to launch and steer development initiatives and regulations -how to use digital design solutions in overcoming issues such as voter fraud, tax fraud, corruption and enabling agile policymaking in government -how to collaborate with relevant stakeholders on policies concerning technology and digital adoption -how to use the best practices of scalable startups in innovating solutions for citizens  Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo) for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets. Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.       (00:00) - Intro (04:05) - Siim's background in digital government (06:44) - What is the reason for the Tiger Leap Initiative originating in Estonia? (08:14) - What is unique about the Estonian government's digital Program?  (13:49) - How was the issue of building citizens' trust addressed in Estonia governments' digital program initiatives? (15:45) - What approaches were taken to address the problem of voter fraud? (25:25) - What steps were taken to communicate to government stakeholders and ministers that the process was iterative and there was a risk of failure, and how were they convinced of the importance of taking such risks in pursuing e-government progress? (28:00) - Revenue model of the E-Residency program of Estonia (33:13) - In what ways were digital solutions leveraged to combat corruption and enhance transparency? (36:32) - What are the best practices for smaller countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America that are interested in adopting a more digital government approach similar to the Estonian model? (43:25) - what approach do you think is more effective for politicians in terms of giving remits and prescriptions to civil servants for technology initiatives? (45:48) - What lessons can be learned from the failures of digital governments, and what traps do government officials commonly encounter on their digital journeys? (48:21) - Quick Fire Round (50:10) - Outro

James Robinson, a renowned author and political economist at the University of Chicago, dives into why nations thrive or falter based on their political and economic institutions. He contrasts inclusive and extractive systems, revealing how historical events like colonialism have shaped modern governance. The discussion spans from the rise of China's economy under reforms to the legacy of extractive institutions in regions like the Middle East. Robinson also emphasizes the importance of robust democracy for genuine development.

Founded by the infamous Genghis Khan in 1206, the Mongol Empire created the 2nd largest kingdom in the history of the planet. What's less well known is that Mongol rule ushered in a plethora of technological innovation and development that shaped the formative years in trade & science infrastructure of a land mass spanning all the way to the East from Korea, through China, Central Asia, Russia, Persia and to even Eastern Europe parts like Crimea and modern day Ukraine. In an attempt to excavate and summarise the lasting impact the Mongol innovation, technology and governance had on the world, Empasco Partner Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo) sits with historian and Financial Times best-selling author, Marie Favereau. Marie is an Associate Professor of History at Paris Nanterre University. She has been a member of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo, a visiting scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study, and a research associate at the University of Oxford for the major project Nomadic Empires. Her books include The Horde: How the Mongols Changed the World (https://www.amazon.com/Horde-How-Mongols-Changed-World/dp/0674244214) and the Mamluk Sultanate (published in French) and the graphic novel Genghis Khan. In the episode we cover: -the reason for the rise of the Mongol Empire in the 13th & 14th CE. -long-term innovation view that the Mongols took in terms of funding projects -the strategies they took to set up the agricultural production and taxation systems throughout the kingdom -how they built and sustained the system for continuous innovation processes in areas such as astronomy, agriculture, maths, medicine, trade, botany, etc. -Early forms of democracy in the Mongol empires - The reasons for the downfall of the Mongol empire Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo) for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets. Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode. (00:00) - Intro (06:10) - Marie's background & inspiration for writing a book on Mongol innovation and tech history (08:05) - Who were the Mongols? (11:08) - What is the "Horde"? (13:33) - Were the Mongols just people who ravaged and conquered land through coercion and fear-mongering? (20:10) - What Military technology did the Mongols use? (27:38) - Mongol innovation,tech,governanace history (39:36) - Mongol economics (42:39) - Mongol system of wealth distribution (43:28) - How did the Mongols manage the Silk Road? (45:52) - About the creation of the largest integrated market in Pre-modern history (47:43) - How did the Mongols set up the infrastructure and economy of the cities within the empire? (52:40) - What was the Mongols' foreign policy to attract new trade and develop connections? (59:23) - The Mongol land law (61:25) - How did taxation help with the agricultural production? (62:30) - What led to the downfall of the Mongol Empire? (65:26) - Mongol Governance   We used the world's most advanced AI 'DALL·E 2' by @OpenAI to generate the episode cover art. Special thanks to Pamir Sevincel (@PamirSevincel) We made this episode a special listening experience btw.   Mongolian throat singing & classical instruments used:   Yoochin- hammered dulcimer of varying strings struck using two bamboo hammers   Khuuchir- two- or four-stringed instrument with a small sound box

John P. Kotter, a renowned leadership expert and Harvard Business School professor, shares his insights on mastering change management. He discusses the importance of his eight-step framework and accelerators in today’s fast-paced world. Kotter emphasizes the distinction between management and leadership, highlighting how the latter drives innovation. He also delves into cultivating future leaders, recommending organizations foster environments that encourage risk-taking. His engaging anecdotes illustrate the transformative power of effective leadership and community collaboration.

Rich Turrin, a FinTech expert and author of 'Cashless: China's Digital Currency Revolution', discusses China's booming cashless economy and its innovative payment systems. He shares insights on the role of tech giants like Tencent and Alibaba in revolutionizing finance for the unbanked. Turrin explains the transformative potential of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and their implications for global finance, including bypassing traditional systems like SWIFT. His journey from investment banking to China offers a unique perspective on the future of digital currencies.

60 gigatons of Carbon Dioxide (Co2) is discharged into the atmosphere every year. Co2 levels are now higher than they have been in at least 800,000 years making climate change the number 1 threat faced by mankind. What tech to invest in in order to 'unf*** the planet'? For a momentous & thrilling episode on understanding the successful approach of high-risk tech investing in combatting the climate change crises, our host at Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo) sat down with Danijel Visevic (@visevic) - the Founding General Partner of World Fund, Europe’s biggest climate tech VC fund. We cover : - the fundamentals & purpose of climate tech investing - the mechanics of a climate tech fund - how to manage LP expectations - Key technologies to invest in to undo the effects of climate change - Climate change policy prescriptions for government Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo) for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets. Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode. (00:00) - Intro (03:05) - Danijel's journey to becoming a leading climate tech investor (05:34) - World Fund's investment thesis for decarbonizing the planet (07:44) - Distinction between climate tech and clean tech (09:39) - Climate tech investing fund mechanics  (12:24) - What are the upsides or downsides to being a dedicated fund vs private VCs like Sequoia & SoftBank (14:31) - The purpose of investing in climate tech (16:47) - Managing Limited Partner's (LP) expectations - How to prioritize between short-term profit maximization vs sustainability?  (23:28) - Technologies that can help minimize the impact of climate change  (25:07) - What makes Europe the most suitable place for climate tech investing?  (28:11) - The different stages of fundraising for a climate tech startup (29:50) - How is World Fund developing the climate tech ecosystem in Europe? (31:13) - Next-generation climate tech innovations to look forward to   (35:25) - What immediate policies can government undertake in mitigating the effect of climate change crises  (40:07) - Outro