CRAFTED.

Fun news! The Webby Awards have honored CRAFTED. for the third year in a row as a top tech podcast. Thank you — yes, you! — for listening!This episode features the highlight reel we gave the Webbys. It features great moments from 2024 episodes, including (listed in the order mentioned): Powering the World’s Hackathons | Brandon Kessler (Founder & CEO, DevPost)Asana’s Head of AI on the Profound Ways Work Is Changing | Paige Costello (Head of AI & Co-Head of Product Management at Asana)AI, Creativity, and Soul: How Hilary Mason Chooses Her Own Adventure (Co-Founder & CEO of Hidden Door)“You Have to Invest Into Change.” Startup Lessons from Fintech OG and VC Daniel Kimerling, Founder of Deciens Capital and Standard TreasuryOpen Source Must Evolve for AI and the Next Generation | Nithya Ruff (Head of AWS Open Source Program Office and Chair of the Linux Foundation)Great Software & Storytelling Is Emotional | Kelsey Hightower (Legendary Developer, Kubernetes Pioneer, Former Distinguished Engineer at Google)One Billion Developers! GitHub’s Head of Product Says AI Democratizes How We Build the Future | Mario Rodriguez (CPO, Github)Design for Emotion. Leverage AI. Be Curious. | Design Better’s Co-founders on Building Great ProductsUsing AI to Launch Thousands of Startups a Year | Henrik Werdelin (Founder of BARK, prehype, Audos)AI and the Future of Medicine | Kira Radinsky (CEO of Diagnostic Robotics and Co-founder of Mana.bio)New Frontiers of Health: AI, Psychedelics, the Gut-Brain Axis, and More! | Live from SXSWMy AI Teacher: Khan Academy and the Future of Education | Dr. Kristen Dicerbo (Chief Learning Officer)Making Music With AI – And Doing So Ethically | Diaa El All, Founder & CEO of SoundfulThe full show archive is at crafted.fm, where I hope you'll also subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter. And please share CRAFTED. with a friend. Just one. Text them right now!Thanks... and onward!

On a rooftop at SXSW, fellow startup advisor and podcaster Rob Kenedi joins me as we discuss why: AI models are becoming commodities…AI companies need to differentiate at the application layer, with brand, and by earning trust…B2B creators are all the ragePodcasts are so intimate and how video changes thingsWe’re in the “fart app” era of AI…Enjoy this uncrafted CRAFTED.!And if you enjoy this more casual format, please share your feedback. DM me on LinkedIn or email me: dan@modernproductminds.comWhere to find Rob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkenedi/Decelerator podcast: https://decelerator.media/More CRAFTED.:Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter: https://www.crafted.fmLearn how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you discover, build, and test new products: https://www.modernproductminds.com 

Linda Liukas, the creative mind behind Hello Ruby, is on a mission to transform tech education through play. She discusses her unique playground in Helsinki, where kids learn programming concepts without screens. Linda argues that physical play enhances understanding of abstract tech ideas and encourages creativity. She also highlights the necessity of rethinking education in the era of AI. Plus, her accidental journey to becoming a children's author reveals the magic of storytelling in teaching technology.

Educator, innovator, super-connector, and conference champion Kwaku Aning and I have coffee and discuss a few things that struck us at SXSW, including:Why we’re in a “pre-mainframe” moment in quantum computing — and why you should prepare for what comes nextBioengineering: are we headed for a Westworld-style mix of human musculature and AI?Robot choreography, e.g. how to train a self-driving car to drive non-aggressively (but also should they be allowed to speed?) Mind control via inaudible noises and Severance-style brain implantsWhether or not I had enough breakfast tacos in Austin…Where to find Kwaku:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwaku-aning/Clickpoint podcast: https://clickpoint.transistor.fm/Where to find Dan and get more CRAFTED.:Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter: https://www.crafted.fm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dblums/ Learn how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you discover, build, and test new products: https://www.modernproductminds.com 

Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots at X, has spent over 15 years at the forefront of innovation, overseeing groundbreaking projects like Waymo. In this insightful discussion, he reveals how to transform wild ideas into world-changing innovations. Astro emphasizes the importance of 'greenlighting everything' and swiftly 'redlighting' projects using pre-agreed criteria. He discusses creating diverse teams for enhanced creativity and the merging of biology and engineering. Finally, he shares where X is investing today, including exciting ventures in climate-tech and bioengineering.

David Merrill, co-founder and former CEO of Elroy Air, dives into the groundbreaking world of large delivery drones. He reveals how the Chaparral drone, capable of carrying 300 pounds for 300 miles, is poised to revolutionize logistics, humanitarian aid, and military operations. Merrill shares insights on the challenges of hybrid-electric propulsion and the essential role of rapid prototyping in development. Plus, he reflects on the exciting prospects of autonomous aerial delivery and the lingering dreams of flying taxis on the horizon.

CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg will be at SXSW this year. Will you? If so, please reach out! DM me on LinkedIn or go to crafted.fm where you can email me. Let's get a taco!—Software, hardware, and biotechnology are playing an increasingly transformative role in our mental health and wellness. On this episode of CRAFTED., recorded live on the “Next” stage at SXSW 2024, we discuss what investors look for in these new companies and how they separate what’s real — and what’s near-term — from what’s hype. On stage with host Dan Blumberg are:Amy Kruse, General Partner & Chief Investment Officer at Satori Neuro, and a trained neuroscientistMatias Serebrinsky, Co-founder and General Partner at PsyMed Ventures, and the host of Business Trip, which is a great podcast if you want to go even deeper on these topics. Listen at businesstrip.fm Christie Nicholson, Founder of Studio Lumina, and the co-host for this panelWe’ll explore AI-powered tools for mental health, the new area of “enerceuticals” (energy replacing the “pharma”), psychedelics, and why what’s in your gut is so important to your mental state. Hear from investment experts who have a wide view of this growing startup landscape and better understand which new ventures are likely to succeed.— Key Moments:01:38] Recent advances in biotech and why advances in data and AI are helping biology become a more “mature” science[04:00] Why AI is overhyped, but also where it’s not[07:37] Why psychedelics are overhyped, but also where they’re not[10:04] What’s real and amazing: brain-computer interfaces, e.g. humans controlling robotic arms with the minds[11:25] What’s real and amazing: precision psychiatry and neuroscience[14:12] The emerging field of “enerceuticals” -- using energy instead of drugs, e.g. low intensity focused ultrasound[16:17] Neuroplasticity: our brains can change![21:31] Mental health, the gut-brain axis, and food as medicine[32:38] The business models of bio tech startups and how to know when a company is making progress on a years-long effort—CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where my team and I can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter 👉 CRAFTED.fm—Check out Tech Now, the free "podcast mixtape" that host Dan Blumberg curates on Hark. Each week, Dan selects and introduces great moments from other podcasts that speak to the latest on artificial intelligence and its implications, new product innovations, the relationship between the Trump administration and Big Tech, and much more. 

Pablos Holman, an inventive force in deep tech, has collaborated with giants like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. He argues that while software has dominated, real-world issues like energy and sanitation require robust hardware solutions. This discussion unveils visionary ideas such as space-based solar panels beaming energy to Earth, eco-friendly autonomous cargo ships, and underground nuclear reactors to meet energy demands. Pablos urges tech professionals to pivot from software to hardware to drive the innovations essential for a sustainable future.

Deepfakes are getting easier and easier to make. So, how will we be able to believe that what we see and what we hear is real? And what can software makers do to help?Sam Gregory is an expert on deepfakes, AI, and trust. He advises governments and tech companies on how they can protect human rights and how we can preserve our shared reality. Sam is the executive director of WITNESS, an organization that helps citizens use video to foster social change. WITNESS has trained and supported citizen-journalists since the days of the camcorder through the smartphone era and now into the world of AI. We discuss:How deepfakes are being used to spread disinformation and erode trust in media.How to detect that a piece of media was manipulated and to what degreeWhy audio deepfakes are so perniciousHow deepfakes mostly did not affect the 2024 US Presidential Election, while cheapfakes were very commonThe surprising ways AI is both helping and harming human rights defenders and journalistsWhy “Prepare, Don’t Panic” is WITNESS’s mantra for addressing AI threats.Practical steps software makers can take to design tools that prioritize transparency and ethical use, such as including transparency features in AI-generated content, red teaming to simulate misuse scenarios, thinking beyond Western contexts, and more…Chapters:(00:55) - Deepfakes and the threat they pose human rights and journalism (03:16) - The 2024 US election and how deepfakes, cheapfakes, and audio clones were used (07:35) - Why WITNESS. says “Prepare, Don’t Panic” about AI (11:16) - Recommendation for software builders to prevent — and detect — misuse (13:45) - How to identify that a piece of media was manipulated by AI (17:31) - Red Teaming: The scary questions builders should ask as they deploy new products (22:20) - WITNESS.’s work beyond AI (26:00) - Good news: we’ve preparing for AI and deepfakes for a long time and governments and technologists are working together —Links:Learn more about WITNESS: witness.orgVisit WITNESS’s resources on generative AI: gen-ai.witness.orgLearn more about deepfakes and AI detection: C2PA Coalition—Support CRAFTED.:Subscribe to CRAFTED. on your favorite podcast platformShare this episode with a friend or colleague.Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter: crafted.fm

Accounting may not be the sexiest part of running a business, but according to Sasha Orloff, it’s the key to understanding your company’s financial health—and ultimately, its success. At his previous two startups, Sasha was frustrated that he didn’t have a real-time view into his company’s financial health. And he realized the problem wasn’t accounting – but accounting software. So, Sasha founded Puzzle, because “it's hard to set yourself up for success if you don't know when you're about to run out of money.” Sasha is on a mission to make accounting intuitive, real-time, and accessible for founders and finance teams alike. In this episode of CRAFTED., we explore how Sasha is crafting Puzzle, how AI makes this the right moment to challenge QuickBooks, and why he was so confident that the market needed Puzzle that he was undaunted by the five years he estimated it would take to build an MVP. "We’re not just rethinking accounting software—we’re rethinking how founders and CEOs can make data-driven decisions to build enduring companies." Sasha shares:How the frustration he felt at his previous startups led him to Puzzle Why “accounting gets a bad rap”, but it crucial for founders: it’s your financial healthWhy second-time founders are ideal customersWhy it took five years to build an MVP – and why he wasn’t daunted by this expectationWhy the problem was never accounting, but accounting software and the distorted realities it’s built to createWhy AI and modern API’s made now the right time to build PuzzleWhy Puzzle is “poking the bear” and putting highway billboards up near QuickBooks HQ(01:04) - Sasha’s finance frustrations at previous startups (02:15) - Traditional accounting software isn’t made for founders (02:15) - The problem with traditional accounting software (05:01) - What Puzzle does differently: Real-time financial health (07:52) - AI’s role in revolutionizing accounting (10:22) - Why second-time founders are Puzzle’s ideal users (12:48) - Building a five-year MVP: Challenges and conviction (16:41) - Tackling QuickBooks: Bold marketing moves and billboards (19:15) - Understanding edge cases and complexity in accounting (23:07) - The future of Puzzle: Helping startups thrive (27:01) - Hosting the Turpentine Finance podcast Links:Learn more about Puzzle: Puzzle.ioFollow Sasha Orloff on LinkedIn: Sasha OrloffTurpentine Finance Podcast: Turpentine FinanceCRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter 👉 crafted.fm