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Future Optimist

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Feb 16, 2024 • 45min

Ep. 198 – Gastón Paladini: Turning Soy Into Pork at a Molecular Level (This is nuts!)

Gastón Paladini is the CEO and Co-Founder of Moolec Science, a crazy tech company that is literally turning soy into pork. Can plants be more like meat, no really? In this episode, we're spotlighting Moolec Science, a trailblazer in the food industry harnessing the power of Molecular Farming technology. Not sure what that is? Great! Because neither am I. At the helm (and joining us today) is CEO and Co-Founder Gastón Paladini, who brings a wealth of experience from his 20-year tenure at Argentina's meat production heavyweight, Paladini Group. Now Moolec Science aims to disrupt the food sector by infusing plants with animal protein genes. This company is crafting a novel category between plant-based and cell-based technologies—frankly it’s a wild concept I haven’t heard of before until right now. Moolec Science is dedicated to creating food ingredients that merge the cost and environmental benefits of plant-based food with the taste and functionality of animal proteins. Basically, can you make soy beans taste and behave like pork? Today, Moolec Science is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker "MLEC". This idea is just so crazy, I had to explore it.  ➡️ https://moolecscience.com/ ➡️ https://rosspalmer.com/gaston-paladini ➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer ➡️ Subscribe on YouTube: @therosspalmer
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Feb 9, 2024 • 44min

Ep. 197 – Niklas Kluger: Ingenious Rock Powder that Regenerates Soil and Removes CO₂ from the Atmosphere

Niklas Kluger is the co-founder and COO of InPlanet, a brilliant eco-company with a quadruple+ bottom line.  We’ll learn how this GreenTech pioneer, with a rich background in environmental engineering and tropical agriculture, is revolutionizing carbon dioxide removal. From scaling urban farming globally to pioneering something I had never heard of called “Enhanced Rock Weathering” in Brazil, Niklas is at the forefront of combating climate change and regenerating tropical soils. Their rock powder is able to remove CO₂ while regenerating soil, two vitally important things for our sustainable future on this planet. So let’s explore InPlanet's mission to create a carbon-neutral future, one gigaton at a time." ➡️ https://www.inplanet.earth/ ➡️ https://rosspalmer.com/niklas-kluger ➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer ➡️ Subscribe on YouTube: @therosspalmer
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Feb 2, 2024 • 48min

Ep. 196 – Saman Farid: Legendary AI Investor/CEO on the Future of Robotic Automation

Saman Farid is the CEO and founder of Formic Technologies, a company at the forefront of revolutionizing automation in manufacturing. With a passionate commitment to boosting productivity in U.S. industries, his company Formic, specializes in offering cutting-edge robotic solutions that elegantly simplify automation. These versatile robots not only streamline the packing and palletizing processes but also contribute to the production of a diverse range of products, from delightful chocolate chip cookies to specialty chemicals. Saman’s journey in the tech and robotics realm is marked by significant achievements, including founding Comet Labs, an AI-focused investment fund and incubator. He also ran the global investment fund at Baidu Ventures  focusing on AI, Machine Learning, and its effects on the way we work and live, so it’s safe to say he knows what he’s talking about in this space.  His expertise and enthusiasm for technology have led him to invest in and guide over 25 businesses in robotics, AI, and technology. A childhood fascination with robots, coupled with his later study of automation and breakthroughs in AI, propelled him to establish Formic in 2020, a company that has since garnered over $30M in funding and numerous accolades such as FAST Company’s 2023 “Most Innovative Companies” Award. Beyond his professional endeavors, Saman is deeply invested in youth empowerment and actively supports technology education through local non-profits. ➡️ https://formic.co/ ➡️ https://rosspalmer.com/saman-farid ➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer ➡️ Subscribe on YouTube: @therosspalmer
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Jan 26, 2024 • 46min

Ep. 195 – Paul Shapiro: Best-Selling Author of “Clean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World”

Paul Shapiro is the CEO of the Better Meat Company—a company on a mission to reinvent "meat". They’ve got plug-and-play mycoprotein formulations that quickly and cost-effectively enhance (or even replace) meat products while improving nutrition, flavor, and yield. He's also the author of the best-selling book, Clean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World, and the host of the Business for Good Podcast, a podcast that I might add closely mimics what we're doing here, except of course, his is better no doubt, because as a host, let’s face it, I am questionable at best. He's been a five-time TEDx speaker And has published more than 100 articles on food sustainability. Now, he's using mycoprotein to satiate, humanity’s collective "meat tooth". ➡️ https://www.bettermeat.co/ ➡️ https://rosspalmer.com/paul-shapiro ➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer ➡️ Subscribe on YouTube: @therosspalmer
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Jan 19, 2024 • 51min

Ep. 194 – Why Ramiro Velasco Thinks Amazon Latin America Is the Next Big Gold Rush

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about Blue Oceans and Red Oceans, a concept talked about in Blue Ocean Strategy by Renée Mauborgne, W. Chan Kim. Broadly speaking, a “blue ocean” is uncontested market space—something that no one else is really doing, like Cirque Du Soleil when they first started. Compare that with a “red ocean”, or a supersaturated market in which you’re unlikely to succeed, like me selling you my NFTs of my head spliced onto Ryan Reynold’s body for the low low price of just 2 ETH! Joining us today is Ramiro Velasco, President and Co-Founder of GoAvance, a company that specializes in Amazon e-commerce but specifically in Latin America. The reason I wanted to do this show is because we tend to think only of opportunity in the country we live in. But perhaps, if certain techniques no longer work in your country, the blue ocean is applying those ideas to a different market, in this case, Mexico. I try to expand your ideas of what’s possible with this show, and maybe moving to Mexico and setting up shop there is exactly what you should do to find your own, uncharted waters. We’ll talk about practical tips for selling on Amazon in any country and also some general trends in marketing and ecommerce—this is especially relevant if you’ve ever wanted to sell something online. ➡️ https://goavance.com/ ➡️ https://rosspalmer.com/ramiro-velasco ➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer ➡️ Subscribe on YouTube: @therosspalmer
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Jan 12, 2024 • 49min

Ep. 193 – Matt Rogers: From Selling Nest for $3.2 Billion to Founding Mill, A Truly Brilliant In-Home Solution for Reducing Food Waste

Today we’ve got an AWESOME episode for you. Joining us is Matt Rogers, whom I believe we can accurately call a tech legend. Matt's career began at Apple, where his talent and dedication led him to build the software team responsible for ten generations of the iconic iPod. As one of the pioneering engineers on the original iPhone, his influence extended through five generations of the device and into the creation of the first iPad. His remarkable contributions to these groundbreaking products have left an indelible mark on the technology landscape. As if that wasn’t enough… Matt co-founded Nest Labs, revolutionizing the smart home device industry with the Nest thermostat. This innovation caught the eye of Google, leading to a high-profile acquisition for $3.2 billion in 2014. But Matt's ambitions didn't stop there. After Nest, he turned his focus towards philanthropy, particularly in climate-related initiatives. This path led him to a startling realization about food waste, and together with his former colleague Harry Tannenbaum, he conceived Mill. This ingenious kitchen bin transforms food scraps into chicken feed—basically indoor composting that doesn’t smell—offering a sustainable solution to household waste and contributing significantly to environmental conservation. With Mill, Matt Rogers is not just redefining waste management; he's shaping a future that aligns with the ambitious zero-waste goals of cities worldwide, promising a significant reduction in emissions and deforestation. Join us as we explore the journey of this extraordinary innovator and how his latest venture, Mill, is set to make a lasting impact on our planet. ➡️ https://www.mill.com/ ➡️ https://rosspalmer.com/matt-rogers ➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer ➡️ Subscribe on YouTube: @therosspalmer
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Jan 5, 2024 • 52min

Ep. 192 – Fabian de La Fuente: How a Serial Entrepreneur is Reshaping Solar Tech

Fabian is a six-time serial entrepreneur with a 33-year history in technology innovation, holding over 100 patents in software, electronics, and photovoltaics. He has led diverse teams on four continents and launched numerous technology products globally. As the Co-founder and CEO of Solaires Entreprises Inc., a Canadian cleantech company, he's pioneering the development of perovskite-based solar cells, aiming for higher efficiency and sustainability in solar energy. If you're wondering what it takes to build and scale and sell a business in the eco space, this episode is for you. ➡️ https://www.solaires.net/ ➡️ https://rosspalmer.com/fabian-de-la-fuente ➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer ➡️ Subscribe on YouTube: @therosspalmer
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Dec 22, 2023 • 53min

Ep. 191 – Ryan Field: Ingenious Tech Revolutionizing Neuroscience and Neuromedicine (Raised Over $150 Million)

Ryan Field is the CEO of Kernel, a neurotech company that's raised over $150 million revolutionizing neuromedicine. What if a brain scan was a part of our regular checkup? What if we could detect and prevent diseases like dementia far in advance, with non-invasive tech? Something as simple as just putting on a bicycle helmet? Could we accelerate treatment discovery? Improve patient outcomes? And transform neuromedicine? Joining us today is the CEO of Kernel, a company based here in Los Angeles that is up to out-of-this world stuff. I was lucky enough to visit their offices, and their tech is truly game-changing. I’ve even tried it on! Ryan Field is an inventor with more than 20 granted US patents, and Kernel has received over $150 million in funding and counting. Buckle up for an awesome episode. ➡️ https://www.kernel.com/ ➡️ https://rosspalmer.com/ryan-field ➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer ➡️ Subscribe on YouTube: @therosspalmer
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Dec 15, 2023 • 49min

Ep. 190 – Mike Loos: How AI and "Virtual Twins" Will Make Better Medicine, Faster

Today's episode feels like pure science fiction. What is a digital twin? How could this help us make better and faster pharmaceuticals? And why is that important? We know that there is so much data about us and our bodies and soon, our brains. Is there a reality in which we can use data to remove human testing from the process of finding new drugs? How can we use machine learning and artificial intelligence to better understand the data that we have? If this feels like something with massive, profound implications for our future, you’re right. And I’ll be honest: I barely understand what any of this means. That’s why we’re lucky that joining me right now is Mike Loos, the Vice President of Solution Architecture at TetraScience, a tech/bio company with over 100 leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies as customers. ➡️ https://www.tetrascience.com/demo ➡️ https://rosspalmer.com/mike-loos ➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer ➡️ Subscribe on YouTube: @therosspalmer
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Dec 8, 2023 • 47min

Ep. 189 – Tom Frazier: Why We All Need to Care about Sustainable Edge Computing

Tom Frazier is the co-founder and CEO of Redivider, a company that is making sustainable & responsible edge computing. But first, what is edge computing? You might not realize it, but every single device you use and every single platform you interact with is storing massive amounts of data somewhere. And the farther away from you physically these data centers are the more inefficient and unsustainable they become. Edge computing is the idea that we should keep the source of our data closer to where we're physically located, which is no easy task. In theory, this could help us be more sustainable, more efficient, and more secure in a world where our data is floating around everywhere, and can easily fall into the wrong hands. Now this is one of those subjects that is extremely timely, especially as we march headfirst into a future that is entirely digital. Redivider builds modular, smaller facilities, and diverse locations which enables faster data processing and increased to capacity, and they're also focused on improving sustainability, because their modular solutions are hydrogen powered. This episode falls into the category of something that humanity desperately needs, but we don't necessarily know we do yet, and that's why I'm so excited to share this conversation with you today. ➡️ https://www.redivider.co/ ➡️ https://rosspalmer.com/tom-frazier ➡️ Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer ➡️ Subscribe on YouTube: @therosspalmer

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