tech

What should change in 2020? My favorite guests return.

January 8, 2020 — Leave a comment

In this special episode, our favorite experts on AI, product designers and more return to the podcast to answer two key questions: What’s the biggest news in your field in 2019, since we recorded the podcast? What’s something that’s been missing from the conversation that you’d like to see gain more interest in 2020?

You don’t want to miss this one. You’ll hear from:

  • Reena Jana (@rjmac), Google’s Head of Product and Business Inclusion. Hear more in her full episode:
  • Josh Lovejoy (@jdlovejoy), Principal design manager, ethics and society at Microsoft. Hear more in his full episode: What does human-centered AI even mean?
  • Sherry Hamby, Director of the Life Paths Research Center (LPRC). Hear more in her full episode: Stereotyping Appalachia: What Tech Gets Wrong
  • Wendy De La Rosa (@wdlrosa), co-founder of Common Cents Lab. Hear more in her full episode: Why FinTech is failing the poor?

Kaveh Azartash – Voice Recognition for Kids

November 6, 2019 — Leave a comment
“We had a really interesting journey coming in from a kids’ language learning background. Understanding the real sound spectrum of different languages, we built a sophisticated sound map.” – Kaveh Azartash, Founder of KidSense.ai

Kaveh Azartash holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from University of California, Irvine with a focus on Vision Science. Kaveh’s career has been focused on innovating software applications in the neuroscience and now artificial intelligence domain. He co-founded KidSense.ai in 2015 after realizing children are unable to effectively communicate with the technology around them through voice.

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In this episode you will learn:

  • The story of how KidSense.ai was started
  • Kaveh’s professional and academic background
  • The key components of voice recognition software for kids
  • How AIs can recognize changes in kids’ speech patterns over time
  • How KidSense.ai’s model can be applied to other challenges in voice recognition, like speech impediments or non-native English speakers
  • How KidSense.ai maintains privacy and data security
  • The data collection process required to develop complex AI models that mature overtime
  • Both the acoustic and language components that are behind a voice recognition software
  • Why these new AI technologies are considered valuable
  • The future business goals of KidSense.ai

Links and mentions:

Connect with Kaveh:

Allen Smart – Investing in Rural America

October 23, 2019 — Leave a comment
“Booming immigrant communities in rural America look very different than what you might expect. This sense of rural and what it means needs further discussion elaboration on how it fits into the larger American profile.” – Allen Smart, Founder of PhilanthropywoRx

Allen Smart is a national spokesperson and advocate for improving rural philanthropic practices under his group – PhilanthropywoRx. He is also the Project Director for a national rural philanthropic project based at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Allen regularly consults with regional and national foundations on rural and philanthropic strategies.

In this episode of Innovation for All, Allen discusses the complexities of rural America and how a lack of acknowledgement of its diversity is holding back the work being done there. 

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In this episode you will learn:

  • What diversity looks like in rural America
  • How the misunderstanding of rural communities is a barrier to development
  • How philanthropic, government and businesses can improve their work in rural communities 
  • Why there is a sense of frustration within rural America
  • Whether the sudden interest in investing in rural America is being done right
  • How diversity, specifically immigrants and communities of color, is both an old and new issue that must be addressed in rural America 
  • How to invest in the talent and skills of rural entrepreneurs
  • What the future of rural innovation looks like

Links and mentions:

Connect with Allen

Start fresh. How Propel and the Fresh EBT app is battling poverty.

August 21, 2019 — Leave a comment
“We are interested in building software that fights poverty somehow. We know that poverty is complex and has many different components and can’t be solved with a single app, and that’s ok.” – Jimmy Chen, Founder and CEO of Propel

Jimmy Chen is the Founder and CEO of Propel, a software company that aims to fight poverty through technology. They are the creators of the Fresh EBT mobile app, which enables EBT cardholders to manage their benefits, save money through grocery coupons, and find jobs. Fresh EBT is used by over 2 million low-income Americans across the country. In this episode of Innovation For All Podcast, Sheana learns why Jimmy decided to start Propel and use the tools of Silicon Valley to address social issues around poverty.   

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In this episode you will learn: 

  • Why Jimmy Chen decided to focus on building tech for low income families
  • What is Propel and Fresh EBT 
  • Why start with the food stamp program to battle poverty
  • How does Propel get the experience and empathy to solve problems they might not understand
  • What is the process for getting usable information from users
  • What are the logistical and general obstacles faced by Propel and how are they overcome
  • What are some misconceptions about the food stamp program
  • Where else can the private sector make a difference and what are the challenges

Links and Mentions:

From Homeless to Fashion Tech Entrepreneur: Cassie Betts

April 4, 2019 — Leave a comment

Cassie Betts is the founder of District2.Co, a technology company that connects brands/designers with factories to streamline the manufacturing process, and Made In South LA (MISLA), a DevShop Academy. In this episode of the Innovation For All Podcast, learn how Cassie went from being homeless to being called “The Woman Turning South LA into Startup Land” by Forbes.

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You’ll learn:

  • How Cassie Betts started her entrepreneurship and coding interests in her youth.
  • Battling Sexism and Racism in the technology industry.
  • Leveraging past experiences and using them for success.
  • What District2 is and its mission.
  • The current state of the fashion industry with regards to innovative technology.
  • How the District2 platform has streamlined the fashion industry process.
  • Challenges faced by the fashion industry with manufacturers.
  • What is Made in South LA (MISLA).
  • How MISLA is trying to change the current economic situation by offering training to high paying tech jobs.
  • Problems of underrepresented minorities in the technology industry and possible solutions.
  • Training approach to help the ill effects of gentrification in communities.

Mentioned:

Connect with Cassie and MISLA:

  • www.misla.org
  • @TheRealMISLA
  • Cassie Betts on