Forging The Future with Chris Howard

Forging The Future with Chris Howard

Join Chris Howard, Founder and CEO of Softeq, as he interviews knowledgeable leaders in the innovation spectrum, including CEOs, CTOs, R&D professionals, and start-up founders. Real conversations, technology, and processes of bringing new ideas to market.

Episodes

The Race to Ultra-Efficient, Low-Power AI with Edge Impulse and Nordic Semiconductor

March 6, 2026 • 43 mins
At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Brandon Shibley of Edge Impulse and Thomas Soderholm of Nordic Semiconductor join Chris to explore the exciting shift of AI from the cloud to the edge. Brandon shares how streamlined, low power machine learning models are unlocking new possibilities in health wearables, industrial inspection, and agriculture by bringing fast, responsive intelligence directly onto devices. Thomas highlights how Nordic’s lat...
Mark as Played

AI Beyond Chatbots: 3 Experts on Edge, Robotics, and Real Impact

February 19, 2026 • 63 mins
This special CES 2026 episode brings together Pete Bernard (EDGE AI FOUNDATION), Pankaj Kedia (2468 Ventures), and Hank Crawford (Blue Collar Robotics) to explore how AI is moving from theory into everyday use. From cameraless sensing to edge-powered devices that listen, measure, and respond in real time, it’s clear that AI is becoming embedded in our everyday lives. Pete, Pankaj, and Hank all share one common goal: to have AI to s...
Mark as Played

Is The Smart Home Getting an Upgrade? Inside Amazon’s Push Toward Agentic AI

February 16, 2026 • 32 mins
At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Olivier Bernard of Amazon sits down with Chris to talk about how IoT has evolved from simple device connectivity into intelligent tools, essentially becoming our “second brains.” He breaks down why many companies walked away from the IoT space, pointing to thin margins and limited standalone value, while Amazon found success by embedding IoT into a broader cloud ecosystem that includes data storage, machin...
Mark as Played

90% of Startups Fail… Hello Alice Aims to Help Startups Survive and Thrive

May 22, 2025 • 24 mins
90% of startups fail. Not from lack of ideas, but lack of funding for small businesses. Access to capital can make or break success, yet traditional funding still favors the few. What if technology could level the playing field, giving every entrepreneur a fair shot at business readiness? Kelsey Ruger, Chief Product & Technology Officer, helped build Hello Alice, a free online platform that helps businesses launch and grow, to remo...
Mark as Played

Is The Metaverse Dead? Dauntless XR CEO Talks Extended Reality’s Next Big Break

May 8, 2025 • 34 mins
Extended reality isn't just for gaming; it's changing how we train, fight and explore space. Tech buzzwords like XR and the Metaverse have left many skeptical, but while consumer hype fizzles, industries like defense and aerospace are pushing XR to the next level training soldiers, simulating missions and preparing for deep space travel. Working with NASA and the Air Force has shown us XR can solve real world problems, not just cre...
Mark as Played

Energy Transition is a Breeze: Aeromine Brings Wind Turbines to Urban Areas

April 24, 2025 • 30 mins
Wind energy has the potential to power the world, but only if we rethink how we harness it. Traditional wind turbines are massive, expensive and require vast open spaces. Cities, factories and commercial buildings have been left out of the clean energy revolution, but what if we could bring wind power directly to where it's needed without massive turbines? Dr. Carsten Westergaard, Founder and CTO of Aeromine Technologies, is ready ...
Mark as Played

The Future of Heart Health is AI: Voythos Brings New Outcomes to Aortic Disease

April 10, 2025 • 28 mins
Every 36 seconds, someone in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease. Despite medical advancements, heart disease remains the leading cause of death. Traditional diagnostics react too late, and AI in healthcare often focuses on admin, not on life saving predictions. What if we could use AI to prevent complications before they happen? Enter Joe Makoid, Co-Founder and CEO at Voythos, who is using AI to predict life threate...
Mark as Played

Your Brain on AI: DataJoint Uses Artificial Intelligence for Neuroscience Achievement with Dimitri Yatsenko

March 27, 2025 • 26 mins
In neuroscience, the biggest bottleneck isn't discovery, it's data. Labs are drowning in massive data sets, yet most researchers still struggle with fragmented, outdated systems. What if there was a way to unify, simplify and accelerate breakthroughs? Crack the brain's data code and discover how AI and neuroscience collide with Dimitri Yatsenko, Chief Science and Technology Officer at DataJoint. 
Mark as Played

The Future of Humanoids: Could Robots Replace the Dwindling Industrial Workforce?

March 20, 2025 • 29 mins
By 2030, robots could replace 20 million manufacturing jobs, from factories to undersea exploration. Robots aren’t replacing people, but are instead filling critical gaps in the workforce today. This week, Chris Howard sits down with Nicolaus Radford, Co-Founder and CEO of Persona AI. Persona AI is hiring talented engineers to help them put robot humanoids to work.  
Mark as Played

Tech in the New Energy Age: NOV’s David Reid Talks Robotics, AI, & Advanced Drilling

March 13, 2025 • 32 mins
The energy industry is transforming faster than ever. Automation, AI, and advanced drilling technology are reshaping how we power the world, and leading this charge is David Reid, Chief Technology & Marketing Officer at NOV. For more than 150 years, NOV has delivered technology-driven solutions to empower the global energy industry.  
Mark as Played

High Risk Dive Into Deep Tech: Fathom Fund Breathes Life into Houston Tech Innovation

March 6, 2025 • 31 mins
Deep tech is getting a deeper diver in this week’s episode, when Chris Howard talks to Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Fathom Fund Paul Sheng. The risk of deep tech investments are high, but the potential to transform industries with this technology is even higher. Talking points include the good, bad and not-so-ugly of raising venture funds in Houston, the specific struggles of deep tech investing, and the future of Houston as ...
Mark as Played

Chevron Technology Ventures: How Startups Catch Attention from Corporate Giants with Kemal Anbarci

February 27, 2025 • 32 mins
What if the real key to solving global challenges isn't just about growing fast, but partnering smart? Chevron Technology Ventures is leading corporate innovation, investing in and collaborating with startups to drive lower carbon solutions, operational enhancement and digital transformation. But how does an early stage company catch the attention of a Fortune 100 giant? Kemal Anbarci, General Manager of Venture Capital at Chevron ...
Mark as Played

Future of FinTech: Digital Wealth Innovations with Brassica & BitGo

February 20, 2025 • 25 mins
In this episode, Chris Howard speaks with Youngro Lee, President of Brassica and Managing Director and Head of BitGo Asia. Talking points include democratizing capital, transitioning to digital wealth assets, and improving the quality of markets with increased access to investments and capital. 
Mark as Played

More Than Money: EQUILIBERTY Takes on Financial Inclusion & Capital Access with Phillip Yates

February 13, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode, Chris Howard speaks with Phillip Yates, CEO of EQUILIBERTY, about expanding financial inclusion and breaking down barriers to prosperity for innovators across industries. Talking points include focusing on key communities struggling with capital access, expanding impact as a convener of organizations, and looking ahead to increase EQUILIBERTY app usage. 
Mark as Played

Global Energy Transition: BP Ventures Principal Looks to the Future of Climate Tech

February 6, 2025 • 30 mins
In this episode, Chris Howard meets with Grace Chan, Principal of BP Ventures, to discuss how to balance innovation, sustainability, and the demands of our climate during the global energy transition. Talking points include challenges in clean energy investment, geographic factors in climate technology, and the future of flex fuel and electric vehicles.  
Mark as Played

Can Tech Solve the Global Water Crisis? Feat. Steve Davis of GRUNDFOS

January 30, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode, Chris Howard talks about climate change and the global water crisis with Steve Davis, CTO of GRUNDFOS. Using energy efficient pumping technology, GRUNDFOS delivers drinking water, removes wastewater, or helps farmers water their crops all over the world. Talking points include sanitation and access in the water cycle, water scarcity and concerns in the Global South, and innovative technology solutions that could sa...
Mark as Played

Micro-Betting & Machine Learning: AI Meets Its Sports Tech Match at nVenue

January 23, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode, Chris Howard meets someone changing the game of live sports micro-betting. Introducing Kelly Pracht, Co-Founder and CEO of nVenue, an AI-powered micro-betting engine built for live sports. Talking points include leaving the corporate intrapreneurship world to take the startup red pill, the unique challenges and innovations of sports betting, and the future of AI and machine learning in sports tech. 
Mark as Played

AI on the Playing Field: Top AI Sports Tech Startup Weighs in with Scott Deans

January 16, 2025 • 28 mins
In this episode, Chris Howard steps into a new world of sports technology with Scott Deans, Founder and CEO of BeONE Sports. At BeONE, Scott and his team are globalizing specialized AI training for athletes and coaches, offering real-time performance data and analysis. Talking points include AI-generated training insights, mobile devices versus wearable hardware, and the importance of BeONE’s winning team of former athletes.
Mark as Played

Hiring, Networking, & Innovating: Navigating Startup Success with Gaurav Khandelwal,

January 9, 2025 • 26 mins
In this episode, Chris Howard sits down with Gaurav Khandelwal, CEO of Velostics and Chairman of ChaiOne, to talk about being a multi-time founder and an instrumental member of the Houston startup ecosystem. Talking points include bootstrapping as a business owner in unlikely places, hiring practices for when top talent isn’t available, and innovating in the logistics industry.  
Mark as Played

What Makes a Startup Great? Investment Insights from a Mercury VC Heath Butler

January 2, 2025 • 27 mins
 In this episode, Chris Howard sits down with Heath Butler, Partner at Mercury Fund and host of the “Grow Slow to Grow Fast” podcast, to discuss Houston’s unique venture ecosystem and how investors evaluate startup success. Additional talking points include the type of founders Mercury invests in, Houston’s growing number of tech investment options, and where Mercury has set its sights with machine learning and AI. 
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    The Dan Bongino Show

    The Dan Bongino Show

    The Dan Bongino Show delivers no-nonsense analysis of the day’s most important political and cultural stories. Hosted by the former Deputy Director of the FBI, former Secret Service agent, NYPD officer, and bestselling author Dan Bongino, the show cuts through media spin with facts, accountability, and unapologetic conviction. Whether it’s exposing government overreach, defending constitutional freedoms, or connecting the dots the mainstream media ignores, The Dan Bongino Show provides in-depth analysis of the issues shaping America today. Each episode features sharp commentary, deep dives into breaking news, and behind-the-scenes insight you won’t hear anywhere else. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dan-bongino-show/id965293227?mt=2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sftHO603JaFqpuQBEZReL?si=PBlx46DyS5KxCuCXMOrQvw Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/bongino?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v4_sa_o

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Wearables

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.