Great Entrepreneurs with RJ Lumba

Cloud Communications Maestro: Alianza’s Brian Beutler

In this episode, we speak with Brian Beutler, the Founder and CEO of Alianza, which delivers the only true cloud-native, carrier-grade communications platform built for service providers.
In 2009, after previous years of helping businesses embrace cloud communications, Brian decided to take that same model and help service providers with their next-generation infrastructure. Service Providers that are powered by Alianza are growing faster, drastically simplifying their operations, and delivering better customer experiences.
Before Alianza, Brian founded GetFon, which was sold to AT&T/Alestra in 2008.
Brian supports Water for South Sudan. To learn more about this organization click here.
I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

Climate Tech Innovator: CH4 Global’s Steve Meller

In this episode, we speak with Steve Meller, the CEO and Co-founder of CH4 Global, a company whose mission is to meaningfully impact climate change at scale, by developing gigatonne-scale greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation solutions for global industries and governments.
In 2020, Steve Meller and his team’s initial focus was methane. They had an urgent initiative to research cutting methane emissions from livestock by making a sustainable, globally-scaled supply of a unique seaweed product available to the world.
Steve leads a team of global business veterans with expertise in turning ambitious ideas into successful, fit-for-purpose products. Since an early retirement in late 2012 from a successful corporate executive career at P&G as Chief Innovation Catalyst, Steve has founded or co-founded four companies in the healthcare, tech, sustainability, and innovation sectors.
I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

Data Pioneer: Hammerspace’s David Flynn

In this episode, we speak with David Flynn, the CEO and Co-Founder of Hammerspace, which delivers a global data environment which spans across data centers, AWS, Azure, and Google cloud infrastructure.
David is a recognized leader in IT innovation and  has been architecting disruptive computing platforms since his early work in supercomputing and Linux systems. Early on, David had a fascination with understanding how things work, a passion for technology, and the potential to make significant contributions to society through innovation.
Before Hammerspace, David pioneered the use of flash for enterprise application acceleration as founder and former CEO of Fusion-io, which was acquired by SanDisk in 2014.  He also served as Chief-Architect at Linux Networx where he was instrumental in the creation of the OpenFabrics stack and designed several of the world’s largest supercomputers leveraging Linux clustering, InfiniBand, and RDMA-based technologies.
I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

Asset Management Entrepreneur: Peachtree Group’s Greg Friedman

In this episode, we speak with the CEO and Co-Founder of Peachtree Group, Greg Friedman. Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate.
Greg has successfully led Peachtree in more than $8 Billion in hotel acquisitions, investments and development since co-founding the company.
Greg was formerly Senior Vice President of Business Development for Specialty Finance Group, a direct lender providing hotel first mortgage and FF&E financing, where he originated more than $2 billion of hotel debt.  He was also previously Vice President of Business Development for GMAC Commercial Mortgage Asset-Backed Lending Division.
I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

Building Strong Tech Companies: Horizon3.ai’s Snehal Antani

In this episode, we speak with Snehal Antani, the CEO and Co-Founder of Horizon3.ai, a cyber security company that pioneered the use of AI to autonomously conduct penetration testing.
In 2019, Snehal and his team began with a mission to help companies find and fix attack vectors before criminals can exploit them. By using the attacker’s perspective, Horizon3.ai helps enterprises prioritize defensive efforts.
Before founding the company, Snehal served as the first Chief Technology Officer for Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Before that, he was the CTO and SVP at Splunk, held multiple CIO roles at GE Capital, and was a Software Engineer at IBM.
I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

Indestructible Data Centers: Armada’s Dan Wright

In this episode, we speak with the Co-Founder and CEO of Armada, Dan Wright. Armada is the world’s first full-stack edge computing platform, revolutionizing connectivity, compute, and AI solutions.
Armada enables companies to rapidly deploy, operate and monitor a complete modular data center to the remote corners of the world.
Before Armada, Dan was the CEO of DataRobot and COO of AppDynamics. He is invested in the future of technology as an investor, advisor, and board member for various visionary startups, including Abnormal Security, Avi Networks (acquired by VMware), and Embrace.
Dan is a Board Member of JDRF. To learn more about this organization click here.
I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

Ironman and Bold Entrepreneur: Virta Health’s Sami Inkinen

In this episode, we speak with Sami Inkinen, the Founder and CEO of Virta Health. Virta is an online specialty medical clinic that reverses type 2 diabetes safely and sustainably, without the risks, costs, or side effects of medications or surgery.
Created in 2014, Virta’s innovations in nutritional biochemistry, data science, digital tools, and clinical expertise are shifting the diabetes treatment paradigm from management to reversal.
Before Virta, Sami was a Co-Founder of the leading online real estate marketplace Trulia. He also previously worked for top companies including Microsoft, McKinsey, and Nokia.
Sami is also an endurance athlete.  Sami and his wife rowed from California to Hawaii—2,750 miles, completely unsupported. He is also a triathlon age group world champion and 8 hour 24 minute Ironman with seven Hawaii Ironman finishes.
I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

Supercharging AI infrastructure: Celestial AI’s David Lazovsky

In this episode, we speak with David Lazovsky, the Co-Founder and CEO of Celestial AI.  Founded in 2020, Celestial AI is the creator of the Photonic Fabric™ technology platform, a pioneering optical compute and memory fabric solution for supercharging AI infrastructure.
David leads the company in using his in-depth knowledge of semiconductors, data/telecommunications, photonics, clean energy industries, and extensive international business experience.
His impressive career background includes being an Executive Chairman of POET Technologies, Venture Partner at Khosla Ventures, and founder of Intermolecular.
David supports Canary Foundation. To learn more about this organization click here.
I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

Transforming Mobile Commerce: P97’s Donald Frieden

In this episode, we speak with Donald Frieden, the President and CEO of P97 Networks, which provides a global, cloud-based mobility services platform that enables mobile commerce, digital marketing, and consumer engagement for convenience retail, utilities, energy companies, and auto OEMs.
Since P97’s start in 2012, Donald’s been responsible for corporate governance and empowering a great team of individuals to innovate passionately, through his industry expertise in payments, mobile commerce, digital marketing, and petroleum.
Previously, he was a President and COO at Novolink Communications and a Vice President at Mobile Solutions at Invensys. Earlier in his career, he worked with SAT Corporation as a President and CEO.
I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

eCommerce FinTech Leader: SellersFi’s Ricardo Pero

In this episode, we speak with the CEO and Co-Founder of SellersFi, Ricardo Pero. SellersFi is a global financial technology company that aims to empower e-commerce merchants looking to grow. This is done through inventory and marketing, product launches, international expansion, and more.
Founded in 2017, Ricardo has led SellersFi through offering his 25+ years of experience in corporate treasury, wealth, and asset management.
Ricardo is an investor and advisor to companies in the US and LatAm as well as a former director in leading financial Institutions such as JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch. He previously founded OneLink Capital Partners.
I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.