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Episodes
Friday Jan 15, 2021
Friday Jan 15, 2021
On this episode of Silicon Valley Insider (#SVIN), Keith Koo’s guest are John Burris, Chief Strategy and Blockchain Officer and Nancy Beaton, Vice President of Strategy of IMVU the 20+ year old online metaverse game and social networking site.
John and Nancy share how IMVU is the first company to ever received a “no action” letter from the SEC resulting in the company being granted the permission to sell VCOIN their digital tokens.
On the “Cyber-Tip” Keith once again discusses the issues with vendor risk management and details a case in which a vendor is being blamed by their partner for being responsible for end customer’s data breach.
To find out more about IMVU and VCOIN:
https://secure.imvu.com/
Subscribe and Download to “Silicon Valley Insider” to find out more:
https://www.svin.biz/
Wednesday Dec 30, 2020
Wednesday Dec 30, 2020
On this episode of Silicon Valley Insider (#SVIN), Keith Koo’s guest is Justin Breen, Founder and CEO of BrEpic Communications, LLC.
Justin shares his humble beginnings as a 20+ year career as journalist who through a series of career transitions ended up starting a PR firm with zero business experience.
In building BrEpic, Justin empowers his clients using his deep expertise in being a “super-connector”. Throughout the show, Keith and Justin share their insights into how to identify good companies to work with. Justin also share his tips on how to become an effective networker.
Justin also discusses his new book: "Epic Business: 30 Secrets to Build Your Business Exponentially and Give You the Freedom to Live the Life You Want!" a playbook on how to build life changing connections.
On the “Cyber-Tip” Keith gives more details into how you can hack a Tesla Model X with $300.00 of equipment.
Justin’s Forbes article “7 Tips for Building a Global Network”:
https://www.inc.com/entrepreneurs-organization/7-tips-for-building-a-global-network.html
More about Justin’s Book: “Epic Business: 30 Secrets to Build Your Business Exponentially and Give You the Freedom to Live the Life You Want!”
https://www.amazon.com/Epic-Business-Secrets-Exponentially-Freedom-ebook/dp/B0881ZBNDV
Subscribe and Download to “Silicon Valley Insider” to find out more:
https://www.svin.biz/
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
On this episode of Silicon Valley Insider (#SVIN), Keith Koo’s guests are Jonathan Littman and Susanna Camp, co-authors of their new book: “The Entrepreneur’s Faces: How Makers, Visionaries and Outsiders Succeed”
Jonathan and Susanna share with Keith the story behind “the why” of writing their book which is that entrepreneurs come in 10 different archetypes. With the pandemic being seen as a “black swan” event, many people are pivoting in their fields of work and careers. For those that are stuck and are trying to find whether they have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, this book was meant to help them discover what their entrepreneurial archetype is.
Throughout the show, Jonathan and Susanna give examples of the different archetypes by highlighting ten very successful entrepreneurs from around the globe and who each have a unique journey. Find out what it means to be an “accidental”, “evangelist”, “guardian” and how understanding which of the ten you are will make you a better entrepreneur.
More about Jonathan Littman and Susanna Camp:
Before their collaboration, Jonathan and Susanna were each known as experts in their fields. Jonathan is an award-winning journalist and author having worked for Ziff/Davis, Random House, and Yahoo Sports before starting Smartup.Life, a hub for innovation. Jonathan has also co-authored books with IDEO including the two best sellers: “The Art of Innovation” and the “Ten Faces of Innovation” with Tom Kelly. Susanna has worked for Wired Magazine, PC World and Outside Magazine and is now Editor-in-Chief at Smartup.Life.
https://smartup.life/
Subscribe and Download to “Silicon Valley Insider” to find out more:
https://www.svin.biz/
Sunday Dec 13, 2020
Sunday Dec 13, 2020
On this week’s Silicon Valley Insider (#SVIN), Keith Koo’s guest is Lt. Col. JJ Snow, Chief Technology Officer of the United States Air Force’s innovation center, AFWERX.
JJ shares her story on how she got her start in the military and the different roles she took, including combat, on her way to becoming an innovation leader. During this episode JJ shares:
Did you know that 80% of military investments in technology are for non-combat use?
What it takes for companies to have a successful public/private partnership with the government.
How the Air Force’s accelerator program works and how the process has been simplified for startups to apply.
On this show’s Cyber-Tip, Keith gives a deep dive on “Section 230” of the “Communications Decency Act of 1996” in light of the U.S.A. senate hearings on big tech such as Facebook, Twitter and Google over concerns that they are filtering data for certain groups.
On the Pivot, JJ and Keith discuss quantum computing, artificial intelligence and the competition to have faster computational processing. JJ gives a specific example in Alpha Star which is being used for simulations.
Subscribe and Download to “Silicon Valley Insider” to find out more:
www.svin.biz
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
What does Atari, the iconic video game maker and cryptocurrency have in common? Find out on this episode of Silicon Valley Insider when Keith Koo’s guest is Fred Chesnais the CEO of Atari who discusses their new Atari video computer system (VCS) and Atari Token, their in-game virtual currency. Hear why video game companies like Atari are embracing blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
More information on Atari:
www.atari.com
More information on Atari Token:
www.atarichain.com
Subscribe and Download to “Silicon Valley Insider” to find out more:
www.svin.biz
Listen Saturdays 10-11am 860AM KTRB Silicon Valley | San Francisco
Listen Thursdays 2-3pm on 1220AM KDOW Silicon Valley | San Francisco
Listen and subscribe to the "Silicon Valley Insider" Podcast ahead of time to make sure you don't miss this show.
For questions or comments, email: info@svin.biz
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Monday Nov 23, 2020
On this episode of Silicon Valley Insider, Keith Koo's guest is Jacob Farber, Co-Founder and Partner of Ouroboros, LLP.
Jacob is an early pioneer in legal matters regarding blockchain and cryptocurrency having worked with dozens of clients on token sales and white papers before becoming the R3 blockchain consortium's general counsel.
Keith and Jacob discuss the current state of blockchain, cryptocurrency and DeFi (Decentralized Finance) and how like the early the days of cryptocurrency, it can be like the "wild west". There are some breakthrough projects on the horizon but also cautions potential investors to do their due diligence in understanding what they are getting into.
DeFi is currently at the forefront of people's minds with valuations gaining momentum that is similar to cryptocurrencies a few years back. Jacob also points out that the "killer app" of blockchain has still not yet happened but that it could happen in the near future. Find out whether DeFi is going be like "groundhog day" with regards to the early days of cryptocurrency.
On this week’s Cyber-Tip, Keith discusses targeted victims of a spear-phishing attacks at an elite cyber security conference and what you should do to safeguard your accounts.
On the Pivot, Keith and Jacob discuss the future of blockchain as a technology and what some of the most exciting use cases are.
More about Jacob Farber:
Jacob Farber is the co-founder of Ouroboros LLP, a blockchain- and fintech-focused law firm and strategic consultancy. Jacob represents clients on matters relating to blockchain and cryptocurrency law and regulation, technology and IP transactions and licensing,
M&A, and financial services regulatory matters. Since 2012, Jacob has been at the forefront of the legal and regulatory frameworks related to cryptocurrency and blockchain/distributed ledger technology (DLT), and is recognized as a leading legal thinker in the space. Jacob has represented clients before numerous national and international financial services regulators where he has helped to shape the evolving regulatory frameworks.
Jacob works with clients, from startups to major global companies, in a wide variety of technology-centric transactional and counseling matters: complex tech transactions, commercial contracting, M&A, general corporate matters, internet and e-commerce agreements, intellectual property licensing, technology and software acquisition, licensing and strategic procurement.
As one of the first attorneys working with blockchain and virtual-currency innovators, Jacob has earned a reputation as an authority on emerging trends and enforcement. He has been a featured speaker at Money 20/20, the National Forum on Emerging Payment Systems,
the American Bankers Association Annual Meeting and numerous other financially focused forums.
More on Ouroboros, LLP:
https://o-llp.com/
Subscribe and Download to “Silicon Valley Insider” to find out more:
www.svin.biz
Listen Saturdays 10-11am 860AM KTRB Silicon Valley | San Francisco
Listen Thursdays 2-3pm on 1220AM KDOW Silicon Valley | San Francisco
Listen and subscribe to the "Silicon Valley Insider" Podcast ahead of time to make sure you don't miss this show.
For questions or comments, email: info@svin.biz
Friday Nov 13, 2020
Friday Nov 13, 2020
On this week’s Silicon Valley Insider, Keith Koo talks to the founders of MyDream Interactive, Allison Huynh, CEO and Tammy Laverty, CMO.
MyDream has built a series of free learning mobile apps for test prep like S.A.T. and A.C.T. called the “Adoraboos” using current examples such as cryptocurrency and blockchain. Hear their story of how they came up with their idea and how students can try out their application for free.
Also, on this week’s show, Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese will be talking about the future of business and tech in Silicon Valley and beyond.
MyDream Interactive's Adoraboos:
https://www.theadoraboos.com/
For more information email: info@svin.biz
Subscribe and Download to “Silicon Valley Insider” to find out more:
www.svin.biz
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
On this week’s Silicon Valley Insider (#SVIN), Keith Koo’s guest is Emrah Gultekin, Co-Founder and CEO of Chooch A.I. a company innovating visual artificial intelligence on the edge and in the cloud.
Emrah discusses why Chooch is trying to solve a fundamental problem for visual A.I. to acquire visual expertise in a structured way similar to how human knowledge. By making this achievement, the technology can be used in preventing fraud, decreasing medical mistakes and increasing manufacturing quality. Emrah gives several examples of how Chooch A.I. is solving for these use cases.
On this week’s Cyber-Tip Keith discusses how ransomware victims who pay the ransoms to cyber criminals can sometimes cause greater legal and criminal issues for themselves and their service providers, lawyers and bankers.
On the Pivot, Keith and Emrah discusses the future of A.I. and the importance of addressing algorithmic biases.
More about Emrah Gultekin:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emrah_Gultekin
More about Chooch A.I..
https://chooch.ai/
For more information email: info@svin.biz
Subscribe and Download to “Silicon Valley Insider” to find out more:
www.svin.biz
Friday Oct 23, 2020
Friday Oct 23, 2020
On this week’s Silicon Valley Insider (#SVIN), Keith Koo’s guest is serial entrepreneur Dirk Lueth, Co-Founder of Upland a Monopoly-like mobile game built on blockchain that connects virtual worlds (called metaverses) to their corresponding physical world addresses.
Dirk explains how in Upland, a game powered by blockchain, the player doesn’t need to know anything about cryptocurrency or crypto wallets to play and interact with the game. The app is available on IOS and Android platforms.
During the show you will find out:
What does Monopoly and the Netflix show “Stranger Things” have to do with the creation of Upland?
The similarities and differences between gaming concepts like Minecraft, Fortnite and Second Life (and how Upland has a strategic partnership with Second Life in order to provide “fiat out” services for extracting the value of cryptocurrency from the Upland metaverse.
Want to try the game? Sign up using this link to get a sign-up bonus of 6,000 UPX (Upland’s in-app currency a ~$6.00 USD value) https://discover.upland.me/siliconvalleyinsider
On this week’s Cyber-Tip Keith discusses the recently announced Robinhood trading platform’s hack that affected over 2,000 people and how their two-factor authentication was also being compromised.
On the Pivot, Dirk and Keith discuss what the future may look like when virtual worlds and physical worlds further blend together. Dirk envisions a future that incorporates our virtual lives with our real lives.
More about Dirk Lueth
Dirk is a serial entrepreneur and an early adopter of Blockchain and related technologies, based in Silicon Valley. He co-founded European and US-based companies in the FinTech and digital media spaces, including the Financial Times Deutschland and Forbatec, which has been acquired by SunGard (today NYSE:FIS). Dirk mentored over 30 startups through his work at the German and Swiss startup accelerators in Silicon Valley and is a frequent speaker/panelist about Blockchain and platform economics. He has studied Business Administration in Frankfurt and Paris and received a Ph.D. from the European Business School in Germany where he wrote his doctoral thesis about private and state-controlled currencies.
More about Upland.
Upland (https://upland.me/) is a metaverse that combines real and virtual worlds, allowing users to buy, sell, and trade virtual properties that are mapped to actual addresses. Upland follows the principles of an open market economy, using blockchain technology to ensure true ownership of digital assets. Available on iOS, Android, and desktop devices, Upland is a top-five gaming Dapp according to DappRadar.
Subscribe and Download to “Silicon Valley Insider” to find out more:
www.svin.biz
Sunday Oct 18, 2020
Sunday Oct 18, 2020
On this week’s Silicon Valley Insider (#SVIN), Keith Koo’s special guest is Cathy Trinh. Cathy is a seasoned executive recruiter with Logic Consulting group and focuses on filling executive roles in finance and accounting. Cathy is also a personal coach and the author. Cathy discusses a number of topics on the show:
Self-care for professionals during COVID-19 – Cathy’s advice for avoiding burnout and keeping yourself mentally and spiritually fit.
Cathy’s recently released book: “The Journey: Mastering the Art of Slowing Down into a Beautiful Existence” a guide based on the struggles and triumphs in Cathy’s life including battling workaholism and other stress.
Job Search Advice – as an executive recruiter, Cathy shares her advice and encouragement for those who are seeking new roles.
“Man and Woman of the Year” – Cathy’s nomination with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
On this week’s Cyber-Tip, Keith talks a newly discovered malware that does not get removed even when the operating system is reinstalled.
Subscribe and Download to “Silicon Valley Insider” to find out more:
www.svin.biz
For more information on Cathy Trinh, you can find her here:
https://www.cathytrinh.com/
To read Cathy’s Book, you can find it here on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Mastering-Slowing-Beautiful-Existence-ebook/dp/B089MYPJS2/