The Frontier State Podcast: Venture Capital, Innovation Policy & DeepTech

Tushar Kanade & Ira Jackson

Two Harvard researchers - Ira Jackson and Tushar Kanade - talk about the 'frontier state of things' in cutting-edge technologies and businesses and the frontier 'states' (Boston, NYC, Silicon Valley as well as India, Japan, Germany etc.) pioneering innovation and enterprise. Collectively, we interview trailblazers advancing innovation in USA, across public policy (Washington-led IRA, ARPA-E), venture capital (first-time VCs to veterans from SoftBank), and disruptive technologies (nuclear fusion to AI). thefrontierstate.substack.com

  1. The Frontier State of AI x Electric Grids

    12/18/2025

    The Frontier State of AI x Electric Grids

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefrontierstate.substack.com In this episode of The Frontier State Dialogues, I host Ravi Jain, former CTO of Project Tapestry at X the Moonshot Factory (formerly Google X), to explore how AI and advanced technologies are transforming the century-old electric grid. Tapestry, described as the "Google Maps for electrons," represents a moonshot approach to modernizing our most critical infrastructure at a time when it faces unprecedented challenges. The timing couldn't be more crucial. As Ravi explains, the electric grid - the world's largest machine - is experiencing two fundamental disruptions: an explosion in demand driven by electrification and AI data centers, and the rapid integration of renewable energy sources that require bidirectional electron flow, something the grid was never designed to handle. Key Themes Our wide-ranging dialogue explored several critical aspects of grid modernization and innovation:

    3 min
  2. The new Frontier State season is here!

    09/09/2025

    The new Frontier State season is here!

    Excited to announce the new season of The Frontier State podcast at Harvard University, debuting this week!Interviewed throughout 2025, we will release full episodes over the next few weeks exclusively on Substack.The Summer '25 drop includes 7 conversations with builders, investors, & thinkers - at the frontier.First up: Ravi Jain (ex-CTO, Project Tapestry, Google X, The Moonshot Factory ) on “the Google Maps for the Electric Grid” - stay tuned for the episode drop this week!Among others, this season will include: - Jason Shuman (General Partner, Primary Venture Partners): Day-0 signals that predict seed winners in Vertical AI- Philip Johnston (Starcloud / Y Combinator S24): Space-based data centers - hype vs physics- Amy Duffuor (Co-Founder & General Partner, Azolla Ventures): Climate seed investing without the fluff- Oluseun Taiwo (CEO, Solideon, ex-Virgin Orbit): Autonomous manufacturing - Jay Ash (Ex-Housing & Econ. Development Secretary, Commonwealth of Massachusetts & President, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership): Compete-to-build playbook- Emily Knight (CEO, The Engine Accelerator, an MIT spin-off): The systems that move lab→marketAt The Frontier State, Ira Jackson and I will continue covering: - 21st Century frameworks of innovation, - the growth of cities and radical technologies, and - the equitable ways civilization can fund new economies. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefrontierstate.substack.com/subscribe

    23 sec
  3. The Frontier State of Robotics Innovation

    03/10/2025

    The Frontier State of Robotics Innovation

    The Frontier State Conversations is a series where we host trailblazers in public policy, venture capital, and disruptive technologies. We aim to unpack competing ideas about fostering innovation in the private, public, non-profit, and academic spheres. In this edition of The Frontier State Conversations, I host Tom Ryden, Executive Director of MassRobotics, to discuss the evolving landscape of robotics innovation. Our wide-ranging discussion explores how MassRobotics has become the largest independent robotics hub, nurturing next-generation robotics companies and strengthening Boston's position as a frontier for technological innovation. Key Themes Our conversation with Tom explored several crucial dimensions of robotics innovation: Ecosystem Development: How MassRobotics has built a thriving community for robotics startups, providing not just physical space but the connections, resources, and mentorship needed to accelerate commercialization. Humanoid Robotics Revolution: The significant advances in humanoid robotics from companies like Boston Dynamics and Figure AI, and how lessons from NASA's space-focused programs are informing commercial applications. Market Evolution: The shift from industrial applications to new frontiers in healthcare, agriculture, logistics, and consumer robotics, and how startups are navigating the path to market. AI and Robotics Convergence: How advances in artificial intelligence are transforming what's possible in robotics, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs. Regional Innovation Advantage: The unique characteristics that make Massachusetts a robotics powerhouse, from its concentration of academic institutions to its culture of collaboration. Looking Forward Tom shared valuable insights on the future of robotics, particularly regarding the acceleration of humanoid robotics development and the expansion of robots into traditionally human-only environments. He emphasized how MassRobotics continues to evolve its support for startups as they face both technical challenges and market adoption hurdles. This conversation marks another exploration in our series examining how specific regions, institutions, and individuals contribute to the development of frontier states of innovation. Through these discussions, we're mapping the complex interplay between public policy, private capital, and technological innovation that drives progress in fields critical to our collective future. Stay tuned for more insights from The Frontier State Conversations series, as we continue to explore the intersection of technology, policy, and innovation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefrontierstate.substack.com/subscribe

    52 min
  4. The Frontier State of Nonprofit Accelerators

    01/25/2025

    The Frontier State of Nonprofit Accelerators

    The Frontier State Conversations explores the intersection of innovation ecosystems, policy frameworks, and emerging technologies. Our latest episode features Cait Brumme (Princeton ‘07, Harvard Business School ‘12), CEO of MassChallenge, one of the world's largest zero-equity accelerators. Key Themes Our wide-ranging dialogue with Cait explored several crucial aspects of innovation acceleration: * Innovation Ecosystem Development: How accelerators shape regional innovation landscapes and foster collaborative environments between startups, corporations, and government entities. * Global Innovation Networks: MassChallenge's unique insights from operating across multiple innovation hubs including Boston, Israel, Mexico, and Switzerland - and what these ecosystems can learn from each other. * Financing Evolution: The changing landscape of startup funding and its impact on innovation trajectories, particularly for frontier technologies and high-risk, high-reward ventures. * Diversity in Innovation: Strategic approaches to making innovation more accessible and inclusive, with concrete examples of success stories and ongoing challenges. * Public-Private Collaboration: The critical role of partnerships between government, industry, and academia in fostering sustainable innovation ecosystems. Looking Forward Cait shared valuable insights about the future of accelerator programs and their evolving role in supporting frontier technology development. She emphasized how MassChallenge's zero-equity model enables them to focus purely on impact and innovation, particularly in supporting early-stage founders working on transformative technologies. This conversation is part of our ongoing exploration of innovation ecosystems and how different regions, institutions, and individuals contribute to the development of frontier states of innovation. Stay tuned for more insights from The Frontier State Conversations series throughout 2025, as we continue to explore the intersection of technology, policy, and innovation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefrontierstate.substack.com/subscribe

    51 min
  5. The Frontier State of Climate Policy Leadership

    12/20/2024

    The Frontier State of Climate Policy Leadership

    In our newest episode of The Frontier State Conversations, we host Melissa Hoffer, who serves as Massachusetts' first-ever State Climate Chief - a pioneering position that's reshaping how states approach climate action and innovation. This fascinating conversation explores how Massachusetts is building a new model of government to address the defining challenge of our time. Key Themes: The Economic Imperative: Chief Hoffer frames climate action through an economic lens, citing Potsdam Institute's projection of $38 trillion in annual climate damages by 2050. As she notes, "It's going to be hard to sell anything in a world that is destabilized by climate change." This reality is driving unprecedented collaboration between government, industry, and finance. Whole-of-Government Innovation: Massachusetts has moved beyond treating climate as solely an environmental issue, integrating climate considerations across all state functions. From healthcare contracts tracking emissions to capital investment planning requiring decarbonization, the state is pioneering new governance models that other states are watching closely. State Leadership and Learning: In an era of limited federal action, states have become critical laboratories for climate policy. Massachusetts, California, and New York are each developing unique approaches while learning from each other's successes and setbacks - from electric vehicle infrastructure to building electrification. Financing the Transition: The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank represents an innovative model for funding decarbonization while prioritizing equity. Its first program focusing on affordable housing drew 250 applications in 48 hours, demonstrating the enormous demand for climate finance solutions that work for everyone. Looking Forward Chief Hoffer outlined three key metrics for success: * Creating economic opportunity through climate finance * Preparing communities for climate impacts and social transformation * Building infrastructure resilience across the state This conversation marks another milestone in our exploration of frontier states of innovation, focusing on how Massachusetts is pioneering new models of climate governance and policy implementation that could serve as templates for other states and nations. The full conversation covers many more insights, from workforce development initiatives to regional coordination on transportation policy. You can watch the complete episode on our website or listen on your favorite podcast platform. Stay tuned for more from The Frontier State Conversations series as we continue to explore the intersection of policy, technology, and innovation in solving our most pressing challenges. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefrontierstate.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 3m
  6. The Frontier State of Compact Nuclear Fusion

    12/10/2024

    The Frontier State of Compact Nuclear Fusion

    In this episode of The Frontier State Dialogues, I host Robin Langtry, CEO and co-founder of Avalanche Energy, to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of nuclear fusion and his company's distinctive approach to achieving commercial fusion through compact electrostatic devices. With a PhD in mechanical engineering (& a self-guided PhD-level study of nuclear fusion) and with experience leading complex aerospace projects at Boeing and Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin, Robin brings unique insights to the fusion challenge. His journey from designing rockets with Jeff Bezos to pioneering a novel approach to fusion energy offers fascinating perspectives on innovation and technological breakthroughs. Key Themes: * The evolution from traditional tokamak fusion to compact electrostatic approaches * Why 2027 could be a pivotal year for the fusion industry * The contrasts between consensus-driven and contrarian investing in deep tech * How AI's energy demands are reshaping the nuclear landscape * The path to energy superabundance and its geopolitical implications Our wide-ranging dialogue explores several crucial aspects of fusion development: * Engineering Approaches & Technical Milestones * The distinction between Q-science and Q-engineering in fusion achievements * Why Avalanche is pursuing electrostatic ion confinement with magnetic electron confinement * The technical roadmap from current achievements to commercial fusion * Investment Landscape * The shift from government-funded research to venture capital driving innovation * Contrasting investment approaches between firms like Breakthrough Energy and Founders Fund * Novel funding mechanisms emerging in the fusion sector * Future Vision * The potential for small, mass-manufactured fusion devices * Applications beyond power generation, including space exploration * The path to energy abundance and its implications for global development Looking Forward: Robin shares an optimistic but grounded vision for fusion's future, highlighting both near-term commercial applications in isotope production and materials testing, while keeping focus on the ultimate goal of abundant clean energy. This conversation marks another exploration in our series examining the intersection of deep tech, venture capital, and public policy. Through these discussions, we continue to unpack how different stakeholders are shaping the future of frontier technologies. Stay tuned for more insights from The Frontier State series throughout 2024 and 2025! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefrontierstate.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 20m
  7. The Frontier State of Neurosurgery & Brain-Computer Interfaces

    11/26/2024

    The Frontier State of Neurosurgery & Brain-Computer Interfaces

    In this fascinating edition of The Frontier State Dialogues, I host Dr. Theodore Schwartz, pioneering neurosurgeon at New York City and author of "Gray Matters: A biography of the brain". Our wide-ranging conversation explores the intersection of surgical innovation, brain science, and emerging neurotechnology, with particular focus on what current brain-computer interface development means for the future of human enhancement and medical treatment. Brief biography of Theodore H. Schwartz:Theodore H. Schwartz (Harvard College '87, Harvard Medical School MD '93, FACS) is the David and Ursel Barnes Endowed Professor of Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, one of the busiest and highest-ranked neurosurgery centers in the world. He has published over five hundred scientific articles and chapters on neurosurgery and lectured worldwide—from Bogotá to Vienna to Mumbai—on new, minimally invasive surgical techniques that he helped develop. He also runs a basic science laboratory devoted to epilepsy research. He studied philosophy and literature at Harvard College before studying neuroscience and neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. Through a 90-minute conversation, we delve a bit into Dr. Schwartz’s compelling memoir, Gray Matters and discuss brain-computer interfaces, the philosophical debate of ‘free will’ and whether it exists, and some related questions and thoughts as we advance our understanding of the human brain. This unfiltered Dialogue will explore these themes with a backdrop of the intricate world of brain surgery, offering insights into the profound experiences and challenges faced by one of the leading figures in neurosurgery. Dr. Theodore Schwartz, celebrated for his pioneering work and innovative techniques in brain surgery, discusses some riveting stories behind his book, which provides a candid look at the highs and lows of his career. From groundbreaking medical procedures to the personal and emotional aspects of his profession, Gray Matters offers a unique perspective on the human side of neurosurgery. Key Themes Our 90-minute dialogue explored several crucial aspects of neuroscience and technological innovation: * Surgical Evolution: From 50% mortality rates in early brain surgery to today's minimally invasive techniques, how neurosurgical innovation offers crucial lessons for technology development in high-stakes environments. Dr. Schwartz's firsthand experience developing endoscopic approaches illuminates how medical innovations actually emerge and gain acceptance. * Brain-Computer Interface Realities: The biological challenges and surgical complexities that may impact BCI development, viewed through decades of hands-on brain surgery experience. Dr. Schwartz offers unique insight into competing approaches from companies like Neuralink, Precision Neuroscience, and Synchron. * The Philosophy of Mind: How split-brain studies and modern neuroscience challenge our understanding of consciousness, free will, and the nature of self. The implications of these insights for human augmentation technologies. * Clinical Translation: The gap between theoretical possibilities and practical implementation in brain intervention, particularly highlighted through discussions of memory enhancement and neuroplasticity. Looking Forward * Dr. Schwartz shared valuable insights about both the promise and limitations of emerging neurotechnologies, particularly emphasizing that getting information out of the brain may be easier than putting information in. His surgical experience provides crucial perspective on the challenges facing brain-computer interface development, while his patient stories illuminate human elements often overlooked in technical discussions. * Particularly interesting was his take on how BCI companies should approach development - emphasizing the importance of close collaboration with practicing neurosurgeons rather than trying to develop solutions purely in engineering labs. He sees enormous potential for helping patients with conditions like ALS or paralysis, while remaining thoughtfully skeptical about near-term enhancement applications. * This conversation marks an important examination of how medical innovation occurs in practice and what lessons it holds for emerging neurotechnology development. Through comparing approaches across different regions and times, we gain crucial insights into how transformative technologies actually emerge and evolve. Stay tuned for more insights from The Frontier State Dialogues series throughout 2024, as we continue to explore the intersection of technology, policy, and innovation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefrontierstate.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 27m
  8. The Frontier State of Technology Investing

    11/13/2024

    The Frontier State of Technology Investing

    The Frontier State Dialogues (longer and more informal than FS Conversations) - is a series of long-form casual conversations where we host trailblazers in public policy, venture capital, and disruptive technologies. We aim to unpack competing ideas about fostering innovation in the private, public, non-profit, and academic spheres. The Frontier State is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In the inaugural edition of The Frontier State Dialogues, I host Alok Sama, former President & CFO of SoftBank, to discuss The Frontier State of Technology Investing. Our free-flowing conversation builds upon his recently published book The Money Trap: Lost Illusions Inside The Tech Bubble. Key Themes Our wide-ranging dialogue with Alok explored several crucial aspects of technology investing and innovation: * Evolution of Technology Waves: From the PC revolution through internet, mobile, and now AI, each wave brings transformative change that often exceeds initial expectations while developing differently across global markets. * Investment Philosophy: The tension between traditional valuation methods and the need to evaluate disruptive technologies, particularly in emerging sectors where conventional metrics may not apply. * Geographic Innovation Dynamics: How different regions adapt to and implement new technologies, with insights into markets from Saudi Arabia to Japan to USA to India. * AI and Infrastructure: The critical role of infrastructure in enabling AI advancement, from computing power to energy requirements. * Cultural and Educational Perspectives: The importance of liberal arts education and intellectual curiosity in fostering innovation. Looking Forward Alok shared valuable insights about the future of technology investing, particularly regarding AI infrastructure and the evolving role of companies like ARM in the semiconductor space. He emphasized how SoftBank under Masayoshi Son's leadership continues to focus on transformative technologies, with significant capital ready to deploy into building the future of AI - especially after the hype since 2022. This conversation marks the beginning of our Dialogues series, which will continue to feature extended discussions with thought leaders who have shaped various aspects of innovation ecosystems. Through these conversations, we aim to deepen our understanding of how different regions, institutions, and individuals contribute to the development of frontier states of innovation. Stay tuned for more insights from The Frontier State Dialogues series throughout 2024, as we continue to explore the intersection of technology, policy, and innovation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefrontierstate.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 34m
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Two Harvard researchers - Ira Jackson and Tushar Kanade - talk about the 'frontier state of things' in cutting-edge technologies and businesses and the frontier 'states' (Boston, NYC, Silicon Valley as well as India, Japan, Germany etc.) pioneering innovation and enterprise. Collectively, we interview trailblazers advancing innovation in USA, across public policy (Washington-led IRA, ARPA-E), venture capital (first-time VCs to veterans from SoftBank), and disruptive technologies (nuclear fusion to AI). thefrontierstate.substack.com

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