Deep Tech

Thomas Kluz

The Deep Tech podcast will help you be in the know on all things Healthcare Investing. Through interviews with cutting-edge health entrepreneurs, savvy investors, health system leaders, and more, the Deep Tech podcast powered by Niterra, will help you level up and make an impact in healthcare investing.

  1. FEB 19

    The Spreadsheet Trap: Why Growth Equity Fails Without Operator Rigor with Joe Kaiser, CEO and Managing Director at Mercato Partners

    Real growth investing creates durable outcomes when disciplined capital allocation is matched with operator-level rigor and clear value creation. In this episode, Joe Kaiser, CEO and Managing Director at Mercato Partners, shares how his experience at Blackstone and in operating roles, including scaling Vivint Solar from zero to $200M in revenue through an IPO and a $5B exit, shaped his “show me” mindset, quantitative rigor, and focus on unit economics. He explains Mercato’s heartland thesis, how geography affects founder incentives, talent development, and board dynamics, and what coastal investors often misunderstand about scaling outside major hubs. Joe outlines Mercato’s “head in, hands out” board approach, when engagement is most critical in balance sheet decisions, and why respectful, direct communication matters. He also critiques growth equity overcapitalization, warns against spreadsheet-driven projections, and shares views on AI, deep tech diligence, hardware-enabled moats, and hiring leaders who’ve done it before. Tune in and learn how to build and fund enduring companies without chasing hype or relocating to the coast. Resources: Connect with and follow Joe Kaiser on LinkedIn.  Follow Mercato Partners on LinkedIn and explore their website.  Watch the interview here.

    41 min

  2. FEB 3

    How AI Can Earn Trust Without Becoming A Black Box with Ken Fine, CEO of Affinity

    Strong decision-making systems are built when data quality, human behavior, and trust are treated as inseparable. In this episode, Ken Fine, CEO of Affinity, shares how his career path from naval engineering and physics to enterprise SaaS leadership shaped his thinking about data, systems, and decision-making. He reflects on designing high-stakes systems in the Navy, applying behavioral economics at Financial Engines, and learning how to separate signal from noise at Medallia. Ken explains why differentiated data matters more than algorithms alone, how speed and accuracy work together to build trust, and why transparency is essential as AI becomes more embedded in workflows. He also discusses leadership, emphasizing accountability balanced with empathy, and introduces his “nail it, then scale it” framework for building sustainable companies. Tune in and learn how data, trust, and human judgment come together to power better decisions at scale.Resources: Connect with and follow Ken Fine on LinkedIn. Follow Affinity.co on LinkedIn and explore their website.

    49 min

  3. 12/04/2025

    Electricity as Medicine: Inside the Future of Personalized Tremor Therapy with Deanna Harshbarger, CEO of Cala Health

    What if treating tremor meant personalizing therapy to your exact physiology, every single day? In this episode, Deanna Harshbarger, CEO of Cala Health, discusses how precision neuromodulation is transforming care by measuring each patient’s unique tremor and tailoring therapy in real-time. She explains why millions of essential tremor and Parkinson’s patients are left undertreated under today’s pharma-first, procedure-heavy system. She shares how Cala’s wearable, watch-like device restores daily function and dignity without habituation or invasive surgery. She also explains why modernizing reimbursement, regulation, and clinical workflows is crucial for digital therapeutics to scale. Tune in to discover how electricity is becoming medicine. Resources: Connect with and follow Deanna Harshbarger on LinkedIn. Follow Cala Health on LinkedIn and explore their website.

    59 min

  4. 11/27/2025

    From Lab to Lunch: How AI Is Reimagining Nutrition and Health with Dr. Ilias Tagkopoulos, chairman and founder of PIPA

    What if the future of health starts not in a pharmacy, but in the food we eat? In this episode, Dr. Ilias Tagkopoulos, chairman and founder of PIPA, professor at UC Davis, and director at the USDA AI Institute, talks about how academia shaped his pursuit of long-term, high-impact innovation and how that led him to build AI platforms reshaping food, nutrition, and health. He shares a personal story that shifted his company's focus from broad AI applications to the power of diet and lifestyle. He explains how AI-as-a-service has evolved, why global talent has been crucial to scaling, and where AI can have the most immediate impact on nutrition. He also explores the future, from personalized diets based on biomarkers to the rise of agentic AI. Tune in to hear how AI is redefining the way we nourish and care for ourselves! Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Ilias Tagkopoulos on LinkedIn. Follow PIPA on LinkedIn and explore their website. Follow UC Davis on LinkedIn and visit their website.

    1h 4m

  5. 09/11/2025

    The Untapped Potential Of AI To Tackle Complex Medical Problems with Viwat Visuthikraisee, Co-Founder and COO of Auransa

    The most valuable breakthroughs in drug development come from finding the right direction before picking up speed. In this episode, Viwat Visuthikraisee, Co-Founder and COO of Auransa, discusses his journey from studying theoretical physics in Japan to building an AI-driven biotech company in the Bay Area. His early fascination with computers led to a career in software and, ultimately, to applying computational power to biopharma using human-derived molecular data to identify promising drug candidates early. He reflects on the role of large language models like ChatGPT as productivity tools that expand human capabilities without immediately replacing core programming skills. Viwat also discusses the challenges of drug discovery and advises founders to raise funds whenever possible, build the right team, and focus on long-term success. Tune in and learn how AI is transforming drug discovery, why direction matters more than speed, and what it takes to lead innovation in a high-stakes industry Resources: Follow Auransa on LinkedIn and visit their website.

    51 min

  6. 08/21/2025

    There’s No Commercialization Without Deep Scientific Integrity with Dr. Chris Murphy, CEO and founder of Ocular Services on Demand

    Scientific integrity, mission-driven purpose, and great teams are the true drivers of innovation. In this episode, Dr. Chris Murphy, CEO and founder of Ocular Services on Demand, a distinguished veterinary ophthalmologist and serial healthcare entrepreneur, shares his journey from veterinary ophthalmology into entrepreneurship and medical innovation. He describes how his early curiosity about raptor eyes led to a passion for research and business, influenced by his academic foundation at Cornell. Dr. Murphy explores the comparative anatomy of vision across species and how animals adapt their sight for survival. His work on ocular wound healing expanded into broader medical ventures, resulting in companies like Imbed Biosciences and OSOD. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes integrity in leadership, science-driven innovation, and the importance of building teams for societal good. Tune in and learn how one man bridged the gap between science, startups, and service to leave behind a legacy that truly heals! Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Christopher Murphy on LinkedIn. Follow Ocular Services on Demand (OSOD) on LinkedIn and visit their website. Learn more about Imbed Biosciencies on their LinkedIn and explore their website. Read Confucius: The Secular As Sacred by Herbert Fingarette here.

    1h 44m

  7. 08/07/2025

    How Startups Can Plug Into Cutting-Edge University Research with Michael Lemcke, Associate Director of the Venture Catalyst program at UC Davis

    The future of innovation depends not just on breakthroughs in research but on the ecosystem that translates them into impact. In this episode, Michael Lemcke, Associate Director of the Venture Catalyst program at UC Davis, shares how the university helps turn research into viable startups. He explains how initiatives like proof-of-concept funding, incubators, and investor networks support innovation from idea to company. Michael also highlights the strengths of the Sacramento region for startups in health, food, agriculture, and biotech, and how UC Davis fosters cross-disciplinary partnerships. He discusses the One Health initiative, the $1B Aggie Square project, and offers advice for startups seeking university collaboration: be intentional, clear on value, and focused on the long term. Tune in and learn how ecosystems are what truly launch the future of health and tech innovation! Resources: Connect with and follow Michael Lemcke on LinkedIn. Follow UC Davis Venture Capitalist on their LinkedIn and visit their website.

    33 min

  8. 07/17/2025

    How Biosensors Will Power The Next Healthcare AI Revolution with Rich Yang, CEO of Biolinq

    The future of personalized medicine hinges on developing high-resolution, home-based biosensors that provide the continuous, high-fidelity data needed to power foundational AI models. In this episode, Rich Yang, CEO of Biolinq, shares his 27-year journey in diabetes and biosensing, beginning with the first FDA-approved CGM and leading to his current role. He describes the ambitious goal of building a novel semiconductor biosensor that combines five complex disciplines: semiconductor manufacturing, software, material science, consumer electronics, and scaling. Rich highlights Biolinq’s unique value proposition, which includes metabolic tracking, real-time LED feedback, and multi-electrode reliability. He also reflects on the future of multi-analyte sensing, the importance of hiring resilient talent, and how deep tech is shaping proactive health management. Tune in and learn how deep tech is revolutionizing metabolic health and what it takes to lead a team through unprecedented technological hurdles! Resources: Connect with and follow Rich Yang on LinkedIn. Follow Biolinq on their LinkedIn and visit their website.

    49 min
See All (27)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Deep Tech podcast will help you be in the know on all things Healthcare Investing. Through interviews with cutting-edge health entrepreneurs, savvy investors, health system leaders, and more, the Deep Tech podcast powered by Niterra, will help you level up and make an impact in healthcare investing.

Information

  • Creator
    Thomas Kluz
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2023 Niterra Ventures. All rights reserved. 'HealthTech Invest' podcast is owned by Niterra Ventures and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.
  • Show Website
    Deep Tech