TECHEDTV Podcast with Dr. Edwin Hernandez

Dr. Edwin A. Hernandez

Dr. Edwin Hernandez host for TECHEDTV podcast brings you the latest in technology, fintech, Expert Witness, Patents, Investments, crypto, cloud, AI, startups. We interview many startup founders and bring an audio-only outlet for techedtv show in Youtube and Facebook. This is podcast is brought to you from our EGLAVATOR Tech Incubator at our studios. I work with startups and incubate ventures in Boca Raton, FL.

  1. JAN 26

    What's MEVIAOS and how does it work

    Dr. Edwin Hernandez has developed a new technology, under Mevia OS, that can be described as a  "Universal Web Control: Revolutionizing Distributed Display Environments."  This blog post draws directly from the provided sources regarding the patent-pending technology for seamless mobile-to-display interaction. Including use of gestures, machine learning, computer vision to interact with displays. The main goal is "Zero Friction," no applications installed, simply scan a TV or a QR Code associated with the TV and start interacting with it. Universal Web Control: The Future of Distributed Display Interaction In today’s digital landscape, the traditional remote control is becoming a relic of the past. Our latest slide deck explores Universal Web Control, a breakthrough system that transforms any mobile device into a powerful controller for smart TVs and remote displays. By leveraging decentralized or distributed operating systems, this technology allows messaging, streaming, and computation to occur in the cloud or across a local network. Beyond the Remote: How it Works The core of this innovation is the Device Connect Platform, which serves as a "glue" between web applications and mobile controllers. HOW IT WORKS? • Seamless Integration: Using a specialized web integration code (such as mevia.js), the system enables a mobile browser to act as a physical input device for a second browser running on a smart TV. • Real-Time Performance: To ensure zero-latency interaction, the system utilizes WebSockets and WebRTC. It manages these connections through sophisticated IP tunneling methods, including GRE, GTP, and VPN tunnels, ensuring traffic moves efficiently between endpoints. • Dynamic Controls: Depending on the application, your phone screen can instantly morph into a game controller, a keyboard, a video conferencing hub, or even a 3D gesture pad. Security and Smart Authentication One of the most innovative aspects of the system is how it handles user security without the friction of traditional logins. Security & Authentication • QR Code Activation: Users simply scan a Quick Response (QR) code displayed on the screen to initialize a session, which automatically maps a unique Universal Unique Identifier (UUID) to that specific display. • Gesture-Based Authentication: For enhanced security, the system can utilize a trained neural network (LSTM) to recognize specific hand gestures captured by the mobile device's accelerometer. • Location Awareness: Through Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) and cross-correlation of video feeds, the system can even identify which specific television in a room you are currently watching to ensure you are controlling the right screen. Versatile Use Cases Universal Web Control isn’t just for changing channels. As detailed in the sources, the platform supports a wide range of applications: Use Cases   Art and NFT Labs: Interact with and display digital art  Gaming: Turn your phone into a low-latency gamepad. Smart Home/IoT: Manage doorbell cameras or security systems from your mobile device. Professional Tools: Engage in video conferencing with camera and microphone control directly from the palm of your hand. . The attached slide deck provides a deep dive into the architecture, the Tunnel Mapping logic, and the neural network training processes that make this "Universal Web Control" possible. Universal_Web_ControlDownload

    16 min

  2. 07/29/2025

    AI Stores - The future of shopping - Experience at DFW Terminal C - Fort Worth Magazine

    A company called Zippin describes themselves as: Checkout-free technology for frictionless stores We observed that at the Zippin delivers on this promise and it is completely frictionless.: I was able to go to the store, I picked up an item, changed my mind about it, reselected the same item and still worked fine. The receipt is available via QR Code or at a URL with your credit card information used to get into the store at Fort Worth Magazine Transcript  [00:15][Dr. E]How are you doing everybody? You guys are watching TECHEDTV podcast. And we have experience with the [00:22][Dr. E]No Cashier, No checkout lines, right at the airport in Texas. We experienced that. We've seen Amazon Go before. But this one's a little better. No apps, nothing, just a credit card. [00:33][Dr. E]You guys are watching TECHEDTV Podcast. I'm so happy that we have a very interesting technology. It's called Zippin. And I experienced that in Dallas Fort Worth Airport. And let's dive in. They pick up the items they want and zip out. [00:48][Dr. E]No lines, no checkout. Our AI uses sensors and overhead cameras to identify which items have been selected and create [01:00][Dr. E]As you can see, it's a regular store. It's at the Fort Worth Magazine store, convenience store at the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. And it has very simple instruction, just in case you don't understand how it works. First, you place your credit card, get into the store, shop, pick up the items you want, and get out. No waiting, no nothing. Your card is automatic, your credit card is automatically charged with the items you picked. And as you can see here, there's a credit card entrance. So, you you read your credit card. So I pull out my my credit card. Uh, I have some difficulties with the NFC, but I guess I always have problems with that card. Something they have issues because it's metal card. Anyway, so then I slide in the chip and obviously it was red and I was able to get into the store. [01:51][Dr. E]There you go. I mean, then I'm into the store. As you can see, I walk around the different things, there are pillows, there's medications, medicines. They have snacks of every kind. They also have some food items and they're they're refrigerated that you can pick and take with you to the to to the terminal of the airport. There's some accessories for your phone, mobile phone, they have all their toiletries and all kinds of different souvenirs, more snacks, veggie snacks, soft drinks. And more people is around you, also shopping, like with you, just exactly the same way. And then you pick up, in this case it's courtesy. There's the red soda I picked. And I had to kind of return them first and then I can and still detected that it was detect that. And then you depart. Press that button over there and then you're out. Oops. Purchase something. Oh, I had some difficulties there. I tried to wave at the bottom and [02:51][Speaker 2]Sorry. [02:52][Speaker 3]keep the button when it's off like that I push it and go. [02:55][Dr. E]Ah, okay. Thank you. sensor or something. Anyway, so it worked out. If you want to experience this, it's near uh Gate C36 from Dallas Fort Worth Airport and try it yourself. And then wait a second, I didn't get my receipt. So okay, so let me go and get my receipt because they did I don't have an app, so you need an app for this. And uh return. Went back to the store. And I decided to get my receipt. And very simple, there's a barcode there, you will see. You can scan it, enter your credit card information, last four digits of your credit card and the date of the purchase, and you get your receipt. Go ahead. Just gonna scan it. Zippin, zip out, whatever. That's the slogan, that's the name of the company, Zippin. You see that? And uh there you go. You enter your credit card expiration, date on the credit card, you don't wanna see that. And voila. Get the receipt. Retrieve on your mobile phone. I want to show you the receipt, and I want to show you the mobile phone. This is the receipt that you get from uh the transaction. [04:06][Dr. E]It's very similar to the Amazon Go. So, just in case you haven't heard, Amazon has a similar concept. And but now it's becoming more popular, so it's not an Amazon store. This is a different corporation that is created in this for other convenience stores. [04:21][Speaker 4]The same way. So, we put the wall back on the shelf and help you with a beat charge. The first thing we noticed that the store looked just like any other street, just an excuse to test this technology. Just how easy it was. [04:33][Dr. E]Amazon Go app. It's integrate with Amazon, so you get your Amazon experience, I guess, and that's one another competitor of this technology. Uh, just walk out, just like it says. [04:48][Dr. E]In Korea, they have a similar thing, so you so you [04:52][Speaker 4]Someone enters a store, pick some items, convenient stores into the future, will not have anyone, will have any cashiers, will not have any people. This is the latest AI technology. [05:05][Speaker 3]Hey guys, so I'm in front of Korea's fully automated high-tech convenience store located in. Fully operated by AI, no lines, no kiosk machine here. Uh it's fully operated by AI system, the artificial intelligence. I know I can't go in there. So, let's go find out how this works. [05:24][Speaker 4]All right, the entrance looks like a subway entrance, and you need to scan your QR code on your phone in order to enter. [05:36][Speaker 4]You can get a QR code on your phone by downloading the GS 25 app, register your credit card number, and activate the QR code entrance. This mobile app is where you will get your receipt when you purchase products at the store. But if this whole process is too much for you, you can only enter by simply scanning your credit card. [05:57][Speaker 3]Alright, now I'm in, and it looks exactly the same as any other convenience store. Now I'm going to shop and pick some of the items I want to buy. And you leave, depart. Did you see that? So I did not scan the barcode of this items, and I did not pay for them. But the payment was automatically processed when I left the exit, and I even got my mobile receipt. [06:40][Dr. E]Let's take a look at the video. [06:46][Speaker 4]Running a retail business has never been harder, with scarce, expensive labor and time-strapped shoppers who don't want to wait in lines. So how do you increase shopper satisfaction while keeping costs low and driving profitability? At Zippin, we're reinventing the way retailers run their stores, using artificial intelligence to deliver checkout-free shopping. Shoppers enter the store by tapping their credit card or scanning a QR code. They pick up the items they want and zip out. No lines, no checkout. Our AI uses sensors and overhead cameras to identify which items have been selected and creates a virtual shopping cart. As the shopper exits, their card is automatically charged. Zippin also offers unparalleled data insights, including inventory tracking to ensure your products are in the right place at the right time. Learn how forward-thinking retailers are already using Zippin. [07:42][Dr. E]So then that's it. New strategies for those convenience stores. You will save a lot of money on employees, nobody's stealing anything, nobody has double accounting, nobody's getting cash, and a completely simple user experience. It seems like you're you're stealing something for the store, but you're not. You're actually paying for the credit with your credit card you scan of that store. Thanks again. You guys are watching TECHEDTV. Bye bye. Subscribe and basically like this video, share it with your friends. Bye.

    20 min

  3. 07/19/2025

    AI Marketing with Dan Gudema at 980 Spaces

    Transcript Good morning, good evening. Good afternoon. You guys are watching and listening. Tech TV podcast. And today we have an old friend, Dan Hudema. What's going on? Dan? Hey, there. How are you doing? Long time no see. It's been a while. It's been a while since I've been on a podcast, but, uh, we'll, uh, maybe we'll do some more after this. You never know. We tried to replace you with AI, but we couldn't. So that's why you're here. Just kidding. And that's, I think, why we're we're, uh, having, um, digital twin. Digital digital twin. That's right. I remember we scanned you one time. Remember? We scanned you and put you on blender, and, uh, but now, I mean, maybe in the next ten years that that would be feasible, but still, we can't. But that's what I wanted to to to know, like you were telling me that you have your your daily business. Yes. And the state of AI. So maybe like to illustrate to the audience, how far have you gone to use AI to help you with your business? And what would you recommend to those entrepreneurs that have some sort of subscription based business like yours, where you still have some human interaction? What are your first recommendations of tools and things that best practices for for AI. Yeah. Right off the bat, um, you know, just the basic use of ChatGPT and OpenAI or perplexity or grok or or any of those, just, just to get one of the bigger challenges for us is we have something like 4 or 500 events posted in the dating business. So we need to somehow get slightly different content for every event. We can't have the same content every time. So that's been a little challenge. So one of the places we are using it is to come up with slightly different content each time, or to mix it up because it's just there's just too much there. But the but I'll get into most of my AI projects related to the dating company are underway. I don't have them finished yet. I'm in the middle. Okay, um, and there's 4 or 5 there in my head. But everything does take time. Like to build it out. Some of them are, you know, dynamic pricing or things like that, you know, using AI to help. But but you were you were showing me something that I thought was interesting, which is the use of AI for your, uh, creation of, um, short videos. Right? Is that right? Why? Why is that? Let's talk a little bit about that. Well, this is related to a, a little bit of a blue sky situation going on with the digital marketing side. Excuse me. Right now, what's happened is Google, a few weeks ago, split videos from short videos on Google search. So I just need to generate a ton of videos right now because we need a video per local market for local keywords. So this is more of an SEO play. There's there's two kinds of video I'm generating SEO type video for AI or for SEO in general. Okay. And then there's some video I'm doing for paid ads as well that we're getting ready to publish as well. So so you're basically in a way because you're in different markets. So your, your, your companies in 50 different markets or, or maybe 75 or 100 markets now. Well, and then you have to address each market and individualize, let's say Albuquerque. I don't know, Sonoma or whatever. Yeah. So explain let's say you have a business in multiple locations or you want to have a multiple location. Is that, um, the way to go? Yes. I'll tell you one of the reasons why it's the way to go. So the the thing is that we all need multiple sources. So the whole SEO world, because I remember I used to do SEO, Turbo Boost SEO, generate hundreds of pages for a client. So that doesn't really work anymore. Um, because Google, not just Google, but AI is smart enough. In other words, if you have a page, if we have a page just about, uh, you know, uh, matchmaking in Boca, we have one page about it. We have a bunch of articles generating more content, blog articles about matchmaking. Boca is not going to help you. Okay, but what does help you is Delray matchmaking does help you because that's a different set of keywords, and Google sees that differently. Now it's very close to Boca Raton. So a lot of ways what we're doing is trying to come up with on the we're big on SEO. So the SEO side, we're just trying to build out in a way where we're having enough content to cover each of these areas. What I'm saying about the SEO thing that's driving me a little crazy recently, is I need to generate a video for each set of keywords. That's the way to go. I think for now, that's this week. It may change. And the problem? The challenge there is, even with, uh, you know, this about five programs that are really popular right now in video. Uh, hey, Jen, uh, Cynthia, Cynthia and about five more. It's about ten of these video generation products. The problem is I need to make 100 videos, and that takes time. It's still going to cost. Take me 15 minutes per video. And that may sound like not a lot. That's a short time from two years ago, when there was six hours of work to make a video. 15 minutes. And you have to hire a guy that actually knew how to use the tools to make the video. But now, three years ago, now we're in today, 15 minutes to make a decent video, but I'm showing you. And then the other thing that just changed recently is a year ago or six months ago, was making videos that were like, just like with I just that were like, uh, patched together videos and images that with a with a wording on top. That's all they were right. Now all the services mainly. And um, and in video, I'm not sure of others. Now, what they'll do is they'll create a person for you, whether it's a real person or a synthetically generated, synthetically generated. They're fake people. Then there's things called digital twins. Digital twins are real people who basically sold their soul to the AI company. And now, okay, and now that person is your spokesperson, and they don't even know that they're your spokesperson. I have a couple of those. And I'm doing this at like under 70 bucks a month right now. Oh, wow. So it's it's very, very instead of spending probably a few thousand dollars per week, maybe in the past, you're just a $70 a month and you do it yourself. That's the higher end one. That's 20. You can start at 29. Yeah. Okay. Okay. And so I'm big on that. And the quality just got a lot better. But I'm finding it takes me even more. It's taking me 25 minutes to make those videos, not 15, because they're more specific. Um, but my company likes some people like them, and. And the the next thing, I'll tell you the truth. The next thing. I'm trying to make them spicier. I'm trying to make them say things, get people's attention because, uh, real videos that get like, a million views are cool and interesting. So I'm trying to make my I guys I videos more interesting these days. You're trying to make your videos a little bit with a virality a little bit. Do something like, uh, there's one I sent you where the guy's like, you know, hey, everybody in Dallas, try this out. Like, I'm trying anything, and I'm looking at other, like, I can have him say anything I want as long as it's funny. So, um, but you're you're converting basically from those videos. Do you have a way to track right now? Like what happens? Okay, I do, I do, And I'm seeing them getting indexed. Well, from TikTok back into Google in the short video category. They're getting indexed within a few weeks. So basically if you're if you're an entrepreneur doing your your social media marketing, forget about SEO, traditional blog crap that doesn't work. So you're suggesting that the blue ocean right now is to make short videos for different markets, post them on TikTok, post them on YouTube or on Instagram or Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and then YouTube. Third one short video. So you make three three video on TikTok like 30s 60s. It can't be more than 60s. I do some under 30. Okay, um, that's that's the SEO side of the short video I video generation, but I'm also big on you. Add a description to the video, like a little short snippet or that's the most important part. Okay, the hashtags, the writing, the content. So I'm using my SEO skill set to push these out. But that's the SEO side. Then there's the paid side. Um, I just started experimenting with Facebook advertising and and then can I mention the company I'm working with? Of course. So artificial closers and and Elvis the sales trainer. Um, you know you can go to artificial closers. Com so artificial closers is very interesting. They have a program where they train you to make your own video. That's the easier part. But the harder training is how to make a Facebook ad and how to post it. Yeah, I try Facebook ads and sometimes they work, sometimes they don't work and it's difficult and they charge. They won't charge you a lot to train you. If you want to have them do the work for you. It's um, it could be, you know, in the hundreds or thousands of dollars a month, but, um, if you're selling high ticket item. We were talking about this earlier. The AI videos generated for Facebook that are good and decent could be a great way to go, compared to all the other marketing things you're doing today. It's so blue sky ish because I can't find an agency that says they'll do this for you. No, actually no agency. What I believe is, is try and carry that training into Facebook ads for, you know, there are, um, various still um, and now and now you can measure. Right. Because you post an ad on Facebook, you can see exactly the insights. Right? You can see the statistics of who is watching that, where is watching that. And you can direct who you want to watch it as well. It's a few, it's a few. It's two months from now. But we are doing a pitch event on September 30th. And at that pitch event, we're going to show a ton of these AI videos I've generated and artificial closers generated. Um, you know, I'll be up front with you, uh, Lou, who was here earlier and I are affiliates of Artificial closers,

    23 min

  4. 07/18/2025

    Leandro Margulis - J Ventures Interview - LJM Ventures

    Interview Recap Dr. Edwin Hernandez welcomed Leandro Margulis, a successful inventor and entrepreneur with experience in startups, investments, and product leadership, as the guest for the Tech at TV podcast. Leandro shared insights about his work with various ventures, including LGM Ventures and J Ventures, where he focuses on early-stage investments in technology companies and aims to build a network of entrepreneurs and investors. He discussed his career journey from engineering and product development to corporate roles, while also touching on his personal life and the challenges of balancing family and professional responsibilities. Next steps Entrepreneurs to research potential investors thoroughly, including their investment criteria, portfolio, and partners before pitching. Entrepreneurs to leverage AI tools to build more advanced prototypes before seeking investment. Entrepreneurs to frame their pitches using the scientific method, presenting hypotheses, experiments, and early signals. Leandro to continue advising companies while seeking a leadership role in a growing startup. Leandro to balance family responsibilities with professional pursuits, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness. Summary Tech at TV Podcast Introduction Dr. Edwin Hernandez introduced Leandro Margulis, an inventor and entrepreneur, as the guest for the Tech at TV podcast. Leandro, an alumnus of FIU and Yale University, has been interviewed by the USPTO. The podcast was brought to viewers by Eagle Communications from Coral Springs, Florida. During the setup, there was some technical testing and troubleshooting to ensure proper audio and video connections between Dr. Hernandez and Leandro. Startup Investments and Entrepreneurial Insights Leandro discussed his experience with startups and investments, focusing on his work with LGM Ventures. He explained that LGM Ventures focuses on early-stage investments in technology companies, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain. Leandro emphasized the importance of understanding the needs of both investors and entrepreneurs, and shared his own journey from being an inventor to becoming a product leader and entrepreneur. He highlighted the value of diverse experiences in shaping his approach to founding and leading companies. Strategic VC Networking Insights Leandro explained his role as an LP at J Ventures, a VC fund investing in early-stage companies, particularly those with Israel-developed technologies. He described his broader vision of creating a "Paypal Mafia" style network of entrepreneurs and investors, combining operational experience with investment opportunities. Leandro advised entrepreneurs to thoroughly research potential investors by analyzing their portfolio and investment criteria, suggesting that AI tools could help develop prototypes before approaching investors. Startup to Corporate Transition Insights Leandro shared his experience transitioning from a startup to a corporate environment, highlighting his role as VP of Product at Prove, which acquired his previous company, Unify ID, a motion-based behavioral biometrics startup. He explained how Unify ID leveraged sensors on phones for frictionless authentication and described his engineering background, including a patent for a durable RFID tag for tracking high-value assets. Leandro also discussed his work at Quick See, a search engine for apps, where he helped grow the company from 50 to over 450 employees, and mentioned his involvement in other patents related to search technology. App Opportunities and Career Aspirations Leandro discusses his experience in identifying opportunities for app creation by analyzing gaps in search results. He expresses interest in both advising companies and taking on a leadership role in a growing startup. Leandro reflects on how his Argentinian background has contributed to his resilience and ingenuity in his career. He also shares about his family life, mentioning he has two young daughters, and discusses the challenges of balancing family responsibilities with his professional pursuits.

    20 min

  5. 07/16/2025

    BioElectric Rejuvenation - Lionheart Health - Longevity and Health Tech

    Dr. Hernandez interviewed Howard Leonheardt and Scott Hoots for a healthcare technology podcast, discussing Howard's background and his company Lionheart Health's (Lionheart Longevity) work in bioelectric stimulation and aging reversal technologies. Scott, former CEO of QC Kinetics, joined Lionheart Health to help commercialize their bioelectric stimulation technology and support licensing and franchising efforts. The discussion covered Lionheart Health's plans for expanding their body regeneration technology through licensing agreements and clinical trials, while developing various components including skin, heart, and organ regeneration systems. Summary Healthcare Technology Podcast Interview Dr. Hernandez interviewed Howard Leonheardt and Scott Hoots for a healthcare technology podcast. They discussed Howard's background as a founder in the healthcare industry and his current move to a new residence. Scott joined the call late due to a scheduling confusion. The interview was set to cover various topics related to healthcare technology, with Dr. Hernandez planning to spend 8-10 minutes with Howard before moving on to Scott. Reversing Aging With Bioelectric Technology Howard explained that his company, Lionheadt Health, operates an incubator in California and Utah, focusing on bioelectric stimulation and protein expressions. They have developed a technology that can reverse aging by 10 to 20 years, guaranteed, through the use of aging reversal proteins like Klotho. Howard also discussed World Medical Manufacturing, which developed the leading aortic stent sold to Medtronic, and its subsequent products. He mentioned that Second Heart, another company from their incubator, is using the same platform technology to help patients with cardiorenal syndrome. Howard concluded by describing their participation in the X-prize competition and their patented bioelectric suit, which helps increase Klotho levels in the body to improve muscle, brain, and immune health. Aging Reversal Platform Licensing Model Howard presented a comprehensive platform for aging reversal, including patented technologies for increasing circulating proteins like Clotow and others, as well as a suite of aging reversal treatments. He explained their business model of licensing existing clinics to use their IP, with over 500 patent claims and recent licenses sold in multiple locations. The licensing fee is $40,000 plus $25,000 for starter equipment, with a 7% royalty on treatments, and the company is working on expanding to new locations while developing their main product, an adult womb regeneration chamber. Scott Joins Lionheart Health Expansion Scott, the former CEO of QC Kinetics, joined Lionheart Health to help commercialize and potentially franchise their bioelectric stimulation technology. He brings experience from launching and expanding 185 locations across the United States for QC Kinetics. Scott's role is to support the licensing and future franchising of Lionheart Health's technology, aiming to become a leading supplier of their services and devices. The discussion touched on the potential for widespread adoption, comparing it to familiar franchises like Starbucks, though Scott noted differences in demand and business model. Lionheart Health Regeneration Strategy Howard and Scott discussed their vision for Lionheart Health, emphasizing their intention to build a company and pursue a public offering rather than seeking acquisition. Howard shared their plan to develop and prove each component of their whole-body regeneration chamber individually, with components including skin, hair, joint, kidney, bladder, and heart regeneration. They plan to partner with leading AI and robotics companies to integrate these technologies into the final product, while avoiding the development of these components internally. Lionheart Health's Regenerative Technology Howard described Lionheart Health's body regeneration technology, which uses an implantable pump refilled with genetically modified stem cells and nutrient hydrogel to regenerate organs. He explained their current focus is on medical aesthetics and healthspan longevity, though they are developing heart regeneration technology through Bio Leonhardt. The company has over 200 employees and conducts clinical trials in multiple locations including Brazil, South Africa, and the United States, with plans to expand through licensing agreements in Utah, Minneapolis, and Winston-Salem. Global Expansion and Innovation Updates Howard discussed the company's progress in developing direct-to-consumer skin treatments and their success in clinical trials for sexual health, achieving an 89% success rate. He outlined plans to expand to 124 licensed locations worldwide, similar to McDonald's, and highlighted recent awards including the Xprize Housebam semifinalist and ABVI Allergan ULP innovation of the year. The company is working towards finalizing the technology for home use, while maintaining some supervised treatments in clinics, and is aiming to be among the final 10 competitors in the Xprize healthspan competition. Customized Health Program Overview Howard described a customized health program that includes DNA and blood test-based meal plans, focusing on high protein, low carb, low sugar diets to improve muscle, brain, and immune health. Participants must use a Bod stem suit for exercise monitoring and adhere to a minimum of two exercise sessions per week, with non-compliance resulting in program termination. The program, which targets sexual health, joint issues, and overall functional improvements, is being evaluated in a clinical trial for the Xprize healthspan contest, with the goal of demonstrating functional improvements in participants over a year to win an $81 million prize.

    27 min

  6. 07/11/2025

    PlayPer CEO and Investor - Webb Knudsen - Knudsen Capital

    In this episode, we interview Webb Knudsen is an entrepreneur and investor with a background in entertainment, social media, and mobile technology. He is the CEO and co-founder of Playper, a company that creates paper toys enhanced with augmented reality (AR) for children. Knudsen has held significant roles such as Vice President of Business Development at Crisp, where he focused on expanding market presence, and led sales teams at Aarki and Millennial Reach. His earlier career includes positions at Walden Media, CAA, and Lucasfilm, emphasizing profitability and market strategy for movies, brands, and apps. He is also a partner at Knudsen Capital, a family investment office focused on early-stage, high-growth companies, and a Vice President at Partnership Capital Growth, a private equity firm specializing in health and wellness. Knudsen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Speech Communication from Pepperdine University (2009) and a VC Unlocked degree in Venture Capital from Stanford University (2020). He is based in Madison, NJ, and is known for his interest in sustainable business models, having founded Playper to address environmental concerns with plastic toys. TechEd TV Transcription 3:47:36 You guys are watching Tech Had TV with Dr. Edwin Hernandez, and…. 13:47:40 Today, we have a co-host. 13:47:48 Good evening, good afternoon, good morning, you guys are watching Techhead TV with Dr. Edwin Hernandez. 13:47:52 And today, we have a great guest. Welknudsen, from Plaper. 13:47:57 And, um…. What's next? 14:06:44 Alright, one's…. We have to do it again, because I was not recording. 14:06:49 Oh, okay. No problem. 14:06:51 Alright, let's do it again. Uh… 3, 2, 1. Good morning, good evening, good afternoon. You guys are watching Techhead TV Podcast. 14:07:00 And if you're listening, you're listening to our podcast with. A new guest, an entrepreneur, a friend. 14:07:06 We have Gunnelson, so he's right here with us. Hi, Gweb. 14:07:09 Hi! Glad to be here. Thanks for having me. 14:07:12 Great, great, great. So one thing I see behind you is, uh, besides asking for your background, uh, academically and professionally. 14:07:18 You have a very cool background. Is that your company, PlayPer? What is that? 14:07:22 That is, yeah. Behind me we have our very bright, colorful, fun playbook toys. We've got the, uh…. 14:07:29 Castle, playset, catapult, Dragon Trainer, the story starters, we've got a pirate ship. 14:07:34 The Mermaid Castle and our Pirate and Mermaid story starters, and uh… I'm very proud of them, they're a ton of fun. 14:07:40 And tell me about your real background. You come from media, so I know you probably don't like to brag about, like, the names like Lucasfilm, CAA. 14:07:47 But what's the story behind it? 14:07:50 Yeah, I got my career start in the entertainment industry, and it was a very fun place to get a career start. I started off at the production company Walden Media, which makes the Chronicles of Narnia movies. 14:08:01 And then I jumped over to CAA, Creative Artists Agency, and after that, I went to Lucasfilm, where I was selling the. 14:08:07 Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies in the distribution sales department, and uh… after that, I jumped over to the Silicon Valley startup scene, did a couple startups in the marketing space. 14:08:18 Then jumped into, uh, investing in consumer products, and then I founded, uh, Playper and became the CEO. 14:08:25 Of this business. 14:08:28 Great, that's an interesting segue, because you have, um…. And he would wake him up, and I will say, when you became a parent, is that right? 14:08:35 That connected your new career as a CEO of Playpair. So what happened? How did that begin? 14:08:42 Yeah, it's… it's an organic story of, kind of, uh, playing with my kids and, uh, seeing the toys that they had, and, uh. 14:08:50 Seeing the toys that were filling up our home, and realizing that the majority of the toys. 14:08:56 We're plastic, uh, as, uh, is, is, uh, the case for the whole toy industry. 90% or more of all toys. 14:09:03 Are made out of plastic, and they are not recyclable, and that was the revolution that my wife and I had, and kind of the challenge that my wife and I had, is over and over again, we realized. 14:09:14 The, uh, kids have a, uh, you know, relatively short. Period of time that they are into most toys, a matter of days, matter of weeks, months if you're lucky. 14:09:26 Um, and then you as the parent are faced with this challenge of, what do I do with these toys when my kid is no longer into them? 14:09:33 And so that was really the revelation, uh, that led to Playper, is, uh, there's a lot of cool stuff being done in the toy industry with recycled plastics, natural woods. 14:09:42 Trying to be more eco-friendly, but what I felt was really missing was the exit solution, the, what do you do with these toys when your child is no longer into them? And so that's really what PlayPer solves. 14:09:55 Is, uh, it provides awesome, imaginative, buildable toys that are great for pretend play. 14:10:01 But also, when they, uh, when your child is no longer, uh, enjoying and loving the toys anymore, you can just toss them guilt-free in any recycling bin, which, uh. 14:10:15 Yeah, because Playper is a paper, right? It's like a play, you know, words for play word. 14:10:11 Is something that not any toys really can say. It is, yeah. Exactly. 14:10:20 And uh… and I saw that…. And I saw a presentation on Shark Tank a while ago. 14:10:26 Where they had, uh, a paper wallet. So you had a paper-made wallet. 14:10:31 And I think it gained a lot of, like, attraction from the sharks, because simply it was recyclable the same way. 14:10:37 And they were making the same statement that. That we had too many, like, uh, use of leather, synthetics, and things like that. 14:10:46 And in general, you couldn't personalize it, for example. And I assume that the creativity side of the story with paper. 14:10:54 It's something that you want to, like, incentivize with your kids, and as well as with other kids, right, with somebody else's kids. 14:11:00 And that… that's basically what a stem…. Is, right? So are you, like, a STAM-based toy, or what is… what is your role there? 14:11:07 Yeah. Yeah, well, we like to say steam, uh, because Steam incorporates, uh, arts as well, and that's a big part of who we are. So STEM is science, technology, engineering, and Math, and then STEAM. 14:11:14 Ah, okay. 14:11:19 Is science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, and so we, we, uh, are a STEAM-accredited toy, and, uh, we really value that. There's definitely some. 14:11:31 Technology and engineering and, uh, uh, science that goes into paper, but also the arts, uh. 14:11:37 Component of what we do is very important to the Players story. There's storytelling at the heart of everything we do, the characters, the…. 14:11:46 Backstories behind them, the storytelling, the imaginative play that happens with those is really…. 14:11:51 Key to the play per experience. Um, so…. Yeah, that's, uh, that's really, uh, important to, uh, what Playper is all about. But no, I appreciate you highlighting, kind of. 14:12:03 Paper as the material that we use. It is a paper-based material, it is fully recyclable. 14:12:09 And I think paper generally is an underutilized material for a lot of different products, and. 14:12:14 Definitely in toys, and um… we have, uh…. Created a material, it's a very unique material to us that is very durable, and it's one of the first things that people notice when they. 14:12:25 Open up a paper, toy boxes, just how durable it is, and we get a lot of…. 14:12:31 Surprised comments from customers saying, wow, I can't believe this is actually. 14:12:35 Paper-based, it's a lot more durable than I was expecting it to be, so it is flexible, you can bend it, and it won't break or snap, and it actually has a water-based coating on it, so you can spill liquid, catch up, whatever on it, and. 14:12:47 Wipe it right off, so it is a really unique material, and paper is just fantastic. Like, the way that it feels in your hand. 14:12:54 The kind of tactile feel of it is really, really cool, so…. 14:12:58 Um, no, we're proud to make our products out of… we call it paper board, actually, is, uh…. 14:13:04 What color material… yeah, yeah. 14:13:04 Player Board, okay. And do you have any, like, besides… I saw some videos on YouTube where you have, like, I think it was MS… it was NBC. 14:13:13 We're covering your toys, but you have, like. Parents.com, you have, like, other places where… where your showcased at Barnes & Noble. Where else can we find your toys? Where else can people find your toys? 14:13:25 Yeah, I appreciate you asking the question. Um, Barnes & Noble Nationwide were sold in over 600 Barnes & Noble stores. Really proud of that one. 14:13:33 We feel like we're really aligned with Barnes & Noble, uh, in a lot of ways around literacy, around imagination, just around all of the values that they have as a business. 14:13:43 Really proud that we're sold nationwide at Barnes & Noble. We're sold on our website, Playper.com, we're on Amazon, Toysrus.com, Walmart.com, masonnett.com. 14:13:53 We're in about 70 toy stores throughout the country, mainly. Mom-and-pop type toy stores, and uh…. 14:13:59 That's about it right now, but there's some, uh, other exciting things in the works, but, uh, I can't say it yet. 14:14:05 Alright, but, like, you have a flagship product, like, a flagship, like. 14:14:09 Thing, which is called the Curious Kingdom. I saw it, I was like, that's kind of cool, uh, it's like, uh…. 14:14:15 It's something that came from your background in Hollywood, or what's the deal? 14:14:14 Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, no, for sure. So, Curious Kingdom, the castle playset, you can see it behind me there, was the first product that we launched. 14:14:27 Uh, and uh, it, uh, it has these really fun characters that come with

    20 min

  7. 07/09/2025

    Interviewing Venture Capital Investor - Gil Eyal - Seasons 25 - 01

    Interview with Gil Eyal Gil Eyal is a seasoned expert in technology and what he expects from startups presenting at Stardust Ventures. His email is gil at startusventures dot com.  Gil is an attorney by trade but after being part of a deal and getting an MBA moved to startups and ventures. Among his venture companies where Gal Gadot has been feature as an investors and promoter. Gil specializes in consumer applications and technologies.  Listen to our interview to learn more about him and Stardust Ventures. TECHEDTV Interview - Statdust Ventures CEO Transcript   Edwin: Good evening, good morning, good afternoon. You guys are listening to the TECHEDTV podcasting series. In our show, we bring you the best in technologies, innovation, startups, FinTech, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the latest and greatest in technology worldwide. This show is brought to you by EGLA Communications at the EGLAVATOR in Boca Raton, Florida. Today we have a great guest, Gil Eyal, who is an expert in influencer marketing and has been in the industry for many years. Gil, how are you today? Gil: I'm doing fantastic, Edwin. Thanks for having me on the show. It's great to be here talking about influencer marketing and the exciting developments in the tech space. Edwin: Absolutely, it's a pleasure to have you. For our listeners, can you give a quick overview of what influencer marketing is and how you got started in this field? Gil: Sure thing. Influencer marketing is all about leveraging individuals with a significant following on social media platforms to promote products, services, or brands. These influencers have built trust and credibility with their audience, making their endorsements highly effective. I got started about a decade ago when I noticed the shift in how people consume media. Social media was becoming a powerful tool, and I saw an opportunity to connect brands with these influential voices. Edwin: That's fascinating. So, you've been in this space for a while. What are some of the biggest changes you've seen in influencer marketing over the years? Gil: Oh, where do I start? When I began, it was like the Wild West. Brands were just figuring out how to work with influencers, and there weren’t many tools to measure impact. Now, we have sophisticated platforms that track engagement, ROI, and audience demographics. Also, the rise of micro-influencers—people with smaller but highly engaged audiences—has been a game-changer. It’s not just about celebrity endorsements anymore; it’s about authenticity and niche communities. Edwin: That makes a lot of sense. At the EGLAVATOR, we’re always interested in how tech intersects with marketing. What role does technology, like AI or data analytics, play in influencer marketing today? Gil: Technology is the backbone of modern influencer marketing. AI helps us identify the right influencers by analyzing their audience data, engagement rates, and content relevance. Data analytics allows us to measure campaign performance in real-time, so brands can see what’s working and what’s not. For example, we use machine learning to predict which influencers will drive the best results for a specific campaign based on past performance and audience overlap. Edwin: That’s impressive. So, it’s all about precision now. Gil, you’ve worked with some major brands. Can you share a success story that stands out? Gil: Absolutely. One campaign that comes to mind is when we worked with a fitness brand to promote their new line of workout gear. We partnered with a mix of macro and micro-influencers who were fitness enthusiasts. By targeting their highly engaged audiences, we saw a 300% increase in website traffic and a significant boost in sales within the first month. The key was authenticity—the influencers genuinely loved the product, and their followers could tell. Edwin: Wow, 300% is huge! What advice would you give to startups here at the EGLAVATOR who are looking to dip their toes into influencer marketing? Gil: My biggest advice is to start small and focus on authenticity. Find influencers who align with your brand values and have an engaged audience, even if it’s not massive. Also, don’t just throw money at them—build relationships. Influencers are more likely to work with you if they feel a genuine connection to your mission. And finally, use data to guide your decisions but don’t lose sight of the human element. Edwin: Great advice, Gil. Before we wrap up, what’s next for you and influencer marketing? Any trends we should watch out for? Gil: The future is exciting. We’re seeing a rise in AI-driven content creation, where influencers can use tools to create more personalized content at scale. Also, video content, especially short-form like TikTok and Reels, is dominating. And I think we’ll see more integration of influencer marketing with e-commerce, like shoppable posts and live-stream shopping. It’s all about making the consumer journey seamless. Edwin: That’s a great note to end on. Gil Eyal, thank you so much for joining us on TECHEDTV. It’s been a pleasure, and I’m sure our listeners learned a ton about influencer marketing. Gil: Thanks, Edwin. It’s been a blast. Keep up the great work at the EGLAVATOR!

    20 min

  8. 05/14/2023

    Startups, Innovation, and Financing - Unleashing Ventures

    In today's fast-paced, rapidly evolving world, innovation has become a driving force behind economicgrowth and competitiveness. In this landscape, startups have emerged as key players in fostering innovation, leveraging their agility to pivot in response to market demands, and leveraging various financing options to fuel their growth. Startups: The Powerhouses of Innovation Unlike established companies, startups are often unencumbered by legacy systems or traditional ways of doing things, which allows them to think outside the box and disrupt industries. Startups are typically characterized by their willingness to take risks, experiment with new ideas, and push boundaries in the pursuit of innovative solutions. Startups such as Uber, Airbnb, and Spotify have demonstrated how transformative ideas can revolutionize industries. They've altered how we commute, travel, and consume music, respectively, demonstrating that the innovative potential of startups is indeed vast and powerful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np8Op8gT9OQ The Art of the Pivot Innovation is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of learning and adapting. This is where the concept of "pivoting" comes in. A pivot refers to a substantive change to one or more components of a startup's business model in response to market feedback. Twitter is a classic example of a successful pivot. Initially, the platform started as Odeo, a network where people could find and subscribe to podcasts. However, when Apple launched iTunes podcasting, Odeo was rendered obsolete. The company then decided to pivot and transition into the microblogging service we all know today. Pivoting enables startups to remain innovative and relevant, even in the face of unexpected challenges or shifting market landscapes. It's a testament to the agility and flexibility that's often ingrained in startup cultures. Financing: Fueling the Engine of Innovation For startups to transform their innovative ideas into viable products or services, they often require significant financial resources. This is where financing comes in. Startups can leverage a variety of financing sources, including venture capital, angel investment, crowd funding, and government grants, to name a few. Venture capital, in particular, has played a significant role in supporting startups. Venture capitalists not only provide the necessary financial resources but also often bring in valuable industry experience, strategic guidance, and networks that can significantly aid a startup's growth trajectory. Financing is crucial in helping startups scale their operations, enhance their product offerings, and ultimately deliver their innovative solutions to a broader market. Conclusion Innovation is the lifeblood of economic growth and prosperity in the 21st century. As we've seen, startups, with their inherent risk-taking and creative problem-solving, are at the heart of this innovation ecosystem. Their ability to pivot keeps them at the cutting edge of innovation, while diverse financing options provide the resources necessary to bring their disruptive ideas to life. As we move forward, fostering an environment that supports startups, encourages pivots, and facilitates access to financing will be paramount in driving innovation and shaping a prosperous future.

    5 min
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About

Dr. Edwin Hernandez host for TECHEDTV podcast brings you the latest in technology, fintech, Expert Witness, Patents, Investments, crypto, cloud, AI, startups. We interview many startup founders and bring an audio-only outlet for techedtv show in Youtube and Facebook. This is podcast is brought to you from our EGLAVATOR Tech Incubator at our studios. I work with startups and incubate ventures in Boca Raton, FL.

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