The Dynamo Show: a Dynamo Ventures Podcast

The Future of Supply Chain: a Dynamo Podcast
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Capital is abundant. Understanding is scarce. The Dynamo show goes deep with the new industrialists rejuvenating industry and commerce. Brought to you by Dynamo Ventures. Learn more at dynamo.vc/podcast

  1. 4d ago

    AI Powered Operations for Freight Brokers

    In this episode, Madelyn O’Farrell talks with Freight Hero Co-Founder and CEO, Andre Martins, about how his company uses AI-powered operations as a service to automate the highly manual world of freight brokerage. Andre explains the broker’s cradle-to-grave responsibilities, why traditional software often fails in an exception-heavy, relationship-driven industry, and how Freight Hero instead “does the work” with an AI agent (Robin) plus a human-in-the-loop team. They discuss real-world results such as brokers growing revenue without adding headcount, surviving margin compression during the “Great Freight Recession,” and reallocating staff from low-value tracking tasks to higher-value sales and customer service. Andre also shares details on Freight Hero’s recent seed round, their roadmap into billing and carrier sales, and his advice for brokers who are skeptical about adopting AI but need a low-friction way to modernize their operations. Highlights from their conversation include: Meet Andre Martins And Freight Hero Overview (0:29) Andre’s Previous Startup And Path into Freight Brokerage (1:18) What Freight Brokers Actually Do Day to Day (3:27) Why Freight Hero Sells Outcomes, not Software (8:11) How Robin Learns And Operates Across 40,000+ Loads (13:19) Human-in-the-Loop Stories And Handling Driver Exceptions (17:23) Customer Results, Cost Pressure, And Great Freight Recession (18:31) Growing Revenue 80% With No New Headcount (21:53) Seed Round Announcement And Why Investors Bought In (22:12) Roadmap Beyond Track And Trace To Full Back Office (23:33) Vision For Brokerage Of the Future And Role Of Relationships (27:15) Lessons Learned And Advice For AI-Skeptical Brokers (28:01) Closing Thoughts And Episode Wrap-Up (30:56) Dynamo Ventures is a venture firm backing founders upgrading the physical economy. As intelligence moves into critical infrastructure and technology collides with physics, industry is entering a new era of transformation - the industrial renaissance. Born from the dirt and grit of supply chains and shaped by operations, not spreadsheets, Dynamo focuses on the complex realities of building in the real world. We invest in companies transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and the systems that power global commerce. Dynamo works closely with founders who combine ambition with a bias to action, bringing a builder mindset to venture capital through deep operational insight, systematic pressure-testing and hands-on partnership. Our purpose is simple: to back the relentless shaping the industrial renaissance. Learn more at www.dynamo.vc Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. Jul 22

    Customs, AI, and Power: The Future of Global Trade Policy

    In this episode, Scott Friedman, VP of Government Affairs at Altana, joins Madelyn to trace his journey from crafting trade enforcement policy in government to building the technology that underpins it. He explains how trade has shifted from an era of assumed free trade to being a deliberate tool of state power, highlighting rapid changes in U.S. policy, the gap between policymakers’ ambitions and what regulators and companies can practically execute, and the crucial role of modern data and technology. Scott outlines Altana’s vision for a trusted, transparent global trade network, including product passports as a “global entry for goods” and a federated data architecture that enables collaboration without sacrificing privacy. He contrasts Western transparency-driven systems with China’s state-directed, opaque but highly efficient digital trade ecosystem, and explores evolving U.S.–EU alignment on customs, traceability, and digital infrastructure. The key takeaway: full end-to-end traceability is fast becoming the baseline expectation, and companies that lean into data-driven transparency now will be far better positioned in an increasingly complex enforcement environment. Highlights from their conversation include: Scott's Journey from Government to Trade Tech (0:41) America Founded on a Customs Dispute and Boston Tea Party (2:47) How Today's Trade Enforcement Differs from Past Eras (4:54) Gap between Policymakers, Regulators, and Global Trade (7:46) Altana Overview and Vision for Trusted Global Trade (11:22) Product Passports as Global Entry for Goods (14:08) Why Altana Uses a Federated Network Model (19:06) China's State-Directed Supply Chain Architecture (22:19) U.S. and EU Alignment on Customs, Data, and Traceability (29:29) What End-to-End Traceability Now Means for Importers (34:37) Key Takeaways and Episode Wrap-Up (39:14) Dynamo Ventures is a venture firm backing founders upgrading the physical economy. As intelligence moves into critical infrastructure and technology collides with physics, industry is entering a new era of transformation - the industrial renaissance. Born from the dirt and grit of supply chains and shaped by operations, not spreadsheets, Dynamo focuses on the complex realities of building in the real world. We invest in companies transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and the systems that power global commerce. Dynamo works closely with founders who combine ambition with a bias to action, bringing a builder mindset to venture capital through deep operational insight, systematic pressure-testing and hands-on partnership. Our purpose is simple: to back the relentless shaping the industrial renaissance. Learn more at www.dynamo.vc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  3. Jul 15

    The Operational Reality of a Generational Energy Surge

    In this episode, energy policy expert Erik Olson joins Madelyn O’Farrell to unpack how surging electricity demand from AI and data centers is colliding with an aging, slow-moving U.S. grid and regulatory system. They discuss why today’s load growth is comparable to the 1970s air conditioning boom, the challenges utilities face in integrating massive, fast-moving data center projects, and the financial risks of overbuilding grid infrastructure that may never be fully used. Erik explains how geography, water constraints, transmission limits, and state-by-state rules shape where data centers can actually go, and highlights creative solutions like data centers directly funding clean energy projects or paying to improve residential energy efficiency to offset their load. He closes with lessons from his time at the Department of Energy, arguing that policymakers need to prioritize simplicity, speed, and clear implementation over “perfect” policy design if they want to keep up with the pace of real-world energy infrastructure development. Highlights from their conversation include: Erik’s Background in Energy Policy (0:28) Explaining the Generational Surge in Electricity Demand (1:34) Collision Between Fast Tech Companies and Slow Grid Institutions (1:50) How Massive Data Centers Strain Traditional Utility Planning (3:54) Risks of Overbuilding, Stranded Assets, and Who Pays (7:37) Geographic Hotspots, Constraints, and State-by-State Differences (8:27) Creative Workarounds Like Curtailment, Direct Funding, and Efficiency (11:18) Lessons From DOE on Policy, Implementation, and Speed in Government (15:12) Final Thoughts on Moving at the Speed of Business (20:51) Dynamo Ventures is a venture firm backing founders upgrading the physical economy. As intelligence moves into critical infrastructure and technology collides with physics, industry is entering a new era of transformation - the industrial renaissance. Born from the dirt and grit of supply chains and shaped by operations, not spreadsheets, Dynamo focuses on the complex realities of building in the real world. We invest in companies transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and the systems that power global commerce. Dynamo works closely with founders who combine ambition with a bias to action, bringing a builder mindset to venture capital through deep operational insight, systematic pressure-testing and hands-on partnership. Our purpose is simple: to back the relentless shaping the industrial renaissance. Learn more at www.dynamo.vc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. Jul 8

    Geothermal: The Unexpected Solution for Speed to Power

    In this episode, Madelyn O’Farrell talks with Mike Matson, Co-Founder and CEO of Birch Geothermal, about his journey from the US Navy and academia through oil and gas, carbon capture, and consulting at BCG to founding Birch. They unpack what Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are, why Birch is “rooted in speed,” and how geothermal can scale quickly to meet soaring power demand from data centers and AI infrastructure. Mike explains geothermal’s rare bipartisan appeal, the strong market signal from Fervo’s recent IPO, and how 80–90% of oil and gas subsurface skills transfer directly into geothermal. They also explore what must go right for geothermal to move from a rounding error to a meaningful share of the US power mix over the next decade, and where the biggest “picks and shovels” investment opportunities lie across drilling, subsurface design, monitoring, and modular power systems. Highlights from their conversation include: Mike’s Journey from Navy Service to Academia and Teaching (0:41) Midlife Rowing Expedition and Move into Drilling Operations (2:55) Shift from Oil and Gas to Carbon Capture and Clean Energy (3:42) Joining BCG and Discovering a Thesis Around Geothermal (4:31) Why Geothermal Has Unique Bipartisan Support in Politics (6:08) Market Signal from Fervo’s Landmark IPO and Debt Financing (10:36) Why the Mountain West Is Ground Zero for Early EGS Projects (13:55) How Oil and Gas Skills Transfer 80–90% into Geothermal Roles (16:27) Birch’s Thesis: Scaling Geothermal without a Green Premium (19:55) AI, Data Centers, and the 10-Year Outlook for Geothermal in the US Mix (23:19) Picks and Shovels Opportunities Across Drilling, Subsurface, and ORC Systems (25:51) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (29:37) Dynamo Ventures is a venture firm backing founders upgrading the physical economy. As intelligence moves into critical infrastructure and technology collides with physics, industry is entering a new era of transformation - the industrial renaissance. Born from the dirt and grit of supply chains and shaped by operations, not spreadsheets, Dynamo focuses on the complex realities of building in the real world. We invest in companies transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and the systems that power global commerce. Dynamo works closely with founders who combine ambition with a bias to action, bringing a builder mindset to venture capital through deep operational insight, systematic pressure-testing and hands-on partnership. Our purpose is simple: to back the relentless shaping the industrial renaissance. Learn more at www.dynamo.vc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. Jul 1

    Boardroom vs. Beijing vs. D.C.: Navigating the New Trade Cold War

    In this episode, Madelyn O’Farrell talks with Drew DeLong, Lead, Corporate Statecraft, Kearney Foresight, about how companies can navigate a new era of persistent geopolitical and economic volatility. Drew traces his path from engineering at Carnegie Mellon to policy roles in Congress, the White House, DOT, FAA, and State, and now advising global firms at Kearney Foresight. They discuss the shift from pure efficiency to resilience after COVID exposed supply chain vulnerabilities, the reality behind “reshoring” and what Kearney’s reshoring index actually shows, and how tariff volatility and sectoral tariffs are reshaping global manufacturing decisions. Drew explains how companies should think about capital planning, total landed cost, and automation in this environment, and explores China’s move up the value chain and the emerging race over semiconductors, critical minerals, and AI infrastructure. He closes by raising the open question of what a coherent, long-term American industrial policy should look like, and how the US government can realistically execute it. Highlights from their conversation include: From Engineering to Policy and Corporate Statecraft (0:47)   What Kearney and Corporate Statecraft Do for Clients (4:26)   Shift from Efficiency to Resilience after Covid (8:47)   What Kearney’s Reshoring Index Reveals about Imports (12:29)   How Sectoral Tariffs Signal US Industrial Strategy (17:10)   Capital Planning amid Tariffs and Geopolitical Volatility (21:12)   China’s Move up the Value Chain and Strategic Sectors (24:32)   What an American Industrial Policy Could Look Like (28:49)   Final Thoughts and Takeaways (29:30)   Dynamo Ventures is a venture firm backing founders upgrading the physical economy. As intelligence moves into critical infrastructure and technology collides with physics, industry is entering a new era of transformation - the industrial renaissance. Born from the dirt and grit of supply chains and shaped by operations, not spreadsheets, Dynamo focuses on the complex realities of building in the real world. We invest in companies transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and the systems that power global commerce. Dynamo works closely with founders who combine ambition with a bias to action, bringing a builder mindset to venture capital through deep operational insight, systematic pressure-testing and hands-on partnership. Our purpose is simple: to back the relentless shaping the industrial renaissance. Learn more at www.dynamo.vc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. Jun 24

    Scaling Physical AI to Deliver a Sentient Supply Chain

    In this episode, Madelyn O’Farrell talks with Oana Jinga, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Dexory, about her non-technical path into tech, how her experience at Telefonica and Google shaped her approach to “knowing the user and knowing the magic,” and how Dexory evolved from a home security robot to retail shelf scanning and ultimately to a global warehouse intelligence platform. They discuss why Dexory chose tall, ground-based robots over drones to safely and efficiently digitize warehouses in real time, what it really takes to win and support enterprise customers like Maersk, DHL, and GXO, and how a robotics-as-a-service model lets customers buy data and insights rather than hardware. Oana also dives into the ethics of robotics and unbiased AI, emphasizing transparency with workers, privacy-aware data practices, and building a diverse team, before painting a picture of the future: supply chains transformed into connected, predictive supply networks powered by distributed intelligence and shared best practices across global sites. Highlights from their conversation include: Oana’s Nontraditional Path Into Tech and Career at Telefonica and Google (0:43) What Dexory Is and How It Digitizes Warehouses in Real Time (2:44) Evolution From Home Security Robot to Retail Shelf Scanning to Warehouses (3:40) Why Dexory Chose Tall Ground Robots Instead of Drones (5:30) Selling Enterprise Robotics to Maersk, DHL, GXO, and Other Logistics Leaders (8:40) Robotics as a Service and Selling Data Instead of Hardware (11:51) Global Deployments Across the US, Europe, Australia, and Asia (12:30) Ethics of Robotics, Workforce Impact, and Unbiased AI Practices (15:00) Future of Connected, Predictive Supply Networks and Distributed Intelligence (17:44) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (20:17) Dynamo Ventures is a venture firm backing founders upgrading the physical economy. As intelligence moves into critical infrastructure and technology collides with physics, industry is entering a new era of transformation - the industrial renaissance. Born from the dirt and grit of supply chains and shaped by operations, not spreadsheets, Dynamo focuses on the complex realities of building in the real world. We invest in companies transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and the systems that power global commerce. Dynamo works closely with founders who combine ambition with a bias to action, bringing a builder mindset to venture capital through deep operational insight, systematic pressure-testing and hands-on partnership. Our purpose is simple: to back the relentless shaping the industrial renaissance. Learn more at www.dynamo.vc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Jun 17

    Solar + Hydrogen: The New Backbone of the AI Economy?

    In this episode, Madelyn O’Farrell talks with Celadyne founder and CEO Gary Ong about how a new membrane material can unlock the full potential of electrochemistry for hydrogen, long-duration energy storage, and critical material separations. Gary shares his journey from PhD researcher to startup founder after big corporates passed on his invention, then explains how Celadyne’s membrane dramatically reduces hydrogen crossover, boosting fuel-cell durability and cutting critical materials in electrolyzers. They dive into the grid-capacity crunch facing hyperscalers, why hydrogen plus electrolyzers and fuel cells makes sense at 50–100+ MW scale, and how salt-cavern storage enables multi-day and even week-long clean power from solar. Gary also unpacks the geopolitical race over hydrogen technology between the U.S. and China, the strategic role of hydrogen for defense and fuel logistics, and closes by arguing that the real constraint to building next-generation energy and AI infrastructure in the U.S. is workforce development and the shortage of skilled trades. Highlights from their conversation include: Gary’s Journey From PhD to Energy Tech Founder (0:44) What Celadyne Does and Why Electrochemistry Matters (2:11) Reinventing Membranes and Unlocking New Markets (4:54) Grid Capacity, Hyperscalers, and Long Duration Storage (7:14) Electrolyzers Plus Fuel Cells for Multi Day Energy (10:45) Why Power Price Matters Less Than Compute Productivity (14:21) Geopolitics, China, and The Hydrogen Technology Race (15:29) Hydrogen’s Role in U.S. Energy Mix and Resiliency (19:59) Defense Use Cases, Submarines, and Synthetic Fuel (20:56) Air Force Funding and Early Defense Partnerships (25:27) Workforce Development as the Real Infrastructure Bottleneck (26:58) Closing Thoughts on Reindustrialization and Skilled Trades (28:58) Dynamo Ventures is a venture firm backing founders upgrading the physical economy. As intelligence moves into critical infrastructure and technology collides with physics, industry is entering a new era of transformation - the industrial renaissance. Born from the dirt and grit of supply chains and shaped by operations, not spreadsheets, Dynamo focuses on the complex realities of building in the real world. We invest in companies transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and the systems that power global commerce. Dynamo works closely with founders who combine ambition with a bias to action, bringing a builder mindset to venture capital through deep operational insight, systematic pressure-testing and hands-on partnership. Our purpose is simple: to back the relentless shaping the industrial renaissance. Learn more at www.dynamo.vc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Jun 10

    Re-Air: Killing Spreadsheets & WhatsApp: The New Era of Freight

    From time to time, we’ll re-air a previous episode of the show that our newer audience may have missed. In this episode, Cargado founder Matt Silver joins Madelyn O’Farrell to unpack the future of cross-border freight between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. He shares his journey from Coyote Logistics and Forager to launching Corgado, a marketplace and pricing tool built specifically for freight brokers. They dive into why WhatsApp and spreadsheets break down collaboration across the 8–12 parties in a typical cross-border shipment, how better-structured data and workflow tools can replace today’s manual copy-paste work, and where AI fits in as more than just a band-aid on legacy TMS systems. Matt also explains why Mexico has become strategically critical for U.S. supply chains, the impact of NAFTA/USMCA, trade tensions with China, and pandemic-driven nearshoring, as well as remaining challenges in Mexican infrastructure and politics. Key takeaways: brokers should focus on relationships and problem-solving, not data entry; modern tools will blur the line between system of action and system of record; and long-term, supply chain collaboration will happen on shared, AI-augmented platforms that connect brokers, carriers, and shippers across North America. Highlights from their conversation include: Matt’s Background in Freight and the Origin of Corgado (0:46)   Building a Cross-Border Marketplace and Pricing Tool for Brokers (3:52)   Why WhatsApp and Spreadsheets Break Cross-Border Collaboration (6:46)   Brokers Should Manage Relationships, Not Copy and Paste Data (11:15)   Balancing Automation and Human Relationships in Brokerage (17:29)   Why Mexico Has Become Strategically Critical to U.S. Supply Chains (20:12)   Political and Infrastructure Challenges for Mexico as a Logistics Hub (24:58)   The Future of Supply Chain Collaboration Across North America (28:55)   Closing Thoughts and Episode Wrap-Up (30:33) Dynamo Ventures is a venture firm backing founders upgrading the physical economy. As intelligence moves into critical infrastructure and technology collides with physics, industry is entering a new era of transformation - the industrial renaissance. Born from the dirt and grit of supply chains and shaped by operations, not spreadsheets, Dynamo focuses on the complex realities of building in the real world. We invest in companies transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and the systems that power global commerce. Dynamo works closely with founders who combine ambition with a bias to action, bringing a builder mindset to venture capital through deep operational insight, systematic pressure-testing and hands-on partnership. Our purpose is simple: to back the relentless shaping the industrial renaissance. Learn more at www.dynamo.vc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Capital is abundant. Understanding is scarce. The Dynamo show goes deep with the new industrialists rejuvenating industry and commerce. Brought to you by Dynamo Ventures. Learn more at dynamo.vc/podcast

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