Innovation Unplugged

Khasm Labs
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Hosted by Jim Brisimitzis, Founder & CEO of Khasm Labs, each episode dives into the entrepreneurial journey of innovative startups, exploring how they’re tackling complex, real-world challenges and driving transformation across industries. From groundbreaking edge technologies to scalable solutions for enterprise buyers, we uncover what makes these trailblazers unique and why their work matters. This podcast isn’t just about innovation; it’s about fostering connections between startups, enterprises, and investors to create meaningful impact.

  1. 5d ago

    Innovation Unplugged with Ryan Calkins: Reinventing Ports, Trade & Infrastructure

    In this episode, Jim sat down with Ryan Calkins, Presidentof the Port of Seattle Commission and longtime leader across maritime operations, public policy, and infrastructure innovation. Together, they explore the critical role ports play in global trade, national security, and regional competitiveness - and why the last several years exposed just how essential modern port infrastructure has become. Ryan shares firsthand insights into: Why US ports lag behind Asia and Europe in modernization.How AI, data analytics, and connectivity are transforming port operations.The growing role of smart infrastructure and private 5G networks.The operational realities behind supply chain bottlenecks.Why startups often struggle to break into maritime ecosystems.Emerging opportunities around alternative fuels, electrification, and decarbonization.The massive transformation currently underway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.From maritime logistics to airport modernization, thisconversation highlights how intelligent infrastructure and emerging technologies are reshaping the systems that move goods, people, and economies.

    23 min

  2. May 13

    Making Private 5G Simple: How Moso Networks is Bringing Cellular to the Enterprise

    In this episode, Jim sat down with Stephen Leotis from MosoNetworks to explore how private 5G is transforming enterprise connectivity. Stephen shares the origin story behind Moso Networks, theevolution of CBRS and private cellular adoption, and why simplifying deployment and management is critical for enterprise-scale success. Together, Jim and Stephen break down the challenges that have historically slowed private 5Gadoption, how Moso is making cellular as accessible as Wi-Fi, and why enterprises are increasingly turning to private wireless networks for reliability, security, and operational efficiency. The conversation also dives into real-world deployments,including projects at the Port of Tacoma, broadcast event connectivity, industrial campuses, and critical infrastructure environments. They discuss how organizations are using private 5G for everything from security cameras andmobility to mission-critical operational systems - and why these early deployments often become the foundation for broader digital transformation initiatives. If you’re interested in private 5G, CBRS, edge computing,enterprise networking, and the future of connected infrastructure, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

    27 min

  3. Apr 27

    Operationalizing AI at the Edge with Jags Kandasamy

    In this episode, Jim speaks with Jags Kandasamy, Co-Founder and CEO of Latent AI, about how enterprises are moving artificial intelligence from the cloud to the edge. Jags shares how Latent AI is helping organizations deploy and optimize AI models across edge devices - reducing infrastructure costs while enabling real-time decision-making. The conversation explores the rise of edge AI and physical AI, with real-world use cases across manufacturing, retail, utilities, and defense. They also break down the concept of the edge continuum, offering practical guidance on when to process data locally versus in the cloud, and how to manage the growing cost of data movement. From AI-powered drone inspections to mission-critical defense systems, this episode highlights how edge intelligence is transforming enterprise operations. Jags closes with advice for founders and students: focus on real-world problems, develop domain expertise, and use AI as a tool - not the starting point. Key Topics: Edge AI vs. cloud AI: when and why it mattersReal-time AI and the edge continuumReducing AI infrastructure costsEnterprise AI use cases (manufacturing, retail, utilities, defense)Advice for AI founders and students

    29 min

  4. Mar 26

    Beyond the Bot: How Real Life Robotics Is Scaling Autonomy

    In this episode, Jim sits down with Cameron Waite, Founder and CEO of Real Life Robotics, to explore what it really takes to make autonomy work in the real world. With over two decades of experience in robotics, Cameron shares his journey from building physical robots to recognizing a much bigger challenge: scaling and managing autonomy across complex, messy, real-world environments. What started as a robotics company evolved into something far more impactful—a software-driven orchestration platform called Passenger that sits above robots, vehicles, and IoT systems to unlock real operational and economic value. The conversation dives into: Why hardware alone isn’t enough—and where it falls short in enterprise environmentsThe critical role of orchestration, interoperability, and AI in scaling autonomous systemsReal-world deployments with municipalities and major organizations, including lessons learned from early pilots to multi-year SaaS contractsHow enterprises can move from experimentation to measurable ROI in automationWhy the future of robotics isn’t about individual machines—but about the systems that connect and manage themCameron also shares a compelling perspective on where the industry is headed: a world where robotics and automation are no longer optional, but essential for staying competitive. If you’ve ever wondered how autonomy moves from promise to production—and what it takes to operationalize it at scale—this episode is for you.

    24 min

  5. Jan 23 ·  Bonus

    Beyond the Dumb Pipe: Why 5G’s Real Opportunity Is Still Untapped

    In this episode, Jim is joined by leading wireless industry analyst Chetan Sharma for a candid conversation on what really held 5G back - and what operators must get right before 6G. They unpack why 5G was never a technology challenge, but a business model and execution problem, especially in Western markets where strong consumer ARPU reduced urgency to pursue enterprise innovation. In contrast, operators in China and select global markets embraced connectivity-plus strategies built on private 5G, edge computing, AI, and industry-specific solutions. Key topics include: Why enterprise 5G adoption stalled in the West What global operators can learn from China’s private 5G success Why private networks should be as simple as Wi-Fi The importance of outcome-driven enterprise engagement And why missing the mark in 5G puts 6G at risk A must-listen for operators, enterprise leaders, and anyone shaping the future of connectivity beyond the “dumb pipe.”

    27 min

  6. Jan 5 ·  Bonus

    Develop Once, Deploy Anywhere: How Defang Is Redefining Cloud Simplicity

    What if deploying to the cloud were as simple as running an app on your laptop? In this inspiring episode, Jim sat down with Prakash Sundaresan, Founder of Defang, to unpack one of the most persistent challenges in modern software development: cloud complexity. With nearly 30 years of experience spanning Microsoft, AWS, and Workday, Prakash has seen the cloud from every angle - as a builder, an operator, and a customer. That unique perspective led to Defang: a developer-first, cross-cloud platform that lets teams deploy production-grade applications to AWS, GCP, and beyond using the same Docker Compose file they already use locally - with a single command. In this conversation, Prakash explains: Why cloud complexity affects startups and enterprises alike How Defang bridges the gap between simple platforms and hyperscaler power What “develop once, deploy anywhere” really looks like in practice How Defang uses AI responsibly - to assist, not introduce risk Why agentic AI applications represent the next major platform shift And how Defang has grown to nearly 10,000 developers with rapid month-over-month adoption This episode is a must-listen for developers, founders, DevOps leaders, and anyone building the next generation of cloud and AI applications. If you’ve ever felt that infrastructure was slowing innovation instead of enabling it, this conversation will change how you think about the cloud.

    25 min

  7. 12/30/2025

    Unlocking Real-Time AI: A Conversation with Nectar Edge CEO Alex Smith

    For our Season 2 and 2025 finale, Innovation Unplugged welcomes Alex Smith, CEO and co-founder of Nectar Edge - a company redefining how AI workloads are processed at the edge. Jim and Alex explore why AI’s future depends on distributed compute, the inefficiencies of today’s centralized cloud model, and the massive opportunity emerging for telcos and enterprises. Alex shares Nectar’s founding story, their integrated hardware-plus-software approach, and how their immersion-cooled edge systems and novel workload orchestration platform (“the brain”) deliver sub-20ms inference, dramatic backhaul reduction, and scalable multi-tenant environments. The discussion dives into real-world use cases - from public safety to manufacturing to next-generation advertising - and why adoption has historically been so difficult. This episode is a deep dive into the infrastructure challenges of the AI era and how Nectar aims to unlock the next wave of real-time intelligence at the far edge.

    25 min

  8. 11/19/2025

    Why Enterprise AI Fails - and How AI Squared Is Fixing It

    AI may be everywhere, but getting it into production is still painfully hard. In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Jim talks with Darren Kimura, CEO of AI Squared, about why enterprises struggle to turn AI investments into real results - and what it takes to change that. Darren reveals the surprising government origins of AI Squared, the real reasons most AI POCs stall, and how bringing intelligence into existing enterprise applications (instead of forcing teams to rebuild workflows) is accelerating adoption. They dig into real-world examples, enterprise deployment timelines, and why AI is on track to reshape-not just enhance-core enterprise systems like CRM, ERP, and HRIS. For leaders serious about driving ROI from AI, this conversation offers clarity in a very noisy market.

    25 min
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About

Hosted by Jim Brisimitzis, Founder & CEO of Khasm Labs, each episode dives into the entrepreneurial journey of innovative startups, exploring how they’re tackling complex, real-world challenges and driving transformation across industries. From groundbreaking edge technologies to scalable solutions for enterprise buyers, we uncover what makes these trailblazers unique and why their work matters. This podcast isn’t just about innovation; it’s about fostering connections between startups, enterprises, and investors to create meaningful impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Khasm Labs
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Khasm Labs
  • Show Website
    Innovation Unplugged