Episode #34: Three Breakthroughs: AI detects mass shooters, quantum materials advance, CAR-T fights deadly brain tumors
Tech Optimist Podcast — Tech, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
Join Alumni Ventures’ Mike Collins and Matt Caspari on the Tech Optimist podcast as they discuss the use of AI in preventing mass shootings, advancements in material science, and breakthroughs in cancer treatment.
Episode #34 – Three Breakthroughs
AI detects mass shooters, quantum materials advance, CAR-T fights deadly brain tumors.
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This week on the Tech Optimist podcast, join Alumni Ventures’ Mike Collins and Matt Caspari as they discuss the use of AI in preventing mass shootings, advancements in material science, and breakthroughs in cancer treatment.
- ZeroEyes: This company uses AI and cameras to identify potential mass shooting threats.
- Scientific Breakthrough: Berkeley Labs has manipulated atoms to create new materials, which could have significant implications for computing and telecommunications.
- Advances in Cancer Treatment: A new approach to treating glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumor.
Tune in to discover how these innovations are shaping the future.
Watch Time ~33 minutes
The show is produced by Alumni Ventures, which has been recognized as a “Top 20 Venture Firm” by CB Insights (’24) and as the “#1 Most Active Venture Firm in the US” by Pitchbook (’22 & ’23).
READ THE FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Creators and Guests
HOST
Mike Collins
CEO, and Co-Founder at Alumni Ventures
Mike has been involved in almost every facet of venturing, from angel investing to venture capital, new business and product launches, and innovation consulting. He is currently CEO of Alumni Ventures Group, the managing company for our fund, and launched AV’s first alumni fund, Green D Ventures, where he oversaw the portfolio as Managing Partner and is now Managing Partner Emeritus. Mike is a serial entrepreneur who has started multiple companies, including Kid Galaxy, Big Idea Group (partially owned by WPP), and RDM. He began his career at VC firm TA Associates. He holds an undergraduate degree in Engineering Science from Dartmouth and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
GUEST
Matt Caspari
Managing Partner & West Coast Office Leader
Matt Caspari is a Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures, where he leads the Deep Tech, Georgetown (Potomac Ventures) and UC Berkeley (Strawberry Creek Ventures) funds. He invests in mission-driven founders developing groundbreaking technologies. His investments encompass a diverse range of sectors, including AI, agriculture, aviation, battery technology, cybersecurity, direct air capture of CO2, energy generation, longevity, and robotics. Prior to Alumni Ventures, Matt gained operational experience as a two-time venture-backed founder/CEO and as a leader of the innovation team at Nike. He was the founding CEO of Aurora Biofuels, a deep tech venture that grew to 100+ employees, secured over $100 million in funding and was acquired by Reliance Industries. In earlier roles, Matt served as a strategic management consultant at Cambridge Pharma Consultancy, later acquired by IMS Health, and gained experience on the M&A team at Bloomberg. He holds a BS in Biochemistry from Georgetown University and an MBA with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from UC Berkeley.
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