Timothy Neal, CEO of AmPd Labs, joins the pod to talk about the future of manufacturing and the industry side of 3D printing. Standing for “additive manufacturing product design,” AmPd Labs is a Houston-based additive manufacturing startup with capabilities that span the entire product lifecycle, from design to production. As the first CEO of AmPd, Tim talks with Chris about his “make it or break it” questions for joining the company, additive manufacturing’s potential to smash supply chain issues, and the future of industry and entrepreneurship in major hub cities like Houston.

Muriel Foster, Director at gBETA Houston, joins Forging the Future in a conversation about equipping entrepreneurs with skills, networks, and mentors for the challenges of the future. gBETA is a part of a growing community of accelerators under the brand gener8tor, a platform that empowers programs like gBETA to provide incredible opportunities for local entrepreneurs and industry-specific founders. In this insightful interview, Muriel and Chris discuss the implementation of gBETA’s cost-free 7-week cohort in Houston, the importance of mentorship and network-building for startup founders, and the impact of keeping an open mind to new opportunities in the startup ecosystem.

Forging the Future heads to Austin for the Texas Venture Forum & Gala to discuss community-driven innovation happening across the state and the impacts of the Texas triangle on the global economy. From Austin’s own backyard to Latin America, Chris talks with directors, CEOs, and futurists in this mashup episode about their respective projects and their hopeful aspirations for the future of venture capital. Talking points include pebble funds, curated networks, global portfolios, exponential technologies, and more.

Denny Chared, Founder of DC Finance, joins Chris at the Texas Venture Gala & Forum in Austin to discuss the current trends and future potential of family office investments in tech and venture. With origins in Israel and a base in New York, DC Finance builds an international network of high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and investors for mutual growth and support through first-tier events worldwide. Talking points include building community amongst family offices and investors, encouraging family offices to become less risk-averse and more tech-oriented, and the future of family investments and upcoming trends.

Jay Steinfeld, Founder of Blinds.com and Entrepreneur in Residence at Rice Business School, presses rewind to take Chris to 2001 to discuss the founding, innovating, and selling his company. Originally started as Laura’s Draperies, Bedspreads, and More, Blinds.com was inspired by Jay’s desire to evolve continuously, and ended up being sold to Home Depot in 2014. Talking points include the four E’s of Blinds.com culture, Jay’s philosophy on hiring and training new employees, and how to make a smooth transition in company acquisition.

YJ Lin, Sr Program Manager at Dell for Startups, joins Chris at South by Southwest to celebrate 40 years of Dell and the company’s recent initiatives to make startups soar, both in Houston at The Cannon and around the world. Dell for Startups provides mentorship magic for innovative startups at every stage in their journey, offering tech support and corporate skill sets to make entrepreneurship dreams into a thriving reality. Talking points include building a thriving tech community, navigating the hustle of the startup world, and finding common ground between corporations and startup teams.

Thom Singer, CEO of Austin Technology Center (ATC), meets up with Chris at SXSW to celebrate the past of Austin’s amazing tech accomplishments and look to the future of a more innovative Texas. Made up of 280 companies and over 60,000 employees, the ATC fosters innovation and growth within Austin’s technology ecosystem by connecting, promoting, and advocating for professionals, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Talking points include uniting the Texas triangle, putting Austin on a global stage, and collaborating with the state government.

Chris takes Forging the Future on the road to Austin for 2024’s South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference, held from March 8 - 16. Speaking with special guests and subject matter experts Mike Courtney, Ilya Tabakh, and Ehab Gabr, this episode tackles a taste of South By and talks about some of the most innovative technologies on the (very) near horizon. Talking points include AI’s presence at South By, entrepreneurs working within corporations, and innovation opportunities spreading through the Texas triangle.