Advertise on podcast: Tech Can't Save Us

In this episode of the Tech Can't Save Us podcast, host Paul David interviews Jonatan Roose, the co-founder of Healthy Workers. Based in Amsterdam, the company specializes in making every building smart through innovative building automation and energy management solutions. Since its founding, Healthy Workers has grown to manage over three million square meters across various asset classes, including offices, logistics, and retail spaces. Jonatan explains that the real estate industry has historically moved slowly, often relying on technology that is 30 years old. Healthy Workers bridges this gap by creating a positive business case for sustainability, often making it a "no brainer" for decision-makers who are primarily focused on financial returns. Jonatan’s journey to leading Healthy Workers involved a major pivot. He joined the original company, Healthy Workers 1.0, which focused broadly on healthy work environments through initiatives like yoga and office plants. During the pandemic, when offices were empty, he and his co-founder Guus restructured the company to focus on the core issue revealed by their data: 85% of employee complaints were related to indoor climate. By shifting to building optimization, they were able to provide a service that addressed both tenant comfort and energy efficiency. Today, the company serves over 60 real estate investors, including Schroeder's Capital and Aviva Investors, by combining a sophisticated tech stack with a dedicated service-oriented approach. Find out more about Jonatan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonatanroose/Find out more about Healthy Workers: https://www.healthyworkers.com/

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined for part two of a deep dive with Gary Bonilla, the co-founder of GoodMora. Following their previous discussion on why business transformations fail, they shift focus to the future of leadership, decision-making, and how behavior changes with better data and insights. The conversation explores how strategy is shifting from trying to lock in a perfect answer based on past behavior to becoming adaptable without losing coherence. Gary explains that while the British are known for rigorous strategy, those models were often based on year-old data, whereas modern strategy requires real-time forecasting and prediction. Gary argues that now is the right time for play because the speed of the market makes standard transformations obsolete before they even finish. AI enables this by providing binary clarity on numbers and facts, which opens up the space for leaders to engage in creative solutionizing. A major theme of the episode is the end of delegation-heavy leadership. Gary suggests that CEOs can no longer delegate the innovation part of their business and must personally embrace an understanding of technology. Technology is no longer just a back-end function; it is a strategic conversation that requires leaders to understand concepts like knowledge graphs to navigate the modern business landscape. The pair also discusses the human side of AI, noting that fear is beginning to subside as adoption steps up and platforms focus on human and AI collaboration. Gary emphasizes that leaders should use these tools for augmentation rather than replacement, allowing employees to focus on creative work rather than minutiae. Find more about GoodMora here:https://www.goodmora.ai/Follow Gary Bonilla here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garybonilla1/ 

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Steven Puri, founder and CEO of The Sukha Company. Steven has led a fascinating career, transitioning from a high-level studio executive and producer at major Hollywood studios like DreamWorks and Sony to raising $21 million in venture funding across three tech startups. Together, they explore how remote work has broken traditional productivity models and why "presenteeism" and surveillance software are failing strategies for modern leadership. They discuss the foundational challenges of the digital age, where the business models of the highest market cap companies are designed to "steal your life" through behavioral engineering. Steven explains how The Sukha Company acts as an ally in this tug-of-war, helping knowledge workers like designers, developers, and writers reclaim their focus through a "work fitness" approach. The conversation delves deep into the science of flow states, inspired by the seminal work of psychologist Mihai Csikszentmihalyi. Steven shares how Sukha facilitates these states by integrating distraction blocking through a smart assistant that gently checks in when users stray to non-productive websites or pick up their phones. The platform also features curated flow music and naturescapes, such as "Himalayan Dream Rain," designed to help users enter deep work. Furthermore, the app optimizes task management by hiding overwhelming lists and focusing users on their top three goals to reduce cognitive load and paralysis. Steven also offers a vision for the future of white-collar work, predicting that AI will change the workforce by automating routine "paper pushing" jobs and making high-level strategy more essential than ever. He suggests that the most successful leaders will be those who define work by outcomes and the quality of output rather than by time or place. Find more about The Sukha Company here: https://thesukha.coFollow Steven Puri here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-puri/

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of Olio, a free app on a mission to tackle waste in homes and local communities. Since its launch in 2015, Olio has grown to over 8 million users who have collectively shared more than 130 million meals and prevented 300,000 tons of CO2 emissions. Tessa discusses how waste has become endemic across society because environmental and social impacts are not factored into business models, making it often more profitable to waste than to prevent. The conversation explores how Olio catalyzes behavioral change by tapping into the primitive human instinct to share precious resources rather than throwing them away. Tessa explains that while most people assume demand is the biggest hurdle, the real challenge is encouraging people to take a few seconds to share an item rather than binning it. To address large-scale surplus, Olio utilizes 100,000 food safety trained volunteers through their "Food Waste Heroes" program to collect unsold food from major retailers like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Iceland for redistribution to neighbors. Paul and Tessa also dive into Olio's growth strategy, which relies heavily on organic word-of-mouth and a network of 50,000 ambassadors who perform hyperlocal marketing. Looking ahead, the company is shifting its focus toward driving demand within the student community and pursuing "surgical" international expansion by partnering with flagship retailers in markets like Singapore. Tessa reflects on her leadership journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of showing up authentically and balancing IQ with high EQ to build a truly impactful mission-driven culture.Find more about Olio here:https://olioapp.com/business/Follow Tessa Clarke here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessaclarkeolio/

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Leo Crowe, the co-founder and CEO of Souk, a newly launched AI platform transforming how companies build and scale channel partnerships. Selected for Antler’s 2025 London cohort from over 150,000 applicants, Leo brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles at Deel and Papaya Global to solve the age-old inefficiencies of partnership management. They discuss the rising importance of partner-led growth, noting that giants like Salesforce and HubSpot now derive over 50% of their revenue from partnerships. Leo explains why these relationships often fail, citing that historically, 9 out of 10 partners never refer a single lead due to friction in finding, activating, and paying them. Find more about Souk here: joinSouk.comFollow Leo Crowe here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-crowe-457815121/

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Robert "Robby" Cobbs, CEO and founder, and Kyle Sumrow, director of development at TechMySchool. As the Caribbean’s leading EdTech consulting nonprofit, TechMySchool serves over 40 schools across Puerto Rico, the U.S., and internationally, helping them modernize systems and create student-centered learning environments. They discuss the fundamental disconnect in modern education, where schools often have more technology than ever but feel overwhelmed and underprepared to use it effectively. Robert and Kyle explain how educator hesitation and a "retreat from technology" driven by parental concerns about screen time are shaping the current landscape. Key conversation points include: Individualized Tech Plans (ITPs): How TechMySchool uses a non-judgmental, data-driven approach to diagnose school needs across educational systems, adult learning capacity, and student empowerment. The "Flock Leader" Program: A sustainable model that pays stipends to teachers to step into leadership roles, ensuring schools build long-term internal savvy rather than relying on one-off workshops. The Puerto Rico Context: The unique challenges facing students in Puerto Rico, who often lack access to basic infrastructure like public libraries and enter the continental U.S. workforce several grade levels behind their peers. Leading Through Curiosity: Why the most successful school transformations happen when leadership prioritizes a growth mindset and models a love of learning for their students. Robert and Kyle also share insights from their international careers—spanning from Saudi Arabia to Switzerland—and explain why their "terrible business model" of trying to work themselves out of a job is the most ethical way to support schools. Find more about TechMySchool here: https://techmyschool.orgRobert Cobbs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertcobbs/Kyle Sumrow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-sumrow-869516183/

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Asmaa Bencherif, founder of Lori. Lori is an AI operating system designed to make real-world patient stories and outcomes usable at scale, helping individuals find health products that genuinely work in a crowded and often untrustworthy market. Asmaa shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition and the difficulty of navigating vague online reviews and unverified forums while trying to manage her health outside the doctor's office. They discuss how Lori addresses these challenges by asking the right questions at the right time to generate structured, contextualized feedback from verified buyers. The conversation covers: The Power of Storytelling: How Lori turns personal health narratives into searchable data assets and short-form content for brands. Trust as Currency: Partnering with science-backed companies in sectors like Neurotech, SleepTech, and FemTech to ensure a high standard of proof. Ethical AI & Compliance: Navigating strict regulations to ensure patient testimonials are safe and do not make unsubstantiated medical claims. Intentional Growth: Asmaa’s philosophy on "growing slow" to maintain data integrity and protect the customer relationship during her current £600,000 pre-seed fundraising round. Asmaa also highlights the shift toward direct-to-consumer medical devices and why a trusted filter is necessary to reduce the "trial and error" often experienced by those living with chronic conditions. Find out more about Lori here: https://lori.healthFollow Asmaa Bencherif here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asmaa-bencherif

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Galen Wolfe-Pauly, co-founder of Tlon. Tlon is a company radically reimagining the internet's foundation to create a simpler, more personal computing experience. They discuss the structural flaws of the modern internet, where users rely on centralized identifiers and servers they do not own, leading to issues with privacy, data mining, and a lack of digital permanence. Galen explains how Tlon addresses these failures through a peer-to-peer network of nodes, where every individual owns their own cryptographic identity and "virtual machine". The conversation covers: Digital Sovereignty: Why owning your entire computing stack is essential for building products that truly serve people. Architecture & Longevity: How Galen’s background in architecture influences his vision for digital tools that can last for decades or even centuries. The Tlon Messenger: A look at their current product—a highly customizable, extensible "super app" that allows communities to run their own servers. Craftsmanship in Software: Why the next "battle" on the internet is shifting from mediocre, ad-driven platforms to high-quality, carefully crafted digital environments. Galen also shares the immense technical challenges of building a new programming language and operating environment from scratch and why Tlon’s mission to create software that outlives its creators provides a deeper sense of purpose. Find more about Tlon here:https://tlon.io/ Follow Galen Wolfe-Pauly here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/galenwolfepauly/

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Richard Savoie, Founding CEO of Adiona, an award-winning AI-powered delivery optimization platform that is reinventing how cities move goods. As urban populations grow and delivery volumes explode, the "last mile" has become the most expensive, complex, and emissions-intensive part of the supply chain. They discuss the "cracks" in modern logistics, where the loss of batching efficiency makes individual home deliveries incredibly costly for retailers. Rich explains how Adiona’s AI engine helps fleets deliver up to 87% faster and 50% cheaper by automating complex dispatch decisions that were traditionally handled manually with paper maps and spreadsheets. The conversation covers: The Sustainability Challenge: Why transport is predicted to be the highest single emitting industry by 2030 and the specific difficulties of electrifying commercial fleets at scale. Digital Twins and Simulations: How Adiona uses historical data to help retailers predict driver needs for peak seasons like Black Friday. The "Knowledge" of AI: Moving beyond human limitations to dynamically prioritize deliveries based on revenue and profit margin during disruptions like snowstorms. Growth and Financing: Rich’s journey from failing to raise VC funds for a commuting app to finding success with a mission-driven, debt-financed model for logistics. Rich also shares insights on the psychological barriers to automation in large enterprises and why he believes the convergence of AI, robotics, and quantum computing offers a path toward a better world for the most vulnerable. Find more about Adiona here:https://www.adionatech.com/ Follow Rich Savoie here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richsavoie/

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Connor Mason and Glenn Stephenson, co-founders of Fluid Focus, a Belfast-based company rethinking our relationship with technology. With research showing the average adult spends nearly a third of their waking hours—and Gen Z over six hours a day—on their smartphones, Fluid Focus aims to flip the dynamic from tech consuming our lives to tech enhancing them. They discuss the alarming "attention economy" where products are designed to monetize human focus, leading to fractured productivity, increased anxiety, and a "loneliness epidemic" as physical socialization declines. Connor and Glenn share how their background in big tech and corporate consulting revealed a shared struggle: the inability to focus for more than a few minutes without compulsively reaching for a phone. The conversation covers the Fluid Focus app’s innovative approach, which combines: Deep Work Tools: One-click focus sessions that block distracting apps and utilize curated "focus music" from global leader Mindstream to keep users on task. Gamification and Incentives: A system where users earn "Fluid Coins" for focus sessions, which can be used to enter wellness raffles or provide days of education for children through the charity Mary’s Meals. Data-Driven Habits: Passive blocking rules (like "no social media until 10,000 steps") and tracking tools for mood and productivity. Glenn and Connor discuss their strategic move to partner with academic institutions and workplaces rather than competing in the crowded consumer market, aiming to create a "focus operating system" for the modern world.Find more about Fluid Focus here: https://www.fluidfocus.app/Connor Mason:https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-mason-2b347b128/ Glenn Stephenson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-stephenson-1297849a/

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Jinesh Vohra, founder and CEO of Sprive, a UK-based fintech on a mission to help homeowners pay off their mortgages years earlier and save thousands in interest. The conversation dives deep into the structural flaws of the UK mortgage system, where high property prices relative to salaries have forced many into 30 or 40-year mortgage terms. Jinesh highlights the sobering reality that millions of people are now on track to carry mortgage debt well past the age of retirement. He shares his personal journey of frustration with traditional banking—ranging from the manual slog of tracking overpayments on Excel spreadsheets to the "nightmare" nine-month process of actually moving into a home in the UK. This personal friction, combined with a 14-year career at Goldman Sachs, inspired him to build a consumer-centric solution that empowers homeowners to take back control. Jinesh explains how Sprive differentiates itself by making mortgage reduction a seamless part of daily life through its "Shop Away Your Mortgage" feature. By partnering with major brands like Amazon, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s, the app allows users to earn rewards on everyday purchases that are instantly pushed toward their mortgage balance. These small, frequent contributions benefit from compound interest, often saving the homeowner triple the original reward amount over the life of the loan. The platform further optimizes financial health by using open banking to analyze spending patterns, automatically setting aside spare cash for overpayments only when the user can afford it. The episode also explores the challenges of disrupting an industry dominated by an oligopoly of lenders who lack the motivation to innovate or simplify the customer experience. Jinesh discusses the rigor required to build a trusted fintech brand, including raising £4.5 million in funding and passing strict regulatory checks to ensure zero fraud. He concludes by painting a picture of the life-changing freedom that comes with being mortgage-free, which can unlock new hobbies, career shifts, and the ability to build generational wealth. Find more about Sprive here: https://sprive.com/ Follow Jinesh Vohra here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jinesh-vohra/

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Greg Freeman, founder and CEO of Data Literacy Academy, an organization dedicated to building data-confident cultures within the world’s top companies. They discuss the staggering reality that up to 83% of the workforce is data illiterate, leaving businesses unable to effectively monetize or act upon the billions of dollars they invest in AI platforms and data infrastructure. Greg explains why technology alone cannot solve business problems if the people using it lack the confidence and mindset to make data-led decisions. The conversation covers the critical role of leadership in driving change, the concept of "taught fear" in education, and how Data Literacy Academy uses live learning to transform anxious employees into confident data thinkers. Greg also shares insights on moving industry measurements from inputs and outputs to meaningful outcomes, treating data literacy as a multi-year cultural change rather than a one-off training session and the "champagne problem" of a data-literate workforce surfacing more business use cases than a data office can handle.Find more about Data Literacy Academy here: www.dl-academy.com Follow Greg Freeman here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregdata/

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Matthew Whyatt, founder and chief strategist at TechTorque, a consultancy that helps B2B software and SaaS companies sharpen their go-to-market strategies, scale revenue, and build predictable sales systems. They discuss how AI is fundamentally reshaping B2B software sales while emphasizing that great selling isn't dying, it's evolving. With over 25 years in software sales and more than $100 million in tech sales across startups and global markets, Matthew shares why AI won't replace salespeople but will eliminate lazy approaches and amplify the performance of skilled reps. The conversation covers the critical importance of bio-led qualification over demos, why hyper-personalization is now essential even for lower-priced products, and how sales teams need to invest in empathy and structured frameworks rather than just adding more AI tools. Matthew also reveals his approach to selling diagnosis before solutions, the power of scripting in sales, and why the best salespeople will become even more valuable in the AI era. Find more about TechTorque here: https://techtorque.coFollow Matthew Whyatt here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewwhyatt

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Mijke van Ballegooijen, CEO of BYBORRE, a pioneering textile innovation company based in Amsterdam that's redefining how fabrics are designed, produced, and valued through data-driven design and radical transparency. They discuss the fundamental problems plaguing the global textile industry, which accounts for up to 10% of global carbon emissions, including fragmented supply chains, overproduction, and greenwashing. Mijke explains how BYBORRE is tackling these challenges through true on-demand production, focusing on longevity over recyclability, and providing designers with digital tools that reveal the environmental impact of their design choices in real-time. The conversation covers BYBORRE's strategic pivot from fashion to the interior design market, their innovative software platform that translates any design into knit files for mattress-ticking machines worldwide, and their recent recognition as both an innovation and sustainability startup and the "coolest Dutch brand." Mijke also shares insights on leading through aligned autonomy, building mission-driven companies at scale, and why radical transparency, including their seven-year-old textile passport system, is essential for driving real change in the industry. Find more about BYBORRE here: https://byborre.comFollow Mijke van Ballegooijen here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mijkevanballegooijen

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Kirsten Karchmer, CEO of Conceivable, a pioneering digital health company that is revolutionizing precision medicine for fertility and women's wellness. Kirsten's career spans more than two decades transforming how women approach their reproductive health. After running one of North America's largest fertility wellness clinics as the first board-certified reproductive acupuncturist in North America, she founded Conceivable to bring clinical expertise to scale through data science, personalized nutraceuticals, and lifestyle interventions. Kirsten explains why the current fertility care system is fundamentally broken—pushing women toward expensive IVF and IUI treatments without addressing the underlying health issues that impact their ability to conceive and stay pregnant. She argues that 75-80% of fertility challenges stem from lifestyle factors like sleep, nutrition, stress, and behavioral health, which can be addressed for a fraction of the cost of traditional treatments. Rather than using fertility interventions to override the body's warning signals, Conceivable helps women understand and resolve root causes, improving not just fertility outcomes but long-term health. The conversation explores Conceivable's innovative approach: an AI-powered "operating system for women's health" featuring a virtual care team that includes therapists, nutritionists, chefs, and formulators who provide daily, personalized support. Using predictive analytics, wearable data, and individualized supplement formulations, the platform addresses each woman's unique health profile rather than offering generic fertility advice. Kirsten shares insights from building the company, including a previous failed attempt in 2016, her breakthrough growth on TikTok after advice from investor Gary Vaynerchuk, and why authentic customer connection through daily live Q&A sessions shaped the product's development. Paul and Kirsten dig into women's health innovation, the dangers of tracking apps that provide data without actionable guidance, the importance of building products people genuinely love, and why behavioral health interventions are more effective than supplements alone. They also discuss Kirsten's book Seeing Red, which tackles how menstrual health became stigmatized, and her vision for an operating system that supports women across their entire reproductive lifecycle.Find more about Conceivable here: https://www.conceivable.com/Follow Kirsten Karchmer here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-karchmer-0139808/