Innovators + Entrepreneurs

Jonathon Dambrot, cofounder and CEO of Cranium AI, shares his journey from teenage magician and chocolatier to cybersecurity entrepreneur. He explains how Cranium secures enterprise AI systems, why AI security is now a top priority, and why he’s bullish on AI’s future, new jobs, and founders building meaningful, scalable ventures today.

This episode brings together Judith Sheft (NJ Commissionon Science, Innovation & Technology), Medina Citi (Equal Space), and David Stengle (Startup Grind Princeton) to take stock of New Jersey’s rapidly maturing startup ecosystem—from non-dilutive R&D grants and growing innovation hubs to stronger statewide collaboration. They discuss wins(strategic innovation centers, AI momentum, policy tailwinds like tax credits), ongoing challenges (uneven access to capital, federal funding uncertainty), and 2026 predictions with Jim Barrood.

Mellie Chow and Hamza Shad trace their winding paths into venture capital. Talking to Jim Barrood, they unpack today’s funding reality: AI-driven “haves vs. have-nots,” concentrated capital, longer fund cycles, booming secondaries, and offer founders practical fundraising advice on targeting the right investors and leading with curiosity, data, and relationships.

NetElixir founder and CEO Udayan Bose and Rutgers professor Jim Samuel join host Jim Barrood to discuss AI’s transformative impact on business and society. They explore NetElixir’s evolution into an AI-first e-commerce agency, Rutgers’ pioneering public informatics program, and their joint research on how generative AI can create economic value while enhancing - not replacing - human potential.

Entrepreneurs Paul Lam (Bot Auto) and Ali Arab (General Autonomy) discuss building safer, more practical autonomous vehicles—Bot Auto focusing on full-service L4 autonomoustrucking and General Autonomy advancing AI safety systems for edge-case control. They share with Jim Barrood candid startup lessons on responsibility, capital discipline, and the balance between innovation, commercialization, and safety in real-world autonomy.

Founders Steve Jones and DeSean Brown explain pocstock, acontent and responsible-AI data company delivering inclusive, culturally accurate visuals and datasets. They talk to Jim Barrood about their careers bridging tech, agencies, and entrepreneurship; clients across brands and agencies; worldwide guidance/production services; and efforts to fix AI bias via better metadata and global datasets.

Merck’s Global Health Innovation Fund leaders Bill Taranto and Joel Krikston trace nontraditional careers into CVC, explain GHI’s shift to pharma-services and “enterprise coverage,” and spotlight global IDEA Studios plus wins like Livongo and Preventice. They share a bullish outlook on data-driven digital health, and advise entrepreneurs to focus on specific pharma use cases with validated results.

R&D Council of NJ Executive Director Kim Case and NJ State Senator/physicist Andrew Zwicker join host Jim Barrood to explore New Jersey’s thriving innovation ecosystem. From building STEM talent pipelines to advancing fusion energy and strategic innovation centers, they reveal how academia, government, and industry are collaborating to shape the state’s future as a global innovation leader.

This episode features Michael Johnson, President of NJII, and John Pelesko, Provost of NJIT, sharing their unconventional paths into leadership. They highlight NJIT’s innovation culture, NJII’s venture studio building startups from university IP, $180M+ in research funding, entrepreneurship programs, state collaborations, and a vision for flexible, student-centered higher education.

This episode features Amos Winbush III, serial entrepreneur and founder/CEO of bckrs.ai, the world’s first AI-native intelligence platform for the private capital market. He shares with Jim Barrood his remarkable journey from Louisiana musician to serial tech founder, explains how his new venture brings transparency to venture investing, discusses market optimism, and offers candid advice for founders building or raising in the AI era.

This podcast episode features Rowan University leaders Tony Lowman and Nidhal Bouaynaya sharing their personal journeys, academic leadership, and entrepreneurial ventures. They discuss Rowan’s rapid innovation in AI, life sciences, VR education, and entrepreneurship. Themes include agility in academia, transforming South Jersey’s innovation ecosystem, and inspiring future-ready education and research.

SOSV managing general partner Sean O’Sullivan joins Jim Barrood to trace his path from MapInfo pioneer to global deep-tech investor. He explains SOSV’s studio model (HAX, IndieBio), Newark and Princeton plasma initiatives, and billion-plus AUM. Despite chaotic markets, he urges founders to prove revenue, persist for years, and communicate transparently, openly.

Turtle’s innovation leader Teesee Murray and Triangle CEO Darren Wolfberg join Jim Barrood to share their journeys from global tech and finance to driving the energy transition. They explore Turtle’s 102-year legacy, Triangle’s patented carbon-credit technology, and how authentic corporate–startup partnerships can fuel sustainable innovation, transparency, and long-term growth.

PCM cofounder Sean Zheng and COO Angela Fasnacht join host Jim Barrood to share their journey from global engineering and Princeton research to pioneering sustainable lithium extraction. They discuss breakthrough technologies like Lily Pad and Smart Pond, Princeton’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, and New Jersey’s support in building resilient, domestic critical mineral supply chains.

Tim Crouch of Choose New Jersey and Amanda Hecker of Mithril join host Jim Barrood to discuss New Jersey’s bold AI vision. They highlight initiatives from Princeton’s AI Hub to new incentive programs, and how Mithril’s cloud infrastructure partnership ensures startups, researchers, and corporates have affordable, guaranteed access to AI computing power.

This episode features Thierry Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research, discussing his journey from Luxembourg to MIT and Bell Labs. He highlights Bell Labs’ century of groundbreaking innovations—like the transistor, solar cell, Unix, and satellite communications—while exploring today’s frontiers: 6G, quantum computing, AI, digital twins, and space-based networks.