DARE

Hosted by Darwoft

Technology

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Episodes

146

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The show for innovators, entrepreneurs, and startup leaders who dare to shape the future. In each episode, we dig into the journey of innovation -- traveling through doubt, failure, and experimentation on the path toward success and fulfillment. A master-class on innovation, creativity, leadership, and how you too can dare to dream big. New episodes every Tuesday.

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60 recent

August 19, 2026Episode 2922 min

S4E29 | Building a beverage startup from scratch: A unique innovation journey

Sparkling wine and coffee, in one can, has never existed anywhere in the world. Andrew Smith is betting Brut Cafe is about to change that. On this episode of #DAREwithDarwoft, a podcast from Darwoft in collaboration with Oregon Entrepreneurs Network , Andrew Smith , founder of Brut Cafe , joins Ned to talk about building a brand-new beverage category from a 20-year winemaking career, why the "weird" reactions are actually the point, and what it takes to launch a ready-to-drink product from scratch. 🎙️

August 12, 2026Episode 2827 min

S4E28 | The future of EV Charging: Breaking through high infrastructure costs

Most EV charging problems aren't about the car, they're about the electrical panel behind it. Tyler Hughes and Brian Breniser of Positron Charging spent a year figuring out how to route power to multiple cars without the six-figure infrastructure bill. On this episode, Tyler Hughes and Brian Breniser , founders of Positron Charging , join Ned to talk about their patented multiplexing tech, the "last mile problem" of EV charging, and why apartment complexes could be the next big frontier for affordable charging access. 🎙️ Follow us! Instagram/@darwoft LinkedIn/@DarwoftCompany

August 4, 2026Episode 2721 min

S4E27 | How to supervise AI: Practical strategies for managing Large Language Models

Most companies didn't fail at social media because the tech was bad. They failed because nobody managed the transition. Ami Maceira-Lopez thinks we're about to make the same mistake with AI, unless managers step up now. In this episode, Ami Maceira-Lopez , founder of Everyday Future , joins Ned to talk about Task Technology Fit, the digital literacy gap hiding in plain sight, and what it actually takes to supervise a large language model without losing your team's trust. 🎙️ Follow us! Instagram/@darwoft LinkedIn/@DarwoftCompany TikTok/@darwoft

July 28, 2026Episode 2620 min

S4E26 | Breaking unconscious patterns: The Survival Identity framework for leaders

Amy Chiang , Founder & CEO of Transforma Systems , joined host Ned Hayes on the #DAREwithDarwoft podcast, in collaboration with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, to explain why standard change management keeps failing, what the Survival Identity™ framework reveals about the patterns running your leadership, and how her platform Transforma is making identity-level transformation scalable for individuals and enterprises navigating AI disruption, restructuring, and post-merger transitions. Follow us! Instagram/@darwoft LinkedIn/@DarwoftCompany TikTok/@darwoft

July 21, 2026Episode 2518 min

S4E25 | From Hollywood to pet wellness: How to build a community-first brand

Most pet food brands sell nutrition. Bryan Du Toit , founder of Hungry Hound , sells something harder to manufacture: belonging. In this episode of the #DAREwithDarwoft podcast, hosted by Ned Hayes in collaboration with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network , Bryan shares how he went from Hollywood film producer to fresh dog food maker in Bend, Oregon, why he launched with a 500-person dog festival before selling a single bag, and what "trust before transaction" actually looks like as a growth strategy for a values-driven consumer brand. Follow us! Instagram/@darwoft LinkedIn/@DarwoftCompany TikTok/@darwoft

July 15, 2026Episode 2429 min

S4E24 | Winning without losing yourself: Wealth & exit strategy for founders

The exit is the goal, until it isn't. Cecilia Leung , founder of Rich & Sassy Wealth Strategies , has spent 20+ years watching founders win the transaction and struggle with everything that follows. In this episode of the #DAREwithDarwoft podcast, hosted by Ned Hayes in collaboration with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network , Cece shares how she blends institutional financial strategy with Eastern philosophy to help founders make decisions that scale financially and hold up personally. From post-exit identity crises to her 10-day China Immersive leadership retreat, this one goes far beyond the balance sheet. Follow us! Instagram | @darwoft LinkedIn | @DarwoftCompany

July 7, 2026Episode 2334 min

S4E23 | Building investor-ready startups: Lessons from the Oregon Startup Center with Jim Chi

Most founders think they're investor-ready. Very few actually are. Jim Chi of the Oregon Startup Center has spent two decades helping early-stage companies understand the difference, and in this episode, he pulls back the curtain. From his years at Nike and The Home Depot to co-founding a coffee company and advising private equity firms, Jim brings a rare multi-industry lens to the startup world. He explains how the Oregon Startup Center identifies which ideas are truly scalable, what their challenge competition actually looks for, and why being the first dollars in is a strategy, not a risk. Follow us for more! Instagram @darwoft LinkedIn @DarwoftCompany

June 30, 2026Episode 2220 min

S4E22 | The truth about small business funding & pivoting

He ran a food truck. Then a bank teller's seat. Now he sits on both sides of the lending desk, and he's not holding back. Travious Shanklin takes us inside the real cost of starting a food business: the wrong cart, the wrong location, and the brutal truth about getting funded with zero business history. In this episode, we talk market research, tariffs reshaping the Pacific Northwest economy, which industries are thriving right now, and why Travious still dreams of building a business that creates real opportunity for local youth. Because not everything that ships creates impact, sometimes the lesson is the impact. 🎙️ Follow us for more Instagram @darwoft LinkedIn @DarwoftCompany TikTok @darwoft

June 23, 2026Episode 2120 min

S4E21 | The future of accessible gaming: Crafting experiences for everyone with Antigone Nastos

Every gamer has someone in their life they wish they could play with. Antigone Nastos , Founder & CEO of No Sequels Cooperative , built her entire studio around that one insight, crafting couch co-op games designed to bridge the gap between gamers and the people they love who have never touched a controller. In Episode 21, Antigone and host Ned Hayes dig into what it really takes to build an indie game studio from the ground up: bootstrapping without publisher support, developing 11 games simultaneously, and why in-person experiences, not online ones, are the future of connected play. 🎙️ Follow us! Instagram/ @darwoft LinkedIn/@DarwoftCompany

June 16, 2026Episode 2033 min

S4E20 | How Audible Cone is revolutionizing worker safety tech

Nearly 500 construction workers die in roadway incidents every year in the US. Gordon Larson, CEO of Audible Cone Alert Systems Inc. , has been working to change that number since 1996 — and he's finally got the product, the patent, and the traction to do it. In this episode of the #DAREwithDarwoft podcast — in collaboration with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network — Gordon shares how he built a life-saving tech company from one of the most remote counties in Oregon, the challenges of scaling hardware in a world that favors software, and what it means to build a business that's quite literally saving lives. Follow us! TikTok/@darwoft Instagram/@darwoft LinkedIn/@DarwoftCompany