The Startup Tri-Valley Podcast

Hosted by Startup Tri-Valley

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The Startup Tri-Valley Podcast, hosted by i-GATE Innovation Hub Executive Director Yolanda Fintschenko, PhD, and other co-hosts from the Tri-Valley Startup Ecosystem, features in-depth conversations with the leaders making the Bay Area’s Tri-Valley region the go-to ecosystem for science-based startups. Listeners can expect to hear from local founders, investors, and other domain experts whose insight can help science-based companies go from startup to scale.

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28 recent

June 9, 2026Episode 11 hr 28 min

LLNL’s “AI in Eight Pages” Team on Making Sense of Artificial Intelligence

Host Yolanda Fintschenko, executive director of Daybreak Labs and i-GATE Innovation Hub, home of the Startup Tri-Valley (STV) Initiative, sits down with Cindy Gonzales, Brian Giera, and Caspar Donnison of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to discuss AI in Eight Pages, a recently released report designed to make artificial intelligence more understandable for broader audiences.In this wide-ranging conversation, the guests discuss AI literacy, model limitations, workforce impacts, policymaking, and the importance of human agency in shaping how AI is developed and used. They also explore why the conversation around AI should include not only technologists, but also communities, business leaders, and policymakers.The episode highlights California’s role in the AI landscape and the Tri-Valley’s growing innovation ecosystem, while emphasizing a practical message: AI is not a magic wand, and understanding its risks is just as important as recognizing its promise. Tune in or watch on YouTube to hear how informed communities can help shape a future where AI serves the public good.

October 28, 2025Episode 31 hr 19 min

Meet Daybreak Labs Advisor and Capital Factory Senior Venture Associate, Luis Martinez, PhD

Host Yolanda Fintschenko, Executive Director of Daybreak Labs and i-GATE Innovation Hub, home of the Startup Tri-Valley (STV) Initiative, sits down with Luis Martinez, PhD, Senior Venture Associate with Capital Factory and Daybreak Labs advisor. In this inspiring conversation, Luis shares his remarkable 25-year journey from a synthetic organic chemist at Harvard to a management consultant, university professor, ecosystem builder, and now venture capitalist.Luis offers invaluable insights for technical founders on what VCs really look for: capital efficiency, velocity, and the courage to be "bold crazy." He explains why not every company should pursue venture capital, the critical importance of continuous customer discovery, and how founders can build rocket ships worthy of VC investment. Luis also discusses Capital Factory's unique model as the "center of gravity for entrepreneurs outside of Silicon Valley" and the strategic advantages of the Tri-Valley ecosystem—from its proximity to Lawrence Livermore National Lab and the Bay Area to its untapped potential in energy, space, biotech, and ag tech.Tune in or watch the link to YouTube to learn why entrepreneurship is a team sport, how to leverage regional ecosystems for national impact, and what it takes to build a real business that's 10x better than the competition.

September 9, 2025Episode 250 min

Meet Daybreak Labs Commercial Real Estate Advisor: Brian Wilson, Vice President, Colliers

Host Yolanda Fintschenko, Executive Director of Daybreak Labs and i-GATE Innovation Hub, home of the Startup Tri-Valley (STV) Initiative, sits down with Brian Wilson, Vice President of Office R&D and Clean Facilities for Colliers International and Commercial Real Estate Advisor for Daybreak Labs. In this compelling conversation, Brian shares his unique journey from practicing real estate and construction law in Silicon Valley to becoming a key architect of the Tri-Valley's hard tech and life sciences startup ecosystem.Tune in or watch the link to YouTube to learn about the unique advantages of the Tri-Valley startup ecosystem.

August 5, 2025Episode 11 hr 1 min

Meet Daybreak Labs Operations Advisor: Janelle Muranaka, COO and Co-Founder, EazeBio

In this episode of the Startup Tri-Valley Podcast, hosts Yolanda Fintschenko, executive director of Daybreak Labs and i-GATE Innovation Hub, home of the Startup Tri-Valley (STV) Initiative. This episode features an in-depth conversation with Janelle Muranaka, COO and Co-founder of EazeBio and Operations Advisor for Daybreak Labs. It focuses on Muranaka's journey into the startup world, her passion for the Tri-Valley life sciences ecosystem, and the unique role of operations executive.Tune in or watch the link to YouTube to learn about the unique advantages of the Tri-Valley startup ecosystem.

June 17, 2025Episode 640 min

Industrializing Biology: Meet LifeFoundry COO and Co-Founder, Sam Rad

May 20, 2025Episode 540 min

How AI Can Humanize Health Care: Meet "IC" Chiranjeevi Praveen Ikkurthy, CHCIO, Stanford Health Care

Host Yolanda Fintschenko, executive director of Daybreak Labs and i-GATE Innovation Hub, and guest co-host Hazel Wetherford, Deputy City Manager for the City of Dublin, talk with Chiranjeevi Praveen Ikkurthy, CHCIO, Interim IT Administrative Director for Stanford Health Care - Valley Health Care. IC was a panelist in our 2024 Tri-Valley AI Summit, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the pod! Chiranjeevi Ikkurthy (“IC”) is a seasoned IT leader with a proven track record of driving digital transformation in healthcare settings. He is part of Stanford Health Care’s Technology and Digital Solutions team, and currently serves as the IT Director supporting Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley. Even though he has been part of SHC for over 17 years, his journey with SHC Tri-Valley began in late 2016 when he spearheaded a $100 million IT program to overhaul the hospital’s digital infrastructure. This included deploying Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system and over 150 integrated applications, as well as 3,800 end-user devices, and training the entire staff and clinical teams. He is passionate about advancing the organization’s digital capabilities and establishing SHC Tri-Valley as a hub for healthcare innovation in the East Bay. Currently, he is focused on establishing an AI Workgroup to generate excitement, engagement, and education around AI within the hospital. This initiative directly supports the Advance Digital Innovation section SHC Tri-Valley’s 2030 strategic plan. He is a key contributor for this section, which emphasizes leveraging and optimizing core technology platforms while also leveraging AI to optimize clinical and business operations for improved patient care and access to care. This work highlights his commitment to expanding patient care options and establishing SHC Tri-Valley as a frontrunner in healthcare innovation. Watch on YouTube!

May 1, 2025Episode 49 min

Feed Your Good Genes: A Conversation with Author Reem Mahrat

In this episode of the Startup Tri-Valley Podcast, hosts Yolanda Fintschenko, executive director of Daybreak Labs and i-GATE Innovation Hub, home of the Startup Tri-Valley (STV) Initiative, and Lisa Adamos, Economic Development Manager for the City of Pleasanton, sit down with Reem Mahrat, a serial entrepreneur and founder of EazeBio. Reem shares her personal journey of battling autoimmune disease and how it inspired her to write the book "Feed Your Good Genes: Avoid Autoimmune Disease." She emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals to take control of their health through better choices and understanding gene expression.Reem discusses the innovative work at EazeBio, including the development of a novel biomarker that provides real-time insights into metabolic health. This biomarker helps patients see immediate results from their diet, exercise, and stress management, offering a personalized metabolic dashboard.Reem also highlights the significance of having a strong "why" in entrepreneurship and the importance of teamwork in achieving success.Tune in to hear Reem's inspiring story, her vision for transforming healthcare, and practical advice for founders balancing multiple roles and responsibilities. Watch on YouTube

April 1, 2025Episode 337 min

Empowering Women's Health: A Conversation with EazeBio Founder and CEO Reem Mahrat

In this episode of the Startup Tri-Valley Podcast, hosts Yolanda Fintschenko, executive director of Daybreak Labs and i-GATE Innovation Hub, home of the Startup Tri-Valley (STV) Initiative, and Lisa Adamos, Economic Development Manager for the City of Pleasanton, sit down with Reem Mahrat, a serial entrepreneur and founder of EazeBio. Reem shares her inspiring journey from a chemical engineer to a leader in the biotech industry, focusing on women's health. She discusses the innovative work being done at EazeBio, including the development of biomarker-based point-of-care diagnostics that empower women to monitor their health at home. Reem also highlights the importance of early detection and personalized healthcare, drawing from her personal experience of losing her father to late-stage cancer. Tune in or watch to learn about the unique advantages of the Tri-Valley startup ecosystem, the significance of having a strong "why" in entrepreneurship, and Reem's vision for the future of women's health.

March 11, 2025Episode 21 hr 8 min

Where AI Meets the Edge: A Conversation with Dr. Brian Spears, Director of the AI3 Incubator at LLNL

Host Yolanda Fintschenko, executive director of Daybreak Labs and i-GATE Innovation Hub, home of the Startup Tri-Valley (STV) Initiative, talks with Brian Spears, PhD, director of AI3, the AI Innovation Incubator at Lawrence Livermore National Labs (LLNL), and one of our 2024 Tri-Valley AI Summit panelists. Brian is passionate about developing deep learning for applied science, especially inertial confinement fusion. A proud Tri-Valley resident, as director of AI3, he focuses on building public-private partnerships to accelerate the development and application of AI. The goal of AI3 is to advance AI for applied science at scale. The AI3 expands LLNL's capabilities through industry collaborations, establishes visible leadership in AI for applied science, develops informed strategies for mission-driven AI investments, and coordinates investments focused on exploring and developing AI. Watch on YouTube .Below are links to sources of information referenced in this podcast:Learn more about AI3 and AI at LLNL by visiting https://ai.llnl.gov/Visit the LLNL Careers page to find open positions at LLNL

February 25, 2025Episode 152 min

Decarbonizing Our Economy

Host Yolanda Fintschenko, executive director of Daybreak Labs and i-GATE Innovation Hub, home of the Startup Tri-Valley (STV) Initiative, speaks with Susan Houghton, Climate Resiliency and Carbon Management Portfolio Manager for the Livermore Lab Foundation (LLF), and David (Dave) Metz, partner at FM3 Research, and Katie Marcel, CEO of the Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group (ITV), about the inspiration for and outcomes from their most recent event, Decarbonizing our Economy, co-organized by the University of California, LLF, ITV, STV, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and Chabot-Las Positas Community College District (CLPCCD) in November of 2024. This episode reviews some of the key insights about direct carbon capture from the Roads to Removal Report written by LLNL and promoted by LLF, the Tri-Valley climate tech workforce survey conducted by FM3, and the needs of Tri-Valley industry and investors in the climate tech startup ecosystem revealed in that half day event. Learn how the Tri-Valley climate tech workforce needs compare to other regions, as well as important takeaways for the Tri-Valley region as it moves towards achieving California's net zero goals. Important links:Roads to Removal report - https://roads2removal.org2024 DECARBONIZING OUR ECONOMY ARTICLE, IMAGES AND VIDEOWatch this episode