Middle Tech

Anthony Ellis and David Brock are the Executive Director/General Council and Director of Operations for Ky Innovation, respectively. Ky Innovation is the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development's entrepreneurship and innovation partner, working to support and develop Kentucky's startup ecosystem through allocating government funds to entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial support organizations. Our discussion covers the purpose of Ky Innovation, the different programs they fund and support, and the impact that their support has had on the state of Kentucky. Learn more about Ky Innovation at KyInnovation.com Visit us at MiddleTech.com  Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Evan's Twitter Logan's Twitter Middle Tech is proud to be supported by: Our presenting sponsor, KY Innovation Bolt Marketing The Johnson Law Group Render Capital

Nate contemplates how when we talk about startups and the fact that they can change the world, we don't ever really stop to think about "what if they don't, though?" Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Visit us at MiddleTech.com 

Logan discusses Rivian’s earnings report and Biden signing an executive order for a crypto framework. This week in tech history: the first phone call ever was 135 years ago this week. Watch Middle Tech's Friday Updates LIVE at 8:30am EST on Instagram every week! @MiddleTechPod Today's Friday Update is sponsored by KY Innovation and Bolt Marketing Visit us at MiddleTech.com

Brian Frye is the Spears-Gilbert Professor of Law at UK Law School, with a focus on copyright and trademark law. Before getting into the legal field, Brian was a successful film artist in New York City. Once NFTs started gaining popularity, Brian dove into the space by issuing his own “conceptual art” NFTs and hosting conversations about NFTs on his legal scholarship podcast, Ipse Dixit. The intersection of Brian’s unique perspectives and experiences made for an in-depth conversation on the key concepts of NFTs, how they’re affecting copyright law, and what it means to own something on the internet. Learn more about Brian here. Visit us at MiddleTech.com  Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Evan's Twitter Logan's Twitter Middle Tech is proud to be supported by: Our presenting sponsor, KY Innovation Bolt Marketing The Johnson Law Group Render Capital

Logan discusses how you need a bias for action to increase the chances that you get lucky in this world. Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Visit us at MiddleTech.com 

Logan & Evan discuss TikTok being investigated for the effect they have on teen’s mental health and how tech companies are responding to the Ukraine invasion. Watch Middle Tech's Friday Updates LIVE at 8:30am EST on Instagram every week! @MiddleTechPod Today's Friday Update is sponsored by KY Innovation and Bolt Marketing Visit us at MiddleTech.com

Michael Brizendine is the founder of Yornest, a college-centric social media platform allowing students to create close social groups. Michael is originally from Haiti and survived the 2010 earthquake only because he went to the bathroom when the earthquake hit. His story is one of mental toughness, overcoming adversity, and consistency. We discuss Michael’s incredible story, how he got into programming, and his experience with the Louisville startup ecosystem. Download Yornest here Visit us at MiddleTech.com  Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Evan's Twitter Logan's Twitter Middle Tech is proud to be supported by: Our presenting sponsor, KY Innovation Bolt Marketing The Johnson Law Group Render Capital

Nate talks about his own personal experience with working from home, and the dilemma both he and his employer face in making the decision about the future of work. Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Visit us at MiddleTech.com 

Nate, Evan, and Logan discuss the invasion of Ukraine and how technology is shaping and influencing it, as well as AppHarvest’s earnings report that was released yesterday. Watch Middle Tech's Friday Updates LIVE at 8:30am EST on Instagram every week! @MiddleTechPod Today's Friday Update is sponsored by KY Innovation, Bolt Marketing, and Render Capital. Visit us at MiddleTech.com

Justin Delaney, Chris Wiedmar, and Izaak Pratts are taking their love for Kentucky and technology and turning it into an NFT project we can all own and participate in called Party Horses. Leveraging blockchain technology, local artists, and several partnerships with iconic Kentucky brands like Makers Mark, the Party Horses team will sell digital art that unlocks access to exclusive parties, collectible Makers Mark bottles, and much more. Our conversation covers the origin of the project, details about how blockchain and NFT technology works, why Kentucky is uniquely positioned for this type of project, and where the Party Horses team plans to take it into the future. Learn more about Party Horses at PartyHorses.com Visit us at MiddleTech.com  Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Evan's Twitter Logan's Twitter Middle Tech is proud to be supported by: Our presenting sponsor, KY Innovation Bolt Marketing The Johnson Law Group Render Capital

Nate talks about how every company is a tech company, and even small businesses need to utilize tech building blocks in order to create a tech infrastructure that meets customers where they are. Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Visit us at MiddleTech.com 

Logan and Nate cover Google’s ad tracking changes, crypto Super Bowl ads, and regulation in web3. Watch Middle Tech's Friday Updates LIVE at 8:30am EST on Instagram every week! @MiddleTechPod Today's Friday Update is sponsored by KY Innovation, Bolt Marketing, and Render Capital.

Kyle Mohler is the Founder and CEO of Insignum AgTech, a biotechnology company working in the AgTech space to engineer plants that can change their pigment whenever they contract a disease, alerting the farmer so that they can take early action. Our conversation with Kyle focuses on how Insignum’s technology was developed, the benefits that it gives to farmers, the ethics & implications of bio-engineering in general, and Kyle’s experience growing a business in Indiana. Learn more about Insignum at InsignumAgTech.com Visit us at MiddleTech.com  Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Evan's Twitter Logan's Twitter Middle Tech is proud to be supported by: Our presenting sponsor, KY Innovation Bolt Marketing The Johnson Law Group Render Capital

Evan overviews how everything about being an entrepreneur boils down to one key skill: sales. Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Visit us at MiddleTech.com 

Logan, Nate, and Evan discuss Cash App adding the Lightning Network, Disney’s victories in the streaming wars, and Peloton’s recent struggles. Watch Middle Tech's Friday Updates LIVE at 8:30am EST on Instagram every week! @MiddleTechPod Today's Friday Update is sponsored by KY Innovation, Bolt Marketing, and Render Capital.

Ian McClure is the Chair-Elect, AUTM; Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Impact, and Executive Director, UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky (a mouthful, we know). Put simply, Ian leads the University of Kentucky's efforts to commercialize the research and technology that comes out of the university. UK's Office of Technology Commercialization has made great strides since Ian joined and is continuing to address some of this regions biggest needs, from access to venture capital, to support for entrepreneurs looking to leverage university research for their businesses. This episode is co-hosted by Lincoln Day, as Lincoln has gone through the process of commercializing university research for his company, Stalk Commodities. Our conversation covers how UKOTC does what they do, why it's so important for this region, and where Ian hopes to take it into the future. Learn more about UKOTC at Research.uky.edu/ukinnovate Visit us at MiddleTech.com  Twitter Instagram Facebook Linke

Danny, the newest member of the Middle Tech team and an expert motion graphics artist, overviews the benefits of diving deep into specialized careers and industries. Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Visit us at MiddleTech.com 

We cover Meta's market cap drop, Prime pricing increase, Crypto tax compliance, and AI coding. Watch Middle Tech's Friday Updates LIVE at 8:30am EST on Instagram every week! @MiddleTechPod Today's Friday Update is sponsored by KY Innovation, Bolt Marketing, and Render Capital.

Thomas Mella is the Founder & President of Sightline Freight Partners and is based in Chicago. Sightline Freight Partners helps clients get the most out of their real-time transportation visibility platforms, a segment of tech startups that are modernizing the supply chain. Thomas talks to Nate about the history of Chicago, and the Midwest in general, leading in the supply chain, and how that domain knowledge is creating a hub for modern supply chain technology in the city. Learn more about Sightline at SightlineFreight.com Visit us at MiddleTechPod.com  Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Evan's Twitter Logan's Twitter Middle Tech is proud to be supported by: Our presenting sponsor, KY Innovation Bolt Marketing The Johnson Law Group Render Capital

While sitting in the coffee shop at Wegmans (the best grocery store in the world) Nate contemplates how odd it is that the brand has a cult following and what that must mean about its products and focus on customer experience. Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Visit us at MiddleTechPod.com