Katrick Technologies is revolutionizing wind energy with its device designed specifically for urban environments. In this podcast episode, Founder and CTO Karthik Velayutham explains how traditional large wind turbines don't work well in cities due to turbulent wind conditions and the large blades. His solution uses an array of independently oscillating aerofoils contained within an aesthetic, noise-reducing hexagonal duct, to efficiently capture turbulent wind energy. Karthik describes how this technology is complementary to conventional wind farms and solar: able to access wind energy in areas like airports, highways, and buildings that larger turbines cannot. Michael Jacobs from the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, talks about the impact on communities when moving to renewables, and the role of AI in determining patterns of supply and demand. Check out Katrick Technologies' wind panels: <a href="https://www.katricktechnologies.com/wind-technologies" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.katricktechnologies.com/wind-technologies</a> Learn more about how the IBM Sustainability Accelerator helps local communities: <a href="https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator**" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator</a>

Michael Jacobs is the Sustainability and Social Innovation Leader for IBM Corporate Social Responsibility. He is responsible for planning and managing technology-driven social impact efforts spanning IBM business units. Previously, he served as the Superintendent for Capital Projects at MTA New York City Transit and as a Booz Allen Hamilton consultant – both roles in which he focused on technology systems development and deployment for the public sector. Michael holds a dual Master of Public Administration from Columbia University and The London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University. 


Michael Jacobs

Guest Host, IBM Sustainability & Social Innovation Leader

Karthik is a renewable energy engineer and researcher with a proven record of solving complex problems. He is fully committed to the engineering and energy sectors to solve challenging assignments through novel concepts. His experience in technological innovation and talent, combined with a passion for energy and engineering, provide a substantial competitive advantage for future employers. 

Karthik Velayutham

Founder, CTO, Katrick Technologies

Katrick Technologies is revolutionizing wind energy with its device designed specifically for urban environments. In this podcast episode, Founder and CTO Karthik Velayutham explains how traditional large wind turbines don't work well in cities due to turbulent wind conditions, and the large blades. His solution uses an array of independently oscillating aerofoils contained within an aesthetic, noise-reducing hexagonal duct, to efficiently capture turbulent wind energy. 

Harnessing urban wind, with Katrick Technologies’ Karthik Velayutham

In an era defined by technologies like Generative AI, concerns have arisen about technology's potential dominance. Nevertheless, there exists a multitude of individuals harnessing technology for the betterment of society. The Impact-Up podcast aims to illuminate the journeys of startups, visionary business leaders, and tech practitioners who are harnessing technology to foster positive change. We will focus on the popular startup space but offer our own unique slant by drawing unexpected linkages between the worlds of startups and enterprise.

Impact-Up: Entrepreneurs on Tech for Good

In this episode of Impact-Up, Daryl Pereira interviews Fabián Román, a partner and beneficiary of the IBM Sustainability Accelerator. Over the last few years, Fabián has been working through Plan21 to connect smallholder farmers in Latin America to the technologies developed via the IBM Sustainability Accelerator to understand their environmental footprint and optimize resource usage. Through using the simple YvY mobile app and the data it provides, these farmers have learned how to improve their economic and sustainability strategies for more resilient agriculture. Hendrik Hamann from IBM Research also explains the latest in climate science, including the role of artificial intelligence (AI). Tune in to learn more about the collaboration between the IBM Sustainability Accelerator and Plan21. Explore Plan21’s initiatives: <a href="https://plan21.org/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://plan21.org/en/</a>Learn more about how the IBM Sustainability Accelerator is helping local communities: <a href="https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator</a>

Dr. Hendrik F. Hamann is the Chief Science Officer for Climate and Sustainability and a Distinguished Research Staff Member at IBM Research. He received his PhD from the University of Göttingen in Germany. In 1999 he joined the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center. Hendrik’s interests include sensor-based modeling, machine-learning, artificial intelligence, big data technologies and geospatial analytics. Hendrik has more than 170 peer-reviewed scientific papers and holds over 200 patents. Hendrik is serving on governmental committees such as the National Academy of Sciences, the National Science Foundation and as an industrial advisor to Universities. He won several awards including the 2016 AIP Prize for Industrial Applications of Physics. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), a senior member of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and a member of the Optical Society of America (OSA) and the New York Academy of Sciences. He is also a Visiting Professor at Yamagata University and a board member of Veridaas Corporation.

Hendrik Hamann

Guest Host, Chief Science Officer for Climate and Sustainability, IBM Research

Restless traveler, writer, speaker, and international consultant, with a passion for biological and cultural diversity. I have been working for many years on promoting the paradigm of Sustainable Human Development in Latin America, for the expansion of individual capacities and opportunities in more equitable and supportive societies.

Fabián Román

Founder, CEO, Plan21

How climate data is helping smallholder farmers make better decisions, with Plan21's Fabián Román

In this episode of Impact-Up, host Daryl Pereira welcomes Nick Zennaro, founder of The Connected Shop. From smart home to smart agriculture, The Connected Shop creates technology that can help users save time, money, and energy. Joined by Michael Jacobs, leader of Sustainability and Social Innovation for IBM, this conversation touches on how collecting the right data can help everyone from vulnerable communities to larger real estate companies. Learn more about how Nick turned his valuable business idea into a sustainability driver through developing meaningful technologies that change peoples lives. Explore The Connected Shop, take a look at their website: <a href="https://theconnectedshop.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://theconnectedshop.com/</a> Learn more about how the IBM Sustainability Accelerator is helping local communities: <a href="https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator</a>

Michael Jacobs is the Sustainability and Social Innovation Leader for IBM Corporate Social Responsibility. He is responsible for planning and managing technology-driven social impact efforts spanning IBM business units. Previously, he served as the Superintendent for Capital Projects at MTA New York City Transit and as a Booz Allen Hamilton consultant – both roles in which he focused on technology systems development and deployment for the public sector. Michael holds a dual Master of Public Administration from Columbia University and The London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University. 
Michael lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with his wife Abby and son Tommy. Their shared love for the outdoors and active pursuits in it drive Michael’s passion for protecting the natural world. 


Nick Zennaro is a serial tech and e-commerce entrepreneur with an international background. His journey began with startups while studying at Marseille-Kedge and Shanghai-Tongji business schools in France and China. He later ventured into internet and fitness mobile apps in Paris, and Miami. Nick has consistently been at the forefront of advocating for new tech and innovative products and services. With extensive real estate experience on the French Riviera and in Miami Beach, founding The Connected Shop in Miami, Florida, in early 2021 was a natural next step. The Connected Shop specializes in selling meaningful smart technologies for homes and offices in the US, helping spread the benefits of connected objects across America.

Nick Zennaro

Founder, The Connected Shop

In this episode of Impact-Up, host Daryl Pereira welcomes Nick Zennaro, founder of The Connected Shop. From smart home to smart agriculture, The Connected Shop creates technology that can help users save time, money, and energy. Joined by Michael Jacobs, leader of Sustainability and Social Innovation for IBM, this conversation touches on how data can help everyone from vulnerable communities to larger real estate companies. Learn more about how Nick turned his valuable business idea into a sustainability driver through developing meaningful technologies that change peoples lives. 



Sensors and sustainability with Nick Zennaro from The Connected Shop

In this episode of Impact-Up, host Daryl Pereira welcomes Bryan Knouse, developer and entrepreneur behind Project OWL. What started as a disaster relief solution has turned into a sustainable technology business that helps communities across the world understand climate change and adapt. Joined by Suzanne Livingston, VP of Engineering at IBM's Sustainability Software, this conversation explores how technology can help communities become more resilient in the face of the impacts of climate change. Learn more about Bryan’s journey from becoming a serial hackathon participant to a full-fledged entrepreneur through his love for competition and creative problem solving. In this episode we continue to explore the perspective of sustainability as the foundation of a business and how it allowed Project OWL to adapt to use cases outside the typical “sustainability” market. Join us for an intriguing conversation about technology, artificial intelligence, creative problem solving, and sustainable practices shaping the future of our environmental solutions and more! Key takeaways: <ul><li>Project OWL originally started as a disaster-resilient communication network using solar-powered devices to help disaster response</li><li>They have expanded their offering to include sensor networks and climate/emissions monitoring</li><li>They use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to identify climate change patterns and help organizations with climate adaptation</li></ul> To explore Project OWL, take a look at their website: <a href="https://www.project-owl.com/ " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.project-owl.com/ </a> Learn more about IBM solutions for climate adaptation: <a href="https://www.ibm.com/products/environmental-intelligence-suite" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ibm.com/products/environmental-intelligence-suite</a>

Suzanne is a product development executive focused on improving sustainability, transparency and culture through data and insight. As a Vice President in IBM’s Sustainability Software business unit, Suzanne leads a large, global team of software engineers building next generation sustainability, asset management & supply chain technologies using AI & IoT.

Suzanne Livingston

Guest Host, Vice President, IBM Sustainability Software

As Co-Founder and CEO of Project OWL, I have a deep respect for design and engineering, and have built award-winning software and hardware technologies alongside teams from around the world.

Bryan Knouse

Founder, OWL Integrations

In this episode of Impact-Up, host Daryl Pereira welcomes Bryan Knouse, developer and entrepreneur behind Project OWL. What started as a disaster relief solution, developed during IBM’s Call for Code hackathon, has turned into a sustainable technology business that helps communities across the world with a variety of solutions. Joined by Suzanne Livingston, VP of Engineering at IBM's Sustainability Software, this conversation explores how resilient technology can not only support communities during disasters but also day-to-day tasks.


Using data & AI for climate adaptation with Project OWL's Bryan Knouse

In this episode of Impact-Up, host Daryl Pereira welcomes Robyn and Logan, the visionary entrepreneurs behind Bae Boats, an electric boat rental business in Alameda, CA. Joined by Suzanne Livingston, VP of Engineering at IBM's Sustainability Software, this insightful conversation delves into the world of sustainable entrepreneurship and the journey of Bay Boats from a pandemic-born idea to a thriving reality. Gain valuable insights into the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned, including the importance of patience and continuous learning in entrepreneurship. In this episode we explore the perspective of how sustainable solutions can be a key factor in business models through solving consumer problems, rather than being used as a sales tactic. Join us for an inspiring conversation that showcases the power of innovative technology, resilience, and sustainable practices in shaping the future of boating and beyond.Learn more about BAE Boats on their website: <a href="https://www.baeboats.com/ " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.baeboats.com/ </a>

Robyn's professional journey began in education, where she taught first and fourth grades in Berkeley and Oakland. After the arrival of her two older children, she redirected her focus to serving on several nonprofit boards. Robyn co-founded BAE  Boats with a vision to foster a strong sense of community in Oakland, Alameda, and beyond. When she is not pouring her creative energies into growing BAE Boats, you can find her adventuring with her husband and their three children. 

Robyn Taylor

Co-Founder, BAE Boats

Logan co-founded BAE Boats in 2021. We are a mission-driven boat rental company that believes everyone should experience the joy and relaxation of cruising in our emissions-free electric boats. Prior to starting BAE Boats, Logan spent two decades working in the financial services industry. He graduated with a BS and MS in Earth Systems from Stanford University. A proud father and devoted husband, you will find him chasing his three children and coaching youth sports when he is not at BAE Boats. 

Logan Taylor

In this episode of Impact-Up, host Daryl Pereira welcomes Robyn and Logan, the visionary entrepreneurs behind BAE Boats, an electric boat rental business in Alameda, CA. Joined by Suzanne Livingston, VP of Engineering at IBM's Sustainability Software, this insightful conversation delves into the world of sustainable entrepreneurship and the journey of Bay Boats from a pandemic-born idea to a thriving reality.


Recent Episodes

SEASON 1

How climate data is helping smallholder farmers make better decisions, with Plan21's Fabián Román

Sensors and sustainability with Nick Zennaro from The Connected Shop

Using data & AI for climate adaptation with Project OWL's Bryan Knouse

Navigating the path between business and sustainability with BAE Boats

About The Show

Impact-Up: Entrepreneurs on Tech for Good

Daryl Pereira

Senior Content Strategist, IBM