DevReady Podcast

Aerion Technologies

We started the DevReady podcast to help non-techs build better technology. We have been exposed to so many non-techs that describe the struggle, uncertainty and challenges that can come with building technology.

The objective for the DevReady podcast to share these stories and give you the tools and insights so that you to can deliver on your vision and outcomes.

You will learn from non-tech founders that have invested their time and money into developing technology. We will discuss what worked, what didn’t and how they still managed to deliver real value to their users. These stories are inspirational – demonstrating the determination, commitment and resolve it really takes to deliver technology.

Throughout the DevReady Podcast we also invite subject matter experts to the conversation to give you proven strategies and techniques to successfully take your idea through to delivery and beyond.

Enjoy the Podcast, it will challenge you, inspire you and provide the tools you will need ...

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#334
Tuesday · 45 min
Glowing Plants and Bioluminescence: The Future of Nature-Inspired Innovation | Ep 339 | DevReady Podcast
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, welcomes Germain Briand, Founder and CEO of BioDotDotDot and CEO of Glowee, to explore nature-inspired innovation, bioluminescence, sustainable urban design and the realities of entrepreneurship. From glowing plants and living lights to innovative urban greening solutions, Germain shares how nature-inspired technologies are creating new possibilities for public spaces, events and urban environments. Drawing on his unconventional journey from selling petroleum equipment to introducing European environmental innovations to Australia, he discusses the challenges of building a business around emerging technologies, the psychology of B2B sales and his vision for reconnecting people with nature. Germain's entrepreneurial journey began with an unexpected discovery during his 11 years working in petroleum equipment sales, where he developed a passion for B2B sales, marketing and building meaningful business relationships. Inspired by his love of nature and the concept of biophilia, the innate human connection to the natural world, he recognised an opportunity to introduce innovative European solutions to Australian cities. His first venture involved Urban Canopy, which uses plant-covered structures to bring greenery into spaces where conventional trees cannot grow. This eventually evolved into BioDotDotDot, a business dedicated to transforming urban environments through nature-inspired innovation. However, launching in January 2020, without an established network, previous entrepreneurial experience or an existing market for his products, presented significant challenges that tested his resilience and determination. The conversation explores the fascinating science behind phosphorescence, fluorescence and bioluminescence, three technologies that create extraordinary lighting experiences inspired by nature. Germain explains how phosphorescent materials absorb and release light to illuminate pathways, improve nighttime wayfinding and support safety applications, while fluorescence allows plants and flowers to glow under ultraviolet light, creating immersive, Avatar-inspired environments. He also introduces bioluminescence, where living organisms such as bacteria naturally produce light through biochemical reactions. Through Glowee and other innovative technologies, these applications offer exciting possibilities for urban lighting, public installations, corporate events, hospitality and wellness spaces, demonstrating how nature can inspire new approaches to design and human experiences. Beyond the technology, Germain and Andrew examine the commercial realities of bringing groundbreaking innovations to market, particularly when customers have limited awareness of what is possible. Germain explains how selling unfamiliar technologies requires patience, customer education, empathy and a deep understanding of organisational decision-making. His experience highlights a crucial challenge in B2B sales: helping enthusiastic customers communicate the value of innovation to internal stakeholders, navigate budget constraints and secure approval. The discussion also explores product-market fit, long sales cycles and the importance of understanding customer psychology when introducing solutions that challenge conventional expectations. Reflecting on the entrepreneurial journey, Germain speaks candidly about financial uncertainty, moments of self-doubt and the determination required to persevere through difficult periods. Andrew shares his own experiences of navigating business challenges, developing leadership skills and learning to manage the emotional demands of entrepreneurship through mindfulness, meditation and greater self-awareness. Together, they explore how business growth demands personal growth, particularly as founders move beyond familiar responsibilities, adapt to new leadership challenges and learn to separate their personal identity from business performance. Germain also raises thought-provoking questions about artificial intelligence and whether relying too heavily on technology to overcome challenges could diminish the confidence, resilience and personal satisfaction gained through independent thinking and perseverance. At the heart of Germain's vision is a belief that sustainability and environmental change are deeply connected to human emotion. Viewing business as a vehicle for positive environmental impact, he argues that lasting behavioural change begins when people develop a meaningful emotional connection with the natural world. Through awe, wonder and immersive experiences, BioDotDotDot aims to inspire that connection by bringing nature's beauty into cities and shared spaces. Germain hopes that nature-inspired innovation can help communities rediscover their relationship with the environment, encourage greater appreciation for biodiversity and contribute to a more sustainable future for generations to come. #DevReadyPodcast #NatureInspiredInnovation #Bioluminescence #TechnologyInnovation #AerionTechnologies
#333
November 3 · 42 min
Business Exit Strategy: How SaaS Founders Can Increase Business Valuation | Ep 338 | DevReady Podcast
How do you build a SaaS business that buyers are willing to pay more for? In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, speaks with David Francis, Managing Director of Business Point, about business exit strategies, SaaS valuations and creating long-term enterprise value. Having held leadership roles in publicly listed and private equity-backed software companies, been acquired four times and managed acquisitions himself, David brings firsthand experience to the challenges of buying, selling and growing technology businesses. He shares why B2B SaaS founders should begin preparing for an exit well before approaching potential buyers and how reducing business risk, improving financial visibility and strengthening operations can lead to better acquisition outcomes. David explains Business Point's three-stage approach to exit readiness, beginning with a four-week value audit to assess a company's current valuation, identify risks and uncover opportunities for improvement. This leads into value creation, starting with a 90-day sprint focused on operational changes that can increase enterprise value, followed by value realisation through the eventual sale process. For SaaS founders generating between $2 million and $20 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), particularly those considering an exit or capital raise within the next one to three years, early preparation provides time to address the issues that could affect buyer confidence. David also highlights how founder dependency can significantly influence business valuations, with buyers placing greater value on companies that have strong management teams, documented processes and the ability to operate effectively without their founders. The conversation explores the financial and operational metrics that influence SaaS business valuations, including ARR, gross revenue retention (GRR), net revenue retention (NRR), EBITDA, customer acquisition costs and churn rates. David explains how buyers assess the predictability of future earnings and factor operational risks into their offers, potentially through lower valuation multiples, earn-outs or extended founder transition periods. Andrew and David discuss the importance of maintaining buyer-ready financial records, reducing customer concentration and investing in proactive customer success strategies to improve retention. They also examine how a business can be highly profitable yet carry risks that make it less attractive to potential acquirers, reinforcing the importance of understanding what drives enterprise value from a buyer's perspective. As artificial intelligence transforms the software industry, Andrew and David examine the growing uncertainty surrounding SaaS valuations and traditional subscription pricing models. The rise of agentic AI, usage-based pricing and AI-powered software development is challenging established assumptions about predictable recurring revenue and long-term software demand. They discuss why buyers are placing greater scrutiny on revenue sustainability, growth potential and the ability of SaaS businesses to adapt to technological change. The conversation also addresses the commercial risks of rapidly developing AI-generated applications, particularly when security, compliance, maintenance and product reliability are overlooked. David and Andrew emphasise that bringing a software product to market requires more than an impressive demonstration, with the final stages of development often determining whether customers are willing to pay for it. Throughout the discussion, David reinforces the importance of treating exit readiness as an ongoing business discipline, ideally beginning around two years before a planned sale. By reducing founder dependency, strengthening financial reporting, improving customer retention and addressing operational risks early, founders can create businesses that are more resilient, attractive to buyers and rewarding to operate. Drawing on his experience as an acquirer, an acquired executive and an advisor, David explains how Business Point supports founders through value creation, the sale transaction and post-acquisition integration. For SaaS founders, CEOs and investors looking to understand what drives business value in a changing market, this episode offers practical guidance on preparing for a successful exit while building a stronger business today. #SaaS #BusinessExitStrategy #SaaSValuation #MergersAndAcquisitions #EnterpriseValue
#332
October 27 · 34 min
AI Adoption for Business: Why Most Companies Get It Wrong | Ep 337 | DevReady Podcast
How can businesses successfully adopt AI and turn emerging technology into measurable productivity gains? In this episode of the DevReady PodcastAnthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, welcomes Thamasha (Tam) Galahena, Founder of Enable, to explore practical AI adoption for businesses. Drawing on his experience in software engineering, startups and AI enablement, Tam shares how organisations can bridge the gap between rapidly advancing AI capabilities and everyday business applications. Together, they discuss AI tools, automation, employee training and the importance of aligning technology with real business needs. Tam reflects on his journey from startup CTO to founding Enable, inspired by the significant productivity gains he experienced using AI coding tools and the limited adoption he observed among other professionals. He explains how businesses can unlock considerable value by mastering readily available AI tools before exploring complex AI agents and automation workflows. Anthony and Tam discuss the importance of selecting suitable AI models for specific tasks, managing costs and understanding where advanced capabilities genuinely add value. They also explore emerging opportunities in AI-powered computer and browser automation, particularly for organisations working with legacy systems, and consider how increasingly autonomous AI agents could handle complex business activities with less human intervention. The conversation explores how structured planning, effective prompting and reusable AI skills can improve productivity and reduce repetitive administrative work. Anthony shares his approach to breaking complex projects into smaller, clearly defined stages, allowing for continuous review and refinement. Tam illustrates the potential of AI skills through a construction industry example, where field notes can be transformed into structured reports in a fraction of the time traditionally required. Both emphasise the importance of providing detailed context, defining expected outputs and implementing safeguards to minimise AI hallucinations. Tam also shares a practical prompting technique: asking AI to interview users, identify missing information and clarify requirements before attempting a task. Turning to AI implementation across organisations, Tam explains how Enable combines technical expertise with industry knowledge to identify practical automation opportunities. Through a network of departmental AI champions, businesses can uncover valuable use cases across functions such as HR, finance, project delivery and operations. Anthony connects this approach to the role of forward-deployed engineers, who work closely with businesses to understand existing workflows and develop solutions around operational requirements. They also discuss testing AI capabilities against previously completed tasks, using clear evaluation criteria to measure accuracy, completeness and reliability. This collaborative approach helps organisations assess where AI can deliver meaningful improvements and where human expertise remains essential. As the discussion draws to a close, Anthony and Tam highlight why business process improvement and change management are fundamental to successful AI adoption. Mapping existing workflows can reveal outdated procedures, unnecessary tasks and inefficiencies that should be addressed before introducing automation. Tam encourages businesses to invest in secure, business-grade AI tools, provide employees with practical training and ensure leadership teams actively participate in learning how AI works. Both agree that experimenting with AI in everyday activities can help people discover new possibilities and develop the confidence to apply those skills professionally. Their conversation offers business leaders a practical starting point for building AI capabilities, improving operational efficiency and making informed technology investments. #DevReadyPodcast #AIAdoption #BusinessAutomation #ArtificialIntelligence #AerionTechnologies
#331
October 20 · 37 min
How a Fractional CTO Helps Founders Take Control of Technology | Ep 336 | DevReady Podcast
Iain White, tech consultant and founder of White Internet, joins Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, on the DevReady Podcast to discuss technology leadership for founders and business owners. With more than 35 years of experience, Iain helps leaders understand what their software teams are building, what it will cost and where delivery risks lie. He explains how independent fractional CTO advice can give businesses clearer direction when projects run late, costs rise or they lack senior technology leadership. Iain describes how that support can fit a startup’s needs and budget, from a short monthly conversation to ongoing guidance for its development team. He helps founders review progress against business requirements, ask better questions and compare ways to deliver an outcome. Andrew and Iain also discuss the value of showing a product to customers early, so their feedback can inform the next investment. Customer requests and new feature ideas can make it difficult to stay focused. Iain encourages founders to weigh the cost, timeline and likely business value of each decision, particularly when a request would require significant custom work. He and Andrew consider what an MVP needs to achieve, how it might grow with the business and when strengthening an existing product could be more valuable than adding another feature. The discussion turns to the control founders have over their technology. Iain explains how he reviews a project’s delivery, team practices and risks, including reliance on a single developer or agency. Both guests emphasise the need for business owners to have direct access to their source code, repositories and infrastructure. That visibility helps leaders understand their options and respond when a working relationship or project changes. Finally, Iain and Andrew explore communication between business leaders and developers. Clear requirements, recorded decisions and room for developers to question a request can prevent avoidable delays and misunderstandings. Iain’s people-first approach centres on helping teams work to their strengths, while giving founders a clearer view of progress, trade-offs and the decisions ahead. #DevReadyPodcast #FractionalCTO #NonTechnicalFounder #TechnologyLeadership #StartupAdvice
#330
October 14 · 30 min
Ethical Hacking: Finding Security Gaps Before Attackers Do | Ep 335 | DevReady Podcast
How can ethical hacking help businesses uncover security gaps before attackers exploit them? In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Victor Hanna, Director & Chief Hacking Officer of Exploit Security, joins Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, to explore penetration testing and the value of ongoing security expertise. Their conversation covers connected devices, physical security, ageing infrastructure and the risks emerging from AI-assisted software development. For technology leaders and organisations seeking specialist support, Victor explains how an attacker’s perspective can help teams understand their exposure and strengthen their defences. Curiosity has shaped Victor’s journey from IT support, systems administration and networking into ethical hacking and business ownership. He introduces Exploit Security as a boutique offensive security consultancy with particular strengths in IoT and hardware hacking, alongside web application and physical security testing. Reflecting on his decision to establish the business, Victor describes the challenge of applying his experience independently and building relationships with clients and partners across Australia. That curiosity continues to inform his approach to investigating systems, questioning assumptions and uncovering overlooked weaknesses. Victor explains how ethical hackers use the techniques of malicious attackers during authorised assessments to identify ways an organisation could be compromised. A phishing link or stolen credentials can provide an initial foothold, while social engineering and physical access can create further opportunities. Through examples involving impersonated IT personnel, malicious USB devices and modified charging cables, he illustrates why security assessments need to consider people, processes and technology together. Anthony and Victor also discuss the consequences of a breach for revenue, reputation and customer trust, reinforcing the value of layered protection. The conversation extends to operational technology and legacy environments, where outdated firmware, unsupported systems and overlooked maintenance can leave vulnerabilities unresolved. Victor advocates involving security specialists early and maintaining visibility across the systems an organisation depends on. AI adds another dimension to that challenge: drawing on discussions he attended at DEF CON, he reflects on an account of AI agents coordinating and exploiting weaknesses in a testing environment. The discussion explores oversight of agent behaviour, zero-day vulnerabilities and responsible disclosure, including the importance of giving vendors time to address security findings. As AI-generated software and vibe coding become more common, Victor highlights the risks of overlooking authentication, permissions and data protection during development. He describes how Exploit Security works closely with clients to assess weaknesses, prioritise relevant Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) and understand how vulnerabilities could combine into an attack. This ongoing advisory approach supports teams as their software and security needs evolve. Penetration testing then helps validate protective measures and identify weaknesses that still require attention. For organisations without an internal security team, Victor outlines an on-demand model that provides specialist expertise during the periods it is needed. His focus is on developing a trusted partnership, helping clients make informed security decisions throughout development and beyond. The episode offers a practical perspective on how ethical hacking, targeted assessments and ongoing collaboration can support stronger business defences. #ExploitSecurity #StayCurious #OffensiveSecurity #IoTSecurity #PenetrationTesting
#330
October 13 · 29 min
What Every Business Should Know Before Adopting AI and New Software | Ep 334 | DevReady Podcast
Errol Schmidt, Founder of eSquareNews and a fractional CTO, joins Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, on the DevReady Podcast to explore what strong technology leadership looks like for small and medium businesses. Drawing on decades of experience across programming, consulting and technology strategy, Errol explains why many organisations struggle to find CTOs who can balance technical expertise, commercial awareness and effective leadership. The conversation covers fractional CTO services, software maintenance, AI adoption, SaaS sprawl, technology pilots and the growing demand for specialised software built around real business needs. A major theme of the episode is the gap between technical knowledge and management capability. Some CTOs understand strategy and communicate well with boards but lack deep technical insight, while others come from development backgrounds and remain highly technical without gaining the leadership skills required to guide teams and business decisions. Anthony and Errol discuss why modern CTOs need to understand both sides, while also staying close enough to evolving tools, technology stacks and development practices to make informed decisions. They also examine the ongoing work required to keep software reliable, secure and scalable. Businesses often focus heavily on adding new features while overlooking maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, security patches, software dependencies and operating system changes. For non-technical founders, these responsibilities can be easy to underestimate, particularly as AI-assisted development makes it faster to create software without necessarily understanding the long-term technical requirements. Errol explains why a fractional CTO can provide experienced technology leadership without the cost of hiring a full-time executive. The discussion then moves into software selection, SaaS sprawl and AI adoption. Businesses can accumulate unused licences, overlapping platforms and poorly adopted systems over time, often without clear ownership or proper training. Errol argues that technology decisions should begin with the business problem, the people involved, the existing processes and the quality of the underlying data. AI can provide significant value, but only when it supports a clearly defined objective and sits within systems and processes that are already understood. Anthony and Errol also discuss the importance of testing technology before committing significant time and money. Rather than relying on polished vendor demonstrations, businesses should run structured pilots using real data, clear success criteria and direct feedback from the people who will use the system. A decision to stop after a pilot can still represent a valuable outcome because it prevents organisations from investing further in technology that does not suit their needs. Looking ahead, Errol expects businesses to increasingly adopt specialised software designed around their own workflows, with faster development making targeted custom solutions more accessible than ever. #DevReadyPodcast #AIAdoption #TechnologyStrategy #FractionalCTO #SoftwareDevelopment #BusinessTechnology #DigitalTransformation #SaaS
#329
October 7 · 31 min
What Every Non-Technical Founder Should Know Before Building an App | Ep 333 | DevReady Podcast
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, speaks with Jay Mon, Founder of City Swapp, Product Design Lead at Exceed Business Intelligence, and Founder and Lead Designer at Innomad Digital Solutions. Jay shares how her journey from broadcast media into product design and startup building was shaped by solving real-world problems, navigating the challenges of software development and learning how to build digital products more strategically. From launching her first travel-focused startup to developing City Swapp for remote workers, she reflects on the technical, financial and product lessons that changed the way she approaches startups, MVPs, marketplace growth and product validation. Jay’s first startup began with a simple problem she noticed while hosting on Airbnb. A guest needed somewhere to leave their luggage after checkout, and Jay saw an opportunity to connect travellers with nearby convenience stores that had unused storage space. The idea evolved into a digital product, but with no technical background, Jay and her co-founder found themselves navigating outsourced development teams, rising costs, delays and difficult technical decisions. The experience showed her how important it is for founders to understand enough about technology to ask the right questions, assess advice and stay involved in the development process. The startup eventually reached beta testing, but COVID disrupted the travel market and forced the project to pause. During that time, the technology became outdated, maintenance stopped and the cost of rebuilding became difficult to justify. Jay and Anthony discuss how this highlighted a broader lesson for founders: software requires ongoing investment in infrastructure, updates, documentation, maintenance and technical planning. They also explore how poorly structured code and short-term development decisions can create expensive rescue projects later, particularly when an MVP is built without considering the longer-term product vision. Those experiences directly influenced the way Jay approached City Swapp, a house-swapping and subleasing platform designed for remote workers. This time, she chose a leaner web-based model, worked with an experienced full-stack developer and selected cloud services that could scale alongside usage. Her product design experience also gave her greater ownership over the user experience, interface and technical conversations. Jay explains how staying close to the engineering process, retaining access to repositories and logins, and asking better questions helped her build with more control and fewer unnecessary costs. City Swapp also taught Jay a different set of lessons about marketplace businesses. She initially launched the platform with a subscription model, but quickly discovered the familiar marketplace challenge of balancing supply and demand. With too few listings, users had little reason to pay, prompting her to rethink monetisation and focus first on growing supply, validating demand and learning from real users. She reflects on how founder conviction can sometimes become rigidity, and why listening to feedback, validating earlier and building smaller can help founders make better product decisions. Looking ahead, Jay is repositioning City Swapp around free listings and user growth, supported by a manual KYC and verification process designed to create a safer subleasing experience for remote workers. The immediate priority is to build a strong supply of listings, grow the community and gather meaningful feedback before introducing monetisation. Throughout the conversation, Jay’s experience reinforces a practical message for startup founders: understand the problem deeply, stay flexible about the solution, plan beyond the MVP and treat every stage of product development as an opportunity to learn. #DevReadyPodcast #StartupFounder #NonTechnicalFounder #AppDevelopment #ProductDevelopment #MVP #SoftwareDevelopment #StartupLessons #TechFounders
#328
October 7 · 1 hr
Venture Capital, AI and the Future of Australian Startups | Ep 332 | DevReady Podcast
Jordan Green, Chairman of the Pearcey Foundation and Chairman of Angels Australia, joins Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, on the DevReady Podcast to explore venture capital, startup growth, AI, innovation and the future of Australia’s technology ecosystem. Drawing on decades of experience as an entrepreneur, investor and technology leader, Jordan shares lessons from building companies in Australia and Silicon Valley, co-founding one of Australia’s early successful venture capital funds and supporting founders through angel investment. The conversation covers what makes early-stage investment work, why founder capability matters as companies scale, and how Australia can strengthen its position in technology, commercialisation and AI. Jordan reflects on the realities of venture capital and why fund size can have a significant impact on performance. He explains how smaller funds can often provide more focused support to early-stage startups, while larger portfolios make it increasingly difficult for experienced investors to remain closely involved with every company. Using investors such as Ron Conway as an example, Jordan discusses the value of combining financial capital with intellectual capital, strategic guidance and a support structure that helps identify where senior investor attention is needed most. The discussion also challenges the assumption that venture capital is the only pathway to startup growth, highlighting the role of angel investors, bootstrapping and proven commercial traction. The conversation then turns to the founder journey and the challenge of scaling beyond an individual’s own strengths. Jordan explains why founders eventually need to hire both complementary skills and people who can expand the capabilities they originally brought to the company. This becomes particularly important for technical founders who may have strong coding skills but limited experience in leadership, architecture, testing or quality assurance. Jordan and Andrew connect this to the rise of vibe coding and AI-assisted software development, discussing how generative AI can accelerate development while also creating risks around security, architecture, scalability and code quality when there is insufficient technical oversight. Jordan also explores the broader impact of generative AI on innovation and research. As AI makes software and content creation easier, he warns that increased output can also create more noise, making quality harder to identify. In research, Jordan argues that AI systems can steer people towards familiar patterns because they are built to predict likely outputs from existing data, potentially narrowing the scope of genuinely exploratory work. The discussion reinforces the importance of human judgement, curiosity and specialist expertise in areas where innovation depends on moving beyond established patterns. A major part of the episode focuses on Australia’s startup ecosystem, technology heritage and long-term economic growth. Jordan discusses the importance of employee equity, angel investment, research commercialisation and policy settings that encourage founders and investors to keep building in Australia. He also reflects on Australia’s long history of technology innovation, from early digital computing and digital music to Wi-Fi, Blackmagic Design and other globally significant achievements, while explaining how the Pearcey Foundation works to preserve and promote that legacy. Looking ahead, Jordan argues that Australia already has the talent, research capability and entrepreneurial strength required to succeed in areas such as AI and advanced technology, with future growth depending on better collaboration between government, universities, investors, founders and the wider business community. #DevReadyPodcast #JordanGreen #AustralianStartups #VentureCapital #AngelInvesting #ArtificialIntelligence #AustralianTech #StartupFunding #TechInnovation
#327
September 30 · 42 min
How AI Is Changing Software Development: Courtney Smith on What Comes Next | Ep 331|DevReady Podcast
How is AI changing the way businesses plan, build and use software? In this episode of the the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, speaks with Courtney Smith, CEO of Strategy & Innovation at Kynection, founder of the Firefly Initiative and director of Quallogi. Drawing on more than 25 years in technology, Courtney shares lessons from building GPS hardware, mobile applications and enterprise software. Together, they explore rapid prototyping, AI adoption and the decisions businesses face as technology moves faster. Courtney explains how Kynection helps businesses in civil construction, mining and transport manage complex operations and costly assets. His experience has shown that a successful software rollout needs an engaged champion within the client’s organisation, regular stakeholder feedback and an agreed definition of success. Delivering a useful result early gives teams something concrete to assess and helps maintain momentum as the solution develops. As AI speeds up software development, Andrew and Courtney discuss the work required to keep outcomes reliable. Human testing and user feedback remain central to understanding whether a system solves the right problem. Courtney describes how Kynection balances experimentation with stable deployment and builds AI capability across its team. Andrew shares Aerion Technologies’ experience of reviewing and validating a growing volume of AI-assisted code, alongside the value of sharing lessons between colleagues. The conversation turns to clickable prototypes and their role in software planning. Courtney explains that written requirements can leave room for different interpretations, which may only become clear when a client sees the first version of a product. Rapid prototypes allow teams to show an interface sooner, walk stakeholders through it and uncover feedback while there is still time to shape the design. Capturing the underlying business requirements remains essential. Courtney also describes how AI has changed technical hiring at Kynection, where candidates may be asked to demonstrate their development process using AI tools. From there, he and Andrew consider where businesses should keep their data and intellectual property as they adopt AI. They discuss the potential for smaller models to handle routine processes, such as invoice processing, and for local AI tools to give organisations more control over their information. Looking further ahead, Courtney shares experiments ranging from studying workplace interruptions to exploring robots for construction site safety checks. He encourages business owners to preserve operational knowledge and make time to explore practical uses for emerging technology. Andrew and Courtney also consider how autonomous vehicles could affect mobility and car ownership, and how AI might help people connect ideas across different fields. #DevReadyPodcast #AI #SoftwareDevelopment #RapidPrototyping #BusinessTechnology
#326
September 29 · 42 min
Is Your Business Underinsured? Daniel Fogarty on Data, Risk and AI | Ep 330 | DevReady Podcast
Daniel Fogarty, CEO and Founder of Evari, joins Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, on the DevReady Podcast to discuss how AI is changing insurance and financial services. Drawing on his experience leading Zurich Insurance in Australia and New Zealand, Daniel shares why underinsurance remains a problem for growing businesses, how Evari moved from insurance distribution into technology, and where AI assistants can help financial services professionals spend more time with customers. The conversation also explores AI orchestration, data sovereignty and the importance of human advice. Daniel recalls a small business affected by the 2011 Brisbane floods. Its policy listed $500,000 in stock, while an assessor found that at least $1.6 million worth had been destroyed. The claim was ultimately paid in full, but the experience exposed how easily insurance cover can fall behind a business’s changing circumstances. It prompted Daniel and his co-founders to explore how cloud accounting data could help businesses and insurers work with more accurate information. Their first product worked technically, yet customers were understandably hesitant to share sensitive financial data with a provider they did not know. That experience helped shape Evari’s move towards providing technology for insurers and underwriting agencies. Daniel discusses QuivaWorks, an AI assistant platform used to support tasks such as document processing, administration and compliance. Across insurance, financial advice, mortgage broking and accounting, he sees an opportunity to reduce time spent on routine work. Both Daniel and Anthony emphasise the value of keeping people involved in decisions, particularly when customers need advice they can understand and trust. As businesses adopt more AI agents, Daniel expects token costs and energy use to make AI orchestration a pressing concern. He and Anthony discuss using programmed steps for predictable workflows and directing tasks that require interpretation to suitable AI models. Effective orchestration also means checking outputs and deciding when a person should review the result. Their discussion extends to AI sovereignty, including how Australian businesses can retain control over private data and make informed choices about the models and infrastructure they use. The episode closes with a broader question: how can people make useful choices amid constant technological change? Anthony describes his drive to explore new tools, while Daniel focuses on using technology to help Australians manage their financial lives. They recognise that busy professionals need practical solutions tested for their industries, supported by partnerships and reliable connections between systems. For Daniel, that collaboration could improve customer outcomes at home and help Australian technology businesses take their work overseas. #DevReadyPodcast #DanielFogarty #Evari #Insurtech #BusinessInsurance #AIInInsurance
#325
September 23 · 40 min
Psychological Safety at Work: How Great Leaders Build Trust | Ep 329 | DevReady Podcast
How can leaders build trust, strengthen workplace culture and preserve human connection in a technology-driven world? In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, speaks with Joel Hines, Human Experience Designer at Being Human, speaker, storyteller, facilitator, trainer and author. Joel shares practical insights into human-centred leadership, psychological safety, storytelling and constructive workplace feedback. Drawing on a career spanning mental health, education, technology and organisational development, he explains how leaders can create environments where people feel safe to contribute, collaborate and perform at their best. Joel’s unconventional career began in acute mental health and occupational therapy before moving through fitness training, IT, software development and primary school leadership. Each experience strengthened his understanding of how people connect, communicate and respond to different environments. His five years as a primary school principal also taught him how to manage the needs of students, parents, teachers, communities, boards and funders. These lessons eventually shaped Being Human and Joel’s work helping organisations address cultural challenges, disengagement, conflict and stalled growth. Storytelling and play sit at the heart of Joel’s facilitation approach. He explains that workshop participants quickly want to understand who the facilitator is, whether they can trust them and what they will gain from the session. Purposeful games, shared experiences and personal stories can lower barriers, spark curiosity and prepare groups for more honest conversations. Joel also recommends introducing light, engaging questions into staff meetings and stand-ups to help colleagues understand each other beyond their job titles, while leaders can strengthen trust by sharing their own experiences and modelling the openness they expect from others. The conversation also explores self-awareness, vulnerable leadership and the role of AI in modern workplaces. Joel encourages leaders to recognise their strengths and blind spots, admit when they do not have an answer and invite their teams to contribute by asking, “What do you think?” Andrew and Joel discuss how AI can reinforce existing assumptions or return generic, agreeable responses without thoughtful prompting. Human creativity, healthy debate and collaborative problem-solving remain essential, with AI serving as a tool for testing ideas, challenging assumptions and exploring alternative perspectives. Joel concludes with a practical framework for giving constructive workplace feedback. The process begins by reviewing what happened, identifying what went well and considering what could be done differently next time. Leaders should ask whether the recipient is open to feedback, respect their boundaries and finish the conversation with a clear action. Comparing feedback to a gift, Joel explains that the recipient ultimately chooses how and when to use it. Through consistent trust-building, honest communication and action-focused feedback, leaders can help people grow while creating healthier and more connected workplace cultures. #DevReadyPodcast #PsychologicalSafety #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #Storytelling #ArtificialIntelligence #AerionTechnologies
#324
September 23 · 34 min
How AI and IoT Are Creating Healthier, Smarter Buildings | Ep 328 | DevReady Podcast
Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai welcomes Bob Sharon, Founder and CEO of Blue IoT, back to the DevReady Podcast to explore how AI, IoT and smart-building technology can create healthier, safer and more energy-efficient buildings. Bob explains how Blue IoT combines connected sensors, open-platform building management systems and specialist engineering expertise to centralise fragmented data, detect operational problems and deliver practical solutions. Their conversation covers indoor air quality, intelligent building monitoring, platform development and Blue IoT’s plans for global expansion. Bob reflects on the decision to rebuild Blue IoT’s original platform after years of learning from customers and real-world building environments. Developed on AWS, the updated platform provides greater scalability, self-service alerts, configurable priorities, user-defined permissions and customisable dashboards. It also gives teams clearer visibility into sensor connectivity, signal strength and battery performance. A configurable cooldown period prevents faulty sensors or equipment from flooding facilities teams with repeated emails and SMS alerts, helping them focus on useful information and respond to critical issues faster. The discussion also explores the importance of selecting the right connectivity for each smart-building application. LoRaWAN is well suited to low-bandwidth monitoring and controlling smaller systems, while critical infrastructure such as chillers typically requires secure, wired building management systems with reliable, low-latency connections. Bob explains that IoT is an enabler that should be selected according to the problem being solved. The true value lies in outcomes such as reduced operating costs, healthier indoor environments and more efficient facility management. Indoor air quality is a central focus of Blue IoT’s work. Bob questions whether a small number of sensors can accurately represent conditions across a large office floor, particularly when air quality can vary significantly between rooms and work areas. He shares how Blue IoT identified elevated CO₂ levels at a Gold Coast school and developed an iterative solution involving sensors, remotely controlled exhaust fans, door vents and improved airflow. The project has since contributed to research with Queensland University of Technology and Thrive IAQ, examining the relationship between classroom air quality, absenteeism and student performance. Bob also explains how Blue IoT is combining AI, machine learning, human engineering, airflow modelling and digital twins to optimise ventilation, energy, water and indoor air quality. The company’s long-term roadmap aims to establish a single source of truth across multiple building systems, enabling property owners and facilities teams to improve comfort, safety and operational performance. With the built environment contributing around 40 per cent of global carbon emissions, Bob sees a major opportunity to reduce costs and environmental impact while making public buildings, offices and shopping centres safer for everyone, including people who are immunosuppressed or living with autoimmune conditions. Looking ahead, Blue IoT is raising capital to accelerate product development and expand into the UK and European markets. Bob is particularly interested in smart investment that brings valuable connections, strategic guidance and management expertise alongside funding. His vision is grounded in commercially sustainable innovation that helps organisations improve building performance while protecting the health and wellbeing of the people who use those spaces. #DevReadyPodcast #SmartBuildings #ArtificialIntelligence #IoT #IndoorAirQuality #BuildingTechnology
#323
September 16 · 32 min
How AI Is Transforming Customer Loyalty in Luxury Retail | Ep 327 | DevReady Podcast
Returning to the DevReady Podcast for her second conversation with host Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, Katerina Ali, Founder of Immersifi.xyz, shares how AI-powered customer recognition and loyalty technology can transform the retail experience. She explores changing customer expectations, the continuing importance of physical stores and the need for brands to deliver personalised experiences that encourage loyalty, repeat visits and revenue growth. Katerina also discusses bootstrapping the platform, validating it through an in-store proof of concept and using real customer data to guide product development. Customer expectations across luxury retail have changed considerably since Katerina’s previous appearance. Shoppers now expect brands to recognise their loyalty, provide genuine value and deliver welcoming in-store experiences. Physical stores remain important for high-value purchases, yet queues, waiting lists and complicated buying requirements can push aspirational customers towards increasingly competitive mid-tier alternatives. As AI makes brands and products easier to discover, the quality of the customer experience becomes even more important for retention. Katerina explains how Immersifi.xyz evolved by removing blockchain features and technical jargon so the platform’s value was clearer to customers, sales associates and retail brands. The team launched a bootstrapped proof of concept with essential features, allowing them to test assumptions and respond to genuine customer behaviour. This approach produced an almost immediate 20% increase in sales, a 75% sign-up rate and a 10% rise in customer spending. It also reinforced the importance of planning software carefully and understanding the operational environment before pursuing complex integrations. Through its white-labelled loyalty community and personalised in-app communication, Immersifi.xyz helps retailers encourage repeat visits and turn average shoppers into higher-value customers. Sales associates can capture details such as upcoming anniversaries, remember important conversations and deliver more relevant service. When early technical problems began affecting the experience, Katerina paused the platform and rebuilt it. Although the pause slowed momentum, open communication helped the business regain users, attract new members and strengthen customer trust. Katerina also discusses the importance of objective decision-making, continuous market research and realistic growth expectations. Smaller retailers have provided valuable testing environments where the team can resolve issues, collect data and develop case studies before expanding to larger luxury brands. Taking the time to understand the needs of brands, sales associates and customers has helped Immersifi.xyz refine its product positioning and move closer to product-market fit. The conversation closes with practical insights into startup funding and sustainable business growth. Bootstrapping has enabled Katerina to validate the platform and approach potential investors with credible evidence, while also retaining greater control over the company’s direction. She is seeking investors who can contribute retail knowledge, strategic guidance and meaningful industry connections as Immersifi.xyz prepares to onboard more brands, generate revenue and advance the next stage of the platform. Anthony and Katerina reflect on how strong planning, informed decisions and shared founder experiences can save startups valuable time and help them build technology that customers genuinely want. #DevReadyPodcast #CustomerExperience #RetailTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #StartupJourney #ProductDevelopment #AerionTechnologies
#322
September 15 · 47 min
How to Build a Profitable Purpose-Driven Business | Ep 326 | DevReady Podcast
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, speaks with Jeff Bogensberger, CEO and Founder of The Laughing Otter, about building a profitable, purpose-driven business that creates positive social impact. Jeff shares his journey through SaaS startups, technology sales and senior leadership, along with his vision for a modern entertainment brand centred on laughter, creativity and meaningful change. Their conversation explores wholesome content, sustainable business models, social investment and the evolving role of AI in content creation. Originally from Canada, Jeff moved to Melbourne after selling a startup and travelling along Australia’s east coast. A professional opportunity encouraged him to stay, and Melbourne’s lifestyle, culture and work-life balance have kept him there for nearly two decades. His earlier career spanned technology startups, Microsoft reseller partners, communications and cybersecurity, with roles ranging from business development to general management. The Laughing Otter gradually grew from Jeff’s desire to build something independently while making people’s lives better. Jeff explains how the success of Bluey demonstrates the enduring appeal of wholesome entertainment built around relatable experiences, positive relationships and humour for different generations. He believes people increasingly want uplifting content that offers relief from the outrage, fear and division found across social media and mainstream news. The Laughing Otter responds to that demand by creating inclusive content and experiences designed to help diverse audiences find happiness in their own way. The conversation also examines the difference between company valuation and genuine customer value. Jeff questions startup models built around rapid user acquisition, continual losses and dependence on external capital, while Andrew highlights how investment often follows established trends perceived as less risky. They discuss how profitable businesses can remain commercially sustainable while supporting worthwhile causes. The Laughing Otter commits at least 10 per cent of its profits to social initiatives, including a suicide prevention campaign with Promise to Live that reached 50 million views and support for children at an orphanage in Uganda. Jeff and Andrew close by exploring how AI is changing content creation and distribution. AI gives The Laughing Otter faster ways to develop ideas and reach global audiences, although Jeff remains concerned about originality, artistic experimentation and consistency. Andrew sees human creativity, judgement and refinement as essential to producing meaningful work with these tools. For Jeff, the long-term goal is to combine technology, entertainment and a profitable business model to create joy and fund positive change around the world. #DevReadyPodcast #PurposeDrivenBusiness #SocialImpact #Entrepreneurship #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessGrowth
#321
September 9 · 36 min
Ken Thomas on How to Build a Scalable Sales System for Business Growth | Ep 325 | DevReady Podcast
Returning guest Ken Thomas, Co-Founder and Principal Revenue Architect at Founder Revenue Code, joins DevReady Podcast and CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, Anthony Sapountzis, to discuss how founder-led businesses can build a scalable sales system. Ken shares practical insights into revenue architecture, documenting founder knowledge, hiring the right salespeople and creating a sustainable revenue strategy. Drawing on his experience helping a business grow from approximately $1 million in revenue to a projected $5.6 million, he explains how structured sales, marketing and client success functions can support business growth while allowing founders to step away from day-to-day selling. Ken’s move from outsourced sales to revenue architecture began when he recognised that many businesses lacked the sales processes needed to make outsourced closing successful. A strong pipeline requires more than generating leads. Marketing agencies, internal teams and salespeople need a clear value proposition, defined target audience, qualified lead criteria and relevant business context. Founder Revenue Code helps businesses extract this knowledge and turn it into practical sales playbooks, revenue operations and repeatable processes. Anthony reflects on his own experience selling technology services through technical expertise, simple language and clear explanations. Ken observes that many founders become effective salespeople without recognising the skills they have developed. Their natural ability to understand customers, solve problems and communicate value often forms an unwritten sales methodology. Capturing that approach in a tailored playbook allows other team members to replicate it while preserving the founder’s values, voice and preferred customer experience. The conversation also examines how to hire the right salesperson for a founder-led business. Ken explains that enterprise sales experience or an impressive résumé does not automatically translate into success within a smaller company, where salespeople may need to manage the entire customer journey. Resilience, curiosity, soft skills, adaptability and the ability to follow an established process can provide stronger indicators of success. With the right person, clear accountability and a documented sales system, new representatives can build momentum within three months and begin exceeding targets within five to six months. Ken and Anthony then explore the role of referrals, partnerships and content-led networking in sustainable business growth. Anthony shares how the DevReady Podcast creates valuable relationships that can lead to new clients, trusted partnerships and future referrals. As modern buyers often research businesses before speaking with a salesperson, useful content and meaningful conversations can build credibility and keep a company front of mind throughout the buying journey. Finally, Ken explains why broad cold outreach can damage a company’s reputation, particularly within industries where buyers form a small and closely connected community. Only a limited percentage of the market is ready to buy at any given time, so effective lead generation depends on understanding buyer timing, providing genuine value and developing relationships before an active need emerges. Sustainable revenue growth comes from connecting targeted outreach, marketing, referrals, customer retention and account expansion within a revenue system designed around the business, its customers and its market. #DevReadyPodcast #SalesStrategy #BusinessGrowth #RevenueGrowth #FounderLedBusiness
#320
September 8 · 31 min
Building an AI-Powered Fintech Platform with Dr Tanvir Uddin | Ep 324 | DevReady Podcast
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, speaks with Dr Tanvir Uddin, Founder and CEO of Wholesum, about building an AI-powered investment platform that connects investors with underserved businesses seeking capital. Dr Tanvir shares how his experience at McKinsey, research in microfinance and work across agricultural supply chains and technology start-ups shaped Wholesum’s purpose. The conversation explores alternative investments, retail investor access, fintech product development and the role of AI in creating a scalable financial services business. Dr Tanvir founded Wholesum after recognising that high property prices and volatile share markets had left many Australians searching for more diverse investment opportunities. With support from family, early customers and angel investors, he launched a small wholesale fund and expanded it gradually over three years. That measured growth allowed the team to strengthen its operations, understand investor needs and prepare the business to serve retail investors, including young graduates and everyday Australians. As Wholesum moves into the retail investment market, customer experience, education and accessibility have become central to its product strategy. The company has built a digital application engine that simplifies onboarding, document submission and compliance processes. It is also exploring AI-powered educational content, customer self-service and accessible human support to help investors make informed decisions. These capabilities are designed to serve customers with different levels of financial knowledge while maintaining strong governance and risk controls. Dr Tanvir and Anthony also discuss the opportunities and risks facing non-technical founders who use AI tools to build software. Wholesum uses Claude to refine product briefs, develop workflows, consider database architecture and plan security requirements before development. Dr Tanvir continues to seek guidance from cybersecurity, compliance and product specialists, especially when dealing with customer data and regulated financial services. Their discussion highlights why successful software depends on clear planning, expert review, customer research and a sound understanding of the problem being solved. Looking ahead, Wholesum plans to scale its retail investment offering across Australia and New Zealand before exploring further international markets. The company also aims to unite investor onboarding, account management, dashboards and reporting within a proprietary application. With revenue increasing month on month, Wholesum is working towards a late-seed or potential Series A funding round to support its technology roadmap and global expansion. Dr Tanvir closes with practical advice for early-stage founders navigating pre-seed and seed growth. He recommends maintaining open communication with customers, testing ideas continuously, improving the customer experience and protecting cash flow to extend the company’s runway. For Wholesum, one of the clearest signs of product-market fit came when most of its first 100 customers had no previous connection with Dr Tanvir or his team. Their willingness to invest showed that the product, value proposition and market messaging were reaching customers beyond the founders’ personal networks. #DevReadyPodcast #Fintech #AI #FinancialTechnology #StartupFounder #ProductDevelopment #AlternativeInvestments #AerionTechnologies
#319
September 2 · 38 min
How to Stop Complex Projects From Blowing Out: James Harris on Risk, Planning and Control | Ep 323
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, speaks with James Harris, CEO of SwitchCo, SwitchCo works on the asset owner’s side of the table across ports and maritime, retail fuel, gas and petroleum, dangerous goods, data centres, resources, mining, government and renewable energy. James shares how independent project management, experienced judgement and early planning can help asset owners protect their money, reputation and intended project outcome. James explains that SwitchCo is independent by structure, with the client’s outcome as its central priority. The firm has no additional scope to sell, allowing its project managers to focus on defending the asset owner’s position. Its core value, “We challenge”, gives the team a clear responsibility to question clients, consultants, contractors and their own assumptions when something is wrong or a stronger course of action is available. James believes this willingness to speak up is central to adding value, particularly when remaining quiet would be easier. He also discusses SwitchCo’s experience supporting distressed projects, where asset owners need practical guidance to regain clarity and control. The conversation examines how project leaders can focus on the risks that genuinely matter. Risk registers can become crowded with every possible scenario while the most credible and damaging risks receive too little attention. James encourages decision-makers to concentrate on the issues that keep them awake at night, particularly risks with a realistic chance of occurring and serious financial, operational or reputational consequences. Experience and instinct can alert leaders to concerns that deserve closer investigation, while structured analysis helps teams understand the exposure, assign responsibility and decide what action is required. James also discusses the people and operating structures behind effective project delivery. SwitchCo’s leadership structure divides responsibility across vision and culture, implementation and efficiency, and technical innovation, allowing ideas to be challenged, prioritised and carried through. James compares a strong business to a high-performing sporting team whose members bring complementary strengths, remain accountable and work towards a shared outcome. He also reflects on the value of trusted advisers, honest conversations and leaders who understand their strengths while relying on others to bring different perspectives. The episode also explores SwitchCo’s “sharpen the axe” approach, which emphasises planning and process before construction or implementation begins. James explains how the company is bringing its internal processes and established project management tools into a bespoke platform that will create a clearer single source of truth. AI can support meeting summaries, risk clarification and the capture of decisions and actions, while discernment and accountability remain with experienced professionals. Looking ahead, SwitchCo aims to become Australia’s most desired project management company by balancing trusted client outcomes with meaningful development for its people and continuous improvement. For asset owners, portfolio managers, project directors, operations leaders and CFOs, the episode leaves one important question: when a complex project goes wrong, who will help you regain control? This episode is presented in partnership with SwitchCo. #ProjectPlanning #ProjectControls #ComplexProjectManagement #ProjectDelivery
#318
September 1 · 33 min
How Small Businesses Can Get Media Coverage Without a Big PR Budget | Ep 322 | DevReady Podcast
Public relations can help small businesses build trust, attract ideal customers and strengthen their authority without requiring a large agency budget. In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, speaks with Marie Dowling, Founder of Gust PR, formerly Newsary, and Co-Founder of The Club. Marie explores how founders can earn meaningful media coverage through niche publications, podcasts, newsletters and industry platforms, while using AI and predictive media intelligence to identify timely opportunities. Marie challenges the belief that valuable PR depends on mainstream media exposure. Specialist publications often provide a more direct route to relevant audiences and can improve visibility in AI-powered search, which increasingly draws information from trusted niche sources. Consistently pursuing smaller media opportunities can also help founders clarify their message, improve their presentation skills and establish the credibility needed to secure larger opportunities. The conversation turns to authentic thought leadership and the founder’s role in shaping it. PR professionals and AI tools can uncover trends, market questions and potential story angles, but the most valuable insights come from genuine industry experience. Marie explains that journalists need fresh, well-informed perspectives, while Anthony highlights how a clear public voice naturally attracts clients who align with a company’s values and approach. Manufactured controversy may generate brief attention, but long-term authority depends on substance, relevance and consistency. Marie also discusses the impact of social media algorithms and generic AI-generated content on professional platforms such as LinkedIn. She recommends using Google Alerts and targeted industry research to escape algorithmic echo chambers and discover meaningful conversations. Drawing on her experience of prototyping Gust PR without a technical team, she shares how mapping each human step helped her determine which tasks required automation, AI agents or human judgement. Anthony reinforces the importance of planning software before development, particularly as unstructured prompting can produce fragile products that are difficult to maintain. After an early product centred on AI-generated media pitches failed to address the deeper PR challenge, Marie spent three years rebuilding and repositioning Gust PR as a predictive media intelligence platform. The platform is designed to identify emerging topics and help businesses understand what to pitch, where to pitch it and when their expertise will be most relevant. Marie also discusses the rebrand from Newsary to Gust PR, plans to make the pitch-writing tool and supporting framework available for free, and the importance of choosing affordable PR support. Her central message is clear: a well-written pitch needs a timely, original and genuinely newsworthy story behind it. #DevReadyPodcast #SmallBusinessPR #ThoughtLeadership #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessGrowth #AerionTechnologies
#317
August 26 · 34 min
AI Surveillance: Can It Keep People Safe and Protect Privacy? | Ep 321 | DevReady Podcast
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai, speaks with Sarah Payne, COO of icetana AI, about AI-powered video surveillance, product leadership and the realities of deploying artificial intelligence in complex security environments. Sarah explains how icetana AI analyses thousands of live CCTV feeds to identify unusual events such as falls, distress, loitering and safety hazards in real time. She also shares how a career spanning UK local government, database administration and product management shaped her commitment to building practical technology that protects people and delivers measurable value. Sarah’s journey to AI leadership began when she and her husband left the UK during the global financial crisis and moved to Australia without an established network. After travelling across the country in a campervan, they settled in Perth, where Sarah moved from an Oracle database administrator role into business analysis, project management and product leadership. Her career progression highlights the importance of curiosity, adaptability, practical experience and a willingness to take responsibility for difficult decisions. Discussing effective product management, Sarah describes the role as a bridge between customer needs, engineering capabilities and business strategy. Strong product leaders must ask thoughtful questions, translate complex technical concepts and balance customer value with budgets, roadmaps and technical feasibility. Sarah also explains why diverse teams, clear communication and active listening are essential when working with engineers, customers and senior decision-makers. The conversation explores the challenges of deploying real-world AI surveillance across thousands of live camera feeds affected by poor lighting, ageing equipment and unpredictable conditions. icetana AI uses repeat footage, confusion matrices and customer feedback to reduce false positives and improve the usefulness of its alerts. Its intuitive security software helps operators identify urgent incidents within seconds, while on-premises processing supports the privacy and security requirements of sensitive environments. Sarah also addresses concerns about AI surveillance, facial recognition and personal data, explaining how icetana AI focuses on elevating relevant events to the right people at the right time. Looking ahead, Sarah explains why icetana AI develops short, flexible product roadmaps as artificial intelligence continues to advance rapidly. Emerging applications include detecting hazards, dispatching cleaning robots, notifying staff and guiding emergency responses through automated workflows. She reinforces the value of understanding the problem behind every feature request and creating AI products that make people safer, support frontline teams and solve genuine customer needs. #DevReadyPodcast #AISurveillance #ArtificialIntelligence #ResponsibleAI #VideoAnalytics #ProductLeadership #TechPodcast #AustralianTechnology
#316
August 25 · 34 min
How an Advisory Board Helps Founders Scale a Business and Break Growth Barriers | Ep 320 | DevReady
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Anthony Sapountzis, CTO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and DevReady.Ai, speaks with Mike Logan, Advisory Board Chairman at C7EVEN Communications and author of The Asking Leader, about advisory boards, AI adoption and sustainable business growth. Drawing on his experience as a founder, business leader and chairman, Mike explains how structured advice can help founder-led, family-owned and privately held businesses clarify their goals, strengthen leadership and turn ambitious plans into practical action. Mike outlines four foundations that shape business performance: customers, people, systems and cash flow. While many small and mid-sized businesses consider advisory boards relevant only to larger organisations, they often face the same challenges around strategy, execution, risk and compliance. A well-structured advisory board brings specialist expertise to the table, establishes measurable outcomes and helps leaders navigate expansion, acquisitions, new markets, succession and rapid growth. The conversation also explores how COVID-19 accelerated digital adoption and changed the way teams communicate and collaborate. Anthony shares how Aerion Technologies transitioned to fully remote work without reducing performance, while recognising the fatigue created by back-to-back video meetings. Digital communication platforms and AI-powered meeting transcription now help businesses preserve decisions, capture context and give teams more time for focused discussion, creative thinking and strategic work. Anthony and Mike discuss the uncertainty surrounding AI adoption, particularly among non-technical business leaders who struggle to identify useful applications. Mike shares examples of professionals building their own AI tools for recruitment automation and long-term cash flow forecasting. Rather than chasing exaggerated claims about universal prompts and workflows, they recommend experimenting with accessible tools and developing small automations that solve specific business problems. Mike explains that sustainable growth also requires founders to evolve alongside their companies. Leaders who remain deeply involved in every operational detail can become a barrier to delegation, team development and business scalability. He shares how one founder introduced an experienced CEO and specialist advisers, helping the company grow from $10 million to $50 million while the founder remained closely connected to clients and continued serving as the face of the brand. A successful advisory relationship depends on a founder’s willingness to act, adapt and accept constructive challenges. Mike uses the lessons and “scar tissue” from his own leadership journey to help clients recognise capability gaps, strengthen their decision-making and build the right leadership structure. Through disciplined strategic reviews and practical accountability, advisory boards can help founders close the gap between their current position and the business, lifestyle and legacy they want to create. #DevReadyPodcast #BusinessGrowth #AdvisoryBoards #Leadership #FounderLedBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessAutomation #AerionTechnologies

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