Tech Talks

Latest Episodes:

The Social Universe Built by Two Invites: Byio is Rewriting the Rules of Growth and Social Media Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

On today's show you're going to get to hear about the next social media craze before before anyone else, and get your chance to 'lock in'.Raye Easterly, founder of Byio (By Invite Only), details the launch of the first AI-native, invite-only social universe built by Black women. She explains why she chose a two-invite-per-user model, deliberately counterintuitive to traditional tech growth, to ensure community control, eliminate bots, and solve serious problems like discrimination and cultural theft.

You might ask why we need another social media platform? Well the early days of social offered so much potential. We just need to get back to that...

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Want to read the latest from David, his Substack (diving into ‘Tech Talks’ and more) is here.

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The music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lemzi.com

Is it time that technologists took a Hippocratic Oath? Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

On today’s Tech Talks episode, David sits down with Hedgehog Lab CTO Joe Thompson, who argues that tech is finally maturing, moving beyond optimising for convenience, and towards genuine digital inclusion and accessibility. After all, there are more people in the world than affluent 25-year olds!

We unpack the massive "accidental influence" technologists hold, suggest that the industry needs a ‘Hippocratic Oath’ of its own, and consider how organisations navigate the messy rebalancing that follows disruption, from dockless bikes to digital banking.

Take part in the Harvey Nash Tech Talent Survey and help shape the future of tech careers! Click here.

Want to read the latest from David, his Substack (diving into ‘Tech Talks’ and more) is here.

The music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lemzi.com⁠

The Decision That Ended AI Hype: Why This Founder Only Focuses on Measurable ROI Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

Today's guest is Synthflow AI's CEO and co-founder Hakob Astabatsyan. He reveals how his company built real-time conversational voice AI for customer support. He addresses the biggest hurdle: preventing AI hallucinations, explaining the work undertaken to de-risk enterprise deployments. Hakob argues the industry must shift from chasing pure innovation to delivering quantitative, measurable ROI. He also explores the new human role as an "AI workforce manager".

Take part in the Harvey Nash Tech Talent Survey and help shape the future of tech careers! Click here.

Want to read the latest from David, his Substack (diving into ‘Tech Talks’ and more) is here.

The music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lemzi.com⁠

From CEO to 'Beckie': How Beckie Taylor Hit Reset To Find Her Voice in Tech Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

On today's show Beckie Taylor unpacks her pivotal, perhaps even dark, journey of identity after stepping away from Tech Returners.

She opens up about the difficult transition after relinquishing her CEO title and the subsequent refocus on deep impact, including empowering female founders and building a non-profit. David and Beckie also chat about her upcoming documentary, which uncovers the self-sabotage and fear that prevents women from finding their voice in the industry.

Take part in the Harvey Nash Tech Talent Survey and help shape the future of tech careers! Click here.

Want to read the latest from David, his Substack (diving into ‘Tech Talks’ and more) is here.

The music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lemzi.com⁠

Debt, Stigma, and the Funding Gap Holding UK SMEs Back Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

On today's podcast Juice Co-founder Katherine Chan tells us the true cost of the UK’s £22bn funding gap. It's not just capital, it's confidence. 56% of small businesses avoid seeking finance because they're worried about the stigma of debt and rejection.

So what's the tonic? Juice use real-time data to create solutions that offer the clarity and control so many leaders are desperate for.

Take part in the Harvey Nash Tech Talent Survey and help shape the future of tech careers! Click here.

Want to read the latest from David, his Substack (diving into ‘Tech Talks’ and more) is here.

The music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lemzi.com⁠

The App That Can End Fake Profiles And Revenge Porn Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

On today's podcast we're looking at how to prevent someone stealing your photos and posting them without your permission.

Centralized content moderation is failing, allowing image abuse and IP theft to scale due to a lack of consequence.

Thomas Eriksson, founder of Sasha, reveals how a friend’s trauma led him to build a deep-tech system. Learn how Sasha embeds an invisible, unique signature into images that survives alteration, democratizing content protection and shifting platforms from reactive moderators to proactive enforcers of digital accountability.

The music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lemzi.com⁠

Roblox, Regulation, and Why Kids Are Still Lying About Their Age Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

The internet wasn't built for kids, but it doesn't mean it shouldn't be an environment they thrive in.

Kate O'Loughlin, CEO of Super Awesome, explains how platforms must adapt to the next generation, moving beyond the blunt force of regulation. We dive into the three big challenges: data privacy, appropriateness (avoiding addiction), and meeting youth on platforms like Roblox, which is central to youth entertainment.

Kate discusses the tension between policy and the reality that kids often circumvent safety barriers, and why brands must embrace experimentation to survive content hyper-fragmentation.

Take part in the Harvey Nash Tech Talent Survey and help shape the future of tech careers! Click here.

Want to read the latest from David, his Substack (diving into ‘Tech Talks’ and more) is here.

The music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lemzi.com⁠

How Did Lissele Spot a Gap to Serve the Underserved Global Market, Aged Just 23? Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

In today’s Tech Talks episode David explores how compliance and AI are cleaning up global payments.

Lissele Pratt (Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree) founded Capitalixe to service the high-risk industries, think about the likes of crypto and iGaming, that traditional banks refuse to onboard.

She discusses spotting this market gap at age 23, building trust as an emerging voice in finance, and using blockchain to connect underserved global communities in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

But frankly her journey started much earlier that 23, and that is the foundation to her success!

Take part in the Harvey Nash Tech Talent Survey and help shape the future of tech careers! Click here.

Want to read the latest from David, his Substack (diving into ‘Tech Talks’ and more) is here.

The music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lemzi.com⁠

Beyond Paychecks: Gen Z's Unprecedented Power to Redefine Corporate Values Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

Today's guest is Forbes Under 30 recipient Avanti Sharma. Avanti has been on 'Tech Talks' twice before, aged 11, and 17. Now she's back to argue that Gen Z holds unprecedented power thanks to the looming "Great Wealth Transfer."

She details how this financial shift empowers the generation to demand corporate transformation based on shared cultures and values. Avanti explains why iGen (or GenZ) cares less about short-term pay and more about purpose, warning that organizations that fail to align their values will quickly lose the next generation of top talent.

Take part in the Harvey Nash Tech Talent Survey and help shape the future of tech careers! Click here.

Want to read the latest from David, his Substack (diving into ‘Tech Talks’ and more) is here.

The music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lemzi.com⁠

Cybersecurity is the Most Challenging Obstacle: The SDV Race Between Safety and Speed. Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

Is your car in danger of being hacked? Today’s guest is Thomas Cardon (QNX), and he joins David Savage to unpack the realities of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) revolution.

They discuss the critical hurdles facing automakers, including massive costs and regulations preventing widespread autonomous driving. Thomas reveals why cybersecurity is the most challenging obstacle (55% of developers report delays) and explains why AI is currently accelerating development cycles.

Take part in the Harvey Nash Tech Talent Survey and help shape the future of tech careers! Click here.

The music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lemzi.com⁠