On today’s episode, we’re joined by David Chen, whose previous roles include Chief Technology Officer of Skycatch and Senior Software Engineer at Twitter. He is currently Head of Software Services at Agtonomy, where he focuses on building autonomous farming solutions to address labor shortages in agriculture. David shares his journey from drone-based mining technology to robotics in agriculture, offering insights into designing impactful technology.

Key Takeaways:

(01:14) Autonomous rides set a new standard for reliability.

(02:59) From Twitter to drones: a journey into autonomy.

(04:11) Mapping mines is safer and faster with drone technology.

(07:30) On-site immersion ensures products meet real-world demands.

(11:50) Human-centered design is critical for robotics success.

(14:12) Focused investments in core tech drive impactful results.

(17:04) Strategic tech choices enhance user experiences in the field.

(19:10) Cross-platform development simplifies maintenance for small teams.

(20:32) Multi-platform design reduces the need for specialized engineers.

(22:49) Strategic investments in tech drive flexibility and scalability.

(25:38) First impressions in UX determine an app’s success.

(27:55) Critical industries demand smarter, safer processes for sustainability.

(31:04) Passion drives innovation and improves decision-making.

Resources Mentioned:

David Chen -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-chen/

Agtonomy | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/agtonomy/

Agtonomy | Website -

https://www.agtonomy.com/

Skycatch | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/skycatch/

Skycatch | Website -

https://www.skycatch.com/

Waymo -

https://waymo.com/

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results. Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/

#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Sam Moore, VP of Architecture at Betterment, where he has led groundbreaking initiatives, including the re-platforming of mobile codebases from native to Flutter, and the launch of Betterment Checking. Sam’s extensive experience in scaling infrastructure and software architecture has made him a key figure in driving Betterment’s technological advancements.



Sam discusses leading major tech transitions, managing technical debt, fostering innovation and scaling engineering teams while ensuring continuous growth in the financial technology space.

Key Takeaways:

(01:16) Fatherhood influences Sam’s leadership and management approach.

(02:13) Guiding teams through questions is more effective than directing.

(08:12) Transitioning to Ruby on Rails improved innovation flexibility.

(12:45) Moving to mobile-first required major strategy changes.

(15:33) Iterative approaches are safer than big bang rewrites.

(17:03) Flutter helped streamline Betterment’s mobile development efforts.

(22:00) Inconsistent architecture patterns slowed development.

(29:42) Developing the tech investment life cycle framework.

(30:03) The four phases of the tech investment cycle.

(39:05) Pilot projects evaluate cross-platform strategies like Flutter.

(42:37) Early team alignment and training ensure success.

(50:03) Full tech adoption needs a complete cleanup phase.

(54:45) Features now take days, not weeks, with Flutter.

(58:02) Confidence in tech transitions is crucial for success.

Resources Mentioned:

Sam Moore -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelamoore/

Betterment -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterment/

Betterment LLC -

https://www.betterment.com/

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results. Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/

#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Patricia Roller, former co-CEO of Frog Design and current CEO of Vidlet Inc., a company known for pioneering video research in product development. With a rich background in design and leadership, Patricia shares her insights on the critical role of company culture in driving innovation and success within startups.

Key Takeaways:

(02:10) Culture should be the top priority in any startup.

(04:45) The CEO must lead by driving ideas and allowing mistakes.

(08:20) Investing in talent is crucial for success.

(12:30) Strategic actions, like targeted advertising, reinforce culture.

(16:50) Leadership evolves from aggressive to collaborative styles.

(20:15) Success is now measured by the team’s growth.

(24:40) Networking without an agenda builds lasting relationships.

(28:10) Building confidence in young employees is key to their development.

(32:05) Mentorship offers mutual benefits for both mentors and mentees.

(36:30) Adapting to new skill sets challenges traditional thinking.

(39:45) Change is necessary to avoid stagnation and commoditization.

Resources Mentioned:

Patricia Roller -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-roller-a2047a/

Frog Design | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/frogdesign/

Frog Design | Website -

https://www.frogdesign.com/

Vidlet Inc. | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/vidlet-inc-/

Vidlet Inc. | Website -

https://vidlet.com/

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results. Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/

#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment