In this season, we're focusing on Chicago founders who are building right here in the city. I'm your host, Cecilia Benitez, and together we'll hear the stories behind the startups, explore the real challenges of building in Chicago, and uncover what drives these founders to keep going.

On this week’s episode, we welcome Malvina DeSalvo, CEO of Plateful, an AI-powered nutrition platform that gamifies healthy eating. Plateful combines interactive learning with a SMART plate, transforming mealtime into an educational experience that reduces pickiness, lightens the load for parents, and builds lifelong healthy habits in kids.

Malvina’s story sheds light on the broader nutritional challenges faced by families across the U.S. and how Plateful’s innovative approach is helping to reshape the landscape. From the importance of customer discovery to the creation of prototypes, she opens up about the rewarding yet challenging journey of finding product–market fit. Insights from mentors, advisors, and investors provided crucial guidance along the way, sparking new ideas and shaping Plateful’s promising trajectory.

Looking to the future, Malvina shares Plateful's strategic plans for partnerships and developing groundbreaking data sets in children's nutrition, with aspirations to apply machine learning for improved acceptance of healthy foods.

Connect with Malvina:

Malvina’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malvina-de-salvo-9a90a01/

Plateful’s website: https://pl8ful.com/

Plateful’s’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plateful-llc/

Connect with Chicago Techies Podcast:

Website: https://chicagotechiespodcast.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-techies-podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagotechies

Connect with Ceci:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbenitez87/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbenitez_87

In this season, we're focusing on Chicago founders who are building right here in the city. I'm your host, Cecilia Benitez, and together we'll hear the stories behind the startups, explore the real challenges of building in Chicago, and uncover what drives these founders to keep going.

This week on the Chicago Techies Podcast, we pause our regular programming to focus on a critical issue: digital equity. We welcomed Director of Digital Equity, Kyla Williams-Tate and Digital Equity Coordinator, Mauricio Jimenez from the Cook County Government to share their professional journeys, and how their work is integrating technology into the fabric of Chicago's economy and everyday life, impacting countless lives and opening doors for all.

We discussed how digital equity is not just about technology it's about unlocking opportunities and enabling full participation in today's digital society, above all its about opportunity, dignity and justice. We focussed on the deep connection between digital equity and workforce development, showing how improved tech access strengthens job readiness and economic growth.

We also spotlight upcoming efforts like Digital Inclusion Week and the Access Amplified Learning Symposium and invite listeners to engage with the movement through events and the new digital equity website.

Connect with Kyla & Mauricio

Kyla’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylawilliamstate/

Mauricio’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauriciojjimenez/

CODE’s website:https://digitalequity.cookcountyil.gov/

Cook County Digital Equity Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cookcountydigitalequity/

Connect with Chicago Techies Podcast:

Website: https://chicagotechiespodcast.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-techies-podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagotechies

Connect with Ceci:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbenitez87/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbenitez_87

In this season, we're focusing on Chicago founders who are building right here in the city. I'm your host, Cecilia Benitez, and together we'll hear the stories behind the startups, explore the real challenges of building in Chicago, and uncover what drives these founders to keep going.

On this week’s episode of the Chicago Techies Podcast, we sit down with Gavin Buckland, Founder of Voke Studio. Gavin shares how his passion for storytelling began with his grandfather’s camera, how years at a creative agency sharpened his skills but also tested his resilience, and how rediscovering his purpose helped him embrace film as a way to unite people.

Gavin also takes us inside the creation of ClipSense, an AI-powered tool designed to transform video editing. Born out of the challenge of sifting through hours of footage, Clip Sense uses computer vision to automatically identify the best moments—freeing editors to focus on storytelling. With early funding and strong beta feedback, the tool is already pointing to a future where AI supports creativity across post-production, from sound design to color grading.

We round out our conversation with reflections on the evolving relationship between creativity and technology in filmmaking, the importance of authenticity in an AI-driven world, and Chicago’s role as a hub for collaboration.

Connect with Gavin:

Gavin Linkedin: https://whttps://www.vokestudios.com/

Voke Studios website: https://www.vokestudios.com/

Clipsense website: https://www.clipsense.ai/

Voke Studios’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voke-studios/

Connect with Chicago Techies Podcast:

Website: https://chicagotechiespodcast.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-techies-podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagotechies

Connect with Ceci:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbenitez87/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbenitez_87