We all know that virtual machines have dominated IT infrastructure for 25 years... but is that era really at an end?In Episode 98 of Great Things with Great Tech, Lucas Gentele, CEO of Loft Labs, shares how Loft is reshaping infrastructure by eliminating the need for virtual machines. Starting from early entrepreneurial roots and open-source projects like DevSpace, Lucas explains how Loft Labs tackled Kubernetes inefficiencies by building multi-tenant solutions like vCluster and vNode. Their innovations enable Kubernetes clusters to run more securely, efficiently, and cost-effectively without traditional VM overhead. As companies seek alternatives to legacy virtualization, Loft Labs mission is to bring lightweight, scalable, and open-source virtual clusters into more environments, making Kubernetes accessible for both development and production workloads

Key Takeaways:

• The journey from DevSpace to founding Loft Labs and the rise of Kubernetes multi-tenancy.
• Why the traditional VM-based model is becoming obsolete — and what’s replacing it.
• How Loft’s vCluster and vNode are revolutionizing Kubernetes cluster management.
• The impact of Broadcom’s VMware acquisition on cloud infrastructure strategies.
• The future of cloud-native infrastructure: virtual clusters, no VMs, better scalability.

Links & Resources:

Loft Labs: https://www.loft.shLukas Gentele on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genteleLoft Labs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/loftlabs

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Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/2l9aZpvwhWcdmL0lErpUHC?si=x3YOQw_4Sp-vtdjyroMk3Q⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/darknet-diaries-with-jack-rhysider-episode-83/id1519439787?i=1000654665731⁠⁠⁠

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Did you know every time you order food, book a ride, or even check who viewed your profile, real-time analytics is powering your experience behind the scenes?

In this episode of Great Things with Great Tech, we dive deep into the power of real-time analytics with Kishore Gopalakrishna, CEO and Co-founder of StarTree. StarTree leverages Apache Pinot, a high-performance real-time analytics database, revolutionizing how leading companies like Uber, LinkedIn, Walmart, and Etsy provide instant insights and personalized experiences at massive scale.

Kishore shares his journey from a gaming enthusiast fascinated by distributed systems to building mission-critical platforms at Yahoo and LinkedIn, eventually creating Apache Pinot. Discover how StarTree is powering billions of real-time queries per week, enabling businesses to enhance customer interactions, optimize operational decisions, and supercharge modern AI and observability.

Key Takeaways:

• How real-time analytics transform industries, enabling instantaneous insights and rapid decision-making.
• The evolution from traditional databases to highly efficient columnar, real-time analytics systems.
• Real-world applications of Apache Pinot, from consumer apps to enterprise observability and operational excellence.
• How real-time data is accelerating innovations in AI, specifically through Real-Time Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).
• The future of analytics: seamless data ingestion, enhanced concurrency, and the growing demand for sub-second response times.

Links & Resources:

Web StarTree: https://startree.ai

Kishore Gopalakrishna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kgopalak/

Apache Pinot: https://pinot.apache.org

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Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/2l9aZpvwhWcdmL0lErpUHC?si=x3YOQw_4Sp-vtdjyroMk3Q⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/darknet-diaries-with-jack-rhysider-episode-83/id1519439787?i=1000654665731⁠⁠

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Would you stop in your tracks if you saw $2,000 thrown on the floor at a tech trade show?

In this episode of Great Things with Great Tech, we dive into the world of event infotainment and engagement with Anders Boulanger, CEO and Founder of Engagify. With a unique blend of magic, psychology, and strategic messaging, Engagify transforms traditional trade shows into captivating, high-impact experiences that drive real business outcomes.

We discuss how Engagify leverages magic, influencer strategies, and crowd psychology to attract, engage, and convert attendees at technology trade shows and corporate events. Anders shares his journey from performing magic as a child, to mastering crowd psychology, and revolutionizing how businesses connect with their audience at events.

Discover how Engagify’s approach to infotainment creates memorable ‘aha’ moments, significantly boosting audience interaction, lead generation, and sales conversions.

Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ How infotainment effectively captures attention at trade shows using magic and psychological triggers.

2️⃣ Why mastering crowd psychology and engagement techniques drives tangible business outcomes at events.

3️⃣ The science behind creating unforgettable “aha” moments that directly tie audience emotion to a company’s core message.

4️⃣ The future of trade shows: digital integration, crowd analytics, and data-driven event strategies.

5️⃣ Practical strategies for overcoming stage anxiety and delivering powerful, persuasive presentations.

🔗 Links & Resources:

🌐 Engagify: https://engagify.ai

💼 Anders Boulanger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andersboulanger

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Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/darknet-diaries-with-jack-rhysider-episode-83/id1519439787?i=1000654665731⁠

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