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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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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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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Integrail is at the forefront of Agentic AI, revolutionizing no-code AI powered automation for businesses.

In this episode of Great Things with Great Tech, we explore the rise of Agentic AI with Anton Antich, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Integrail. Integrail has secured $10 million in seed funding from Ratmir Timashev (co-founder of Veeam) to expand its no-code AI Studio platform, empowering businesses to deploy AI-driven automation workflows in minutes without engineering expertise.

We dive deep into retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), vector memory, and multi-agent collaboration, discussing how AI will reshape enterprise automation, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity. Anton also shares insights from his career, from nuclear physics to Veeam’s hypergrowth and how no-code AI democratization is the future.

Discover how Integrail’s AI Studio is making AI more accessible, scalable, and secure with hybrid and on-prem deployment options.

Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Agentic AI is transforming automation, enabling AI agents to autonomously handle tasks, boost productivity, and minimize manual effort.

2️⃣ No-code AI platforms like Integrail allow businesses to build and deploy AI driven workflows without needing AI expertise.

3️⃣ Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and Vector Memory ensure AI accuracy, reducing hallucinations and improving contextual understanding.

4️⃣ Hybrid and on-prem AI deployments are key for enterprise security, compliance, and scalability, making AI adoption safer and more flexible.

5️⃣ The future workforce will depend on AI agents, shifting employees’ roles towards managing AI powered workflows rather than performing repetitive tasks.

🔗 Links & Resources:

🌐 Website: https://integrail.ai

💼 Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/integrail

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Revolutionizing Data Warehousing on Kubernetes with Mark Cusack, CTO of Yellowbrick

Discover how Yellowbrick’s Kubernetes-powered SQL data platform is transforming enterprise data management. Mark Cusack discusses their hybrid and multi-cloud capabilities, real-time analytics, and AI integration, highlighting advantages over competitors like Snowflake and Redshift. Learn about their journey from on-premises appliances to a cloud-native architecture and the introduction of their free Community Edition.

Uncover how their Kubernetes-powered platform is revolutionizing the data warehousing space.

Key Topics:

Links: ☑️ Web: https://yellowbrick.com ☑️ Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/yellowbrick-data ☑️ Sign Up: https://yellowbrick.com/community-edition

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The first episode of Season 2025 kicks off with a future thinking conversation about the biggest tech trends shaping the year ahead. From advancements in AI and Quantum Computing to agentic AI and middleware integration, this episode dives into how these innovations are transforming industries, including cybersecurity, data protection, and cloud infrastructure.

Host Anthony Spiteri brings a fresh perspective by interacting with ChatGPT Voice Assistant, exploring the latest developments in technology and how they’re impacting our world. Together, they analyze key developments in areas such as repatriation of cloud workloads, decentralized finance (DeFi), and the integration of real-time AI insights with foundational knowledge to revolutionize decision-making processes.

Key Topics

• Tech Trends for 2025: From AI advancements to the rise of Quantum Computing.
• Agentic AI: Autonomous systems reshaping workflows and cybersecurity.
• AI Middleware: Making AI adoption accessible and seamless for businesses.
• Responsible AI: The importance of governance, transparency, and ethical practices.
• Cloud Repatriation: Why workloads are moving back on-premises and the role of hybrid cloud.
• Crypto and DeFi: Speculation vs. innovation in decentralized finance.
• Data Protection: Proactive, AI-driven solutions for a more resilient future.

Links

☑️ Learn More About ChatGPT: https://openai.com
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System Initiative is set to change DevOps automation. Focusing on real-time simulations, digital twins, and collaborative infrastructure management, System Initiative offers a revolutionary approach to managing complex cloud environments, solving challenges like stack drift, feedback delays, and cumbersome DevOps workflows.

In Episode 92 of Great Things with Great Tech, Adam Jacob, co-founder and CEO of System Initiative, shares insights on his journey from creating Chef to building System Initiative. This groundbreaking platform allows engineers to model infrastructure with high fidelity, enabling real-time simulations, multiplayer collaboration, and safer, faster deployments. Adam explains how digital twins and the “Living Architecture” approach allow engineers to work collaboratively in a game-like environment, eliminating the slow feedback loops associated with traditional Infrastructure as Code (IaC).

Key Topics

• Adam Jacob’s Vision: From Chef to System Initiative and the Future of DevOps
• System Initiative Features: Digital twins, living architecture, and high-fidelity infrastructure modeling
• The “200% Problem”: Why high-level abstractions don’t always simplify DevOps, and how System Initiative tackles this with real-time infrastructure modeling
• Real-Time Collaboration: How System Initiative’s multiplayer interface redefines DevOps workflows
• Open Source Strategy: Why System Initiative is committed to transparency and accessibility in DevOps
• Future Roadmap: Plans to expand System Initiative to AWS, on-premises, and beyond

Links: ☑️ Web: https://systeminitiative.com ☑️ Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/the-system-initiative ☑️ Sign Up: Do it. Generous free tier https://auth.systeminit.com/signup

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In this episode, we explore how OpenNebula is redefining cloud management with open-source, multi-cloud capabilities, providing an enterprise-level alternative to traditional hyper-scalers.

We sit down with Ignacio Llorente, CEO of OpenNebula, to discuss how open-source cloud management is advancing with OpenNebula. Ignacio shares how the platform, built on a Linux-inspired architecture, empowers companies to control their cloud environments while avoiding hyper-scaler lock-in. We discuss OpenNebula’s multi-cloud approach, its commitment to vendor neutrality, and the influence of EU funding in driving cloud innovation. With OpenNebula’s upcoming 7.0 release, Ignacio reveals plans to expand support across cloud providers, integrate AI, and develop a comprehensive ecosystem around the platform. Founded in 2008 and a pioneer in the cloud management space, OpenNebula remains dedicated to flexible, interoperable solutions that let enterprises scale across hybrid, private, and edge environments. Key Topics Discussed: • OpenNebula’s Vision for Vendor-Neutral Cloud Solutions • Multi-Tenancy and Federation for Service Providers • How OpenNebula’s AI-Driven Automation Enhances Cloud Operations • The Impact of EU Sovereignty Initiatives on Open Source Cloud Platforms • OpenNebula’s Integration Roadmap for Hybrid and Edge Computing Links: ☑️ Web: https://opennebula.io ☑️ Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/opennebula ☑️ Support the Channel: https://ko-fi.com/gtwgt ☑️ Be on #GTwGT: Contact via Twitter @GTwGTPodcast or visit https://www.gtwgt.com ☑️ Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GTwGTPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 Check out the full episode on our platforms: YouTube: https://youtu.be/kmB_pjGb5Js 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 Follow Us: Website: https://gtwgt.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/GTwGTPodcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/GTwGTPodcast ☑️ Music: https://www.bensound.com