EVN Disrupt

Narek Amirkhanyan joins us to discuss the success of his podcast, reArrange. We explored why podcasting is a unique medium and how it fundamentally differs from traditional audio formats like interviews and radio shows. Narek shared the story behind starting reArrange and how podcasts have increasingly become part of Armenia's culture over the past five years. Finally, we discussed the responsibilities podcast hosts have in crafting conversations that are both informative and factual, as well as the challenges that arise from the informal nature of podcasting. The post Narek Amirkhanyan: The Art of Conversation appeared first on EVN Report.

Hrant Khachatrian, founder and director of YerevaNN, a machine learning research lab, joins us to discuss the lab's various research directions and their strategic importance for Armenia. Currently, YerevaNN focuses on machine learning applications in chemistry and robotics. Hrant explained how each of these areas fits within the global AI research landscape and why Armenia has the potential to be competitive in them. Finally, we discussed Armenia's recent acquisition of a GPU-based supercomputer and how it will support the goal of establishing a competitive AI research environment in Armenia. The post Hrant Khachatrian: Armenia's AI Research Landscape appeared first on EVN Report.

Sassine Ghazi, President and CEO of Synopsys, joins us to discuss the company's 20th anniversary in Armenia. Synopsys, an electronic design automation (EDA) company, expanded its operations to Armenia in 2004 after acquiring local companies in the field. Sassine shares how the Armenian branch has grown to over 1,200 employees and become integral to the company's global operations through continuous investment in local talent. We also explored trends in the semiconductor industry, including the exponential demand for more computational resources driven by advancements in artificial intelligence systems. The post Sassine Ghazi: Synopsys in Armenia appeared first on EVN Report.

Chinar Movsisyan, founder and CEO of Feedback Intelligence (formerly known as Manot), joins us to discuss how to build more reliable large language model (LLM) applications. She shared her four-year journey as a founder and the decision to pivot her company from computer vision to LLMs. Feedback Intelligence helps LLM application developers identify scenarios where their models may fail during user interactions and offers insights on how to address these challenges. Lastly, we discussed the current state of the AI market and how entrepreneurs should consider defensibility in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The post Chinar Movsisyan: Feedback Intelligence appeared first on EVN Report.

Sargis Karapetyan, the CEO of the Union of Advanced Technologies (UATE) joins us to discuss the various components of the organization, including education, outreach, policymaking, and the DigiTec Expo. Sargis also spoke about the importance of expanding the scope of DigiTec to include greater participation from the international tech community. The post Sargis Karapetyan: UATE and Its Vision appeared first on EVN Report.

Tigran Atoyan, the founder and CEO of Haibrid, joins us to discuss how his company helps academics, writers and anyone doing research online curate and manage sources and information more efficiently. We discussed the product's workflow and the planned AI integrations, as well as the bigger vision for the company which involves data protection and privacy for browsing history. Lastly, Tigran shares with us his thoughts on building an AI company in an era where the technology behind these applications has become commodified. The post Tigran Atoyan: Making Research Easier with AI appeared first on EVN Report.

Zareh Zurabyan, head of the Americas division at eLabNext, joins us to discuss how the company has integrated generative AI workflows into their digital notebook solution for scientists. He addressed some of the main challenges hindering wider AI adoption in biotech, particularly privacy concerns related to data handling. We also explored Zareh's journey to becoming an investor and the trends he's most excited about in the biotech sector. The post Zareh Zurabyan: Biotech in 2024 appeared first on EVN Report.

Hayk Karapetyan, executive director of the organizing committee for the World Conference on Innovation and Technology 2024 (WCIT), joins the podcast to discuss this premier tech event coming to Yerevan this October. Hayk shared insights on the impact that hosting WCIT in 2019 had on Armenia's tech ecosystem and outlined this year's agenda. With the global tech community set to be focused on Yerevan, Hayk emphasized why this is a pivotal opportunity for Armenian tech to showcase its strengths, branding the country as an ideal place to develop advanced technologies and commercialize them globally. The post Hayk Karapetyan: Hosting WCIT 2024 appeared first on EVN Report.

Perouz Taslakian, a research scientist at Service Now, and Erik Arakelyan, a Ph.D. student at the University of Copenhagen, discuss the recently held “Summer School on Large Language Models (LLMs)”. The program brought together researchers from around the world in the field of AI to Yerevan to teach a week-long summer school on the most recent advancements in LLMs. Perouz and Erik talk about the program's impact in advancing research and scientific ecosystems, and how to strengthen collaboration between the Armenian diaspora and local students, engineers and scientists in Armenia. Finally, Perouz and Erik share insights on advancing AI research in the country. The post Perouz Taslakian & Erik Arakelyan: LLM Summer School appeared first on EVN Report.

Khachatur Gharibyan, the co-founder and CTO of NolanAI, joins us to discuss how their AI platform assists screenwriters, producers, and directors in the pre-production phase of filmmaking. We discussed how their product utilizes AI to assist in the creative process of writing screenplays. Additionally, it generates images of scenes based on the script to aid in visualizing the story even before filming starts. Finally, we had an engaging conversation about the capabilities of AI systems to be creative and the origins of creativity itself. The post Khachatur Gharibyan: Injecting AI in Filmmaking appeared first on EVN Report.

Hayk Margaryan, a digital transformation consultant, joins us to discuss how Armenian businesses are adopting digital tools to increase productivity. Hayk shared with us why digital transformation, through the adoption of tools such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems help boost business productivity, which leads to economic growth. Lastly, Hayk emphasized the importance of strong management in ensuring that any new system or tool effectively addresses real business problems. The post Hayk Margaryan: Digital Transformation in Armenia appeared first on EVN Report.

Hovhannes Kuloghlyan, the co-founder and CEO of Groksmith, a software design and development company, joins us to discuss opportunities in AI product development and how no-code platforms are disrupting SaaS businesses. Hovhannes shared his thoughts on what the pillars of a strong start-up idea are, and why focusing on building more specialized, niche solutions may become the norm in the coming years. We also spoke about the energy sector and opportunities for entrepreneurs to enter the market with AI solutions. Lastly, Hovhannes shared his thoughts on the importance of science fiction in helping imagine the future. The post Hovhannes Kuloghlyan: Tinkering With Ideas and Imagining the Future appeared first on EVN Report.

Arevik Hambardzumyan, co-founder and CTO of TACTUN, joins us to discuss their product; a hardware controller and no code software platform which helps automate manufacturing processes. Arevik also shared her thoughts on the challenges involved with importing electronic parts to Armenia, and the need for legislative reforms around procurement. The post Arevik Hambardzumyan: No Code Platform for Manufacturing appeared first on EVN Report.

Babken DerGrigorian, co-founder and CEO of Kartes Analytica, joins us to discuss the role geospatial data plays in national defense applications. Babken breaks down the data that is collected through satellites, and how it needs to be processed to provide insights for better decision making. We also spoke about the current regulatory environment around space tech in the country, and how Kartes became the first private company to receive a space license in the country. The post Babken DerGrigorian: Harnessing Geospatial Data appeared first on EVN Report.

Emmanuel Ghandilyan, co-founder and CEO of Foldink, joins us to discuss the world of bioprinting and how bioinks, the source material used to 3D print biological materials, will fuel innovation in regenerative medicine, cell cultured foods, and personalized medicine. Emmanuel shared with us his company's approach to producing bioinks, and the promise the technology holds for the future of medicine and other advancements in biological sciences. The post Emmanuel Ghandilyan: Bioinks and the Future of Medicine appeared first on EVN Report.

Luiza Avetisyan, the co-founder of Staff.am and Hirebee, joins us to discuss her journey as a serial entrepreneur in the HR tech space. Luiza spoke about the impact Staff.am has had on raising employer brand awareness in Armenia's labor market, and how Hirebee is helping companies recruit global teams more effectively. We also spoke about trends in Armenia's labor market, such as the influx of Russian tech workers and companies to Armenia. Lastly, Luiza shared with us her most recent initiative, FemPower, which has a mission of empowering one million women globally to pursue their careers and start businesses. The post Luiza Avetisyan: Why Employers Need to Care About Their Brand appeared first on EVN Report.

Seda Papoyan, founder of FemInno, a female innovation conference and platform, joins us to discuss her efforts in advocating for greater engagement from women in STEM fields. Seda shared the fundamental barriers girls face in entering STEM fields in Armenia. We also spoke about how FemInno has grown into an international initiative, with events taking place in San Francisco and Sydney, in addition to Armenia. The post Seda Papoyan: Breaking Barriers for Girls in Tech appeared first on EVN Report.

Hrant Davtyan, founder and CEO of Metric and Pinsight, joins us to discuss how his company is building open source LLMs that are able to conduct analytics and extract insights from documents. Pinsight's product, Anania, allows users to speak directly with their data – asking questions such as how much revenue the company generated last month, or when was the last time a certain customer placed an order. Hrant also shared with us the journey of finding a product that can gain market traction in the era of generative AI, and his thoughts on what ideas are worth pursuing in the AI space. The post Hrant Davtyan: LLMs for Data Analytics and Document Understanding appeared first on EVN Report.

Lilit Margaryan, the operations manager of Gituzh, joins us to discuss what the initiative has managed to achieve over the last three years. We also dive into the concept of national research and innovation systems, and discuss the prioritization of strategic scientific directions. Lastly, Lilit shares with us their upcoming initiative called Science Week, a week-long series of events that aims to promote science in Armenia. The post Lilit Margaryan: A Science Week to Popularize Science in Armenia appeared first on EVN Report.

Vahe Nigoghosian, the founder of EngineerX, joins us to discuss their efforts in building a mechanical engineering ecosystem in Armenia. Vahe shared their recent achievement of becoming an official partner of engineering software provider SolidWorks in Armenia, and the importance of building up a talent pool with expertise in using the system. We also spoke about Vahe's experience doing business in Armenia, and what it would take to attract a Fortune 500 engineering firm to open an office in the country․ The post Vahe Nigoghosian: Developing Armenia's Mechanical Engineering Chops appeared first on EVN Report.

Martin Mirakyan, founder and CEO of Profound Academy, joins us to discuss how their educational platform helps institutions deliver personalized computer science education for their students. Martin explains how Profound Academy utilizes an interactive approach to education, including their use of AI to provide personalized help to students when they're struggling to understand difficult concepts or complete challenging assignments. The post Martin Mirakyan: Delivering Hands-on Computer Science Education appeared first on EVN Report.

Karine Martirosyan, the founder and CEO of Wearify, joins us to discuss her start-up's vision for helping online consumers try on clothes virtually before buying them. Karine shares how Wearify builds 3D avatars of their users so that they can see how clothes look on them while shopping online, just as they would in a real store. We also spoke about the role that 3D avatars will take on in the coming years as digital environments become increasingly used for a variety of use cases. Lastly, Karine shared her thoughts on how to decentralize tech in Armenia and promote greater activity outside of Yerevan. The post Karine Martirosyan: Building Virtual Fitting Rooms appeared first on EVN Report.

Mikayel Khachatryan, the cofounder and CEO of Wirestock joins us to discuss their company's increased focus on generative AI for stock content. Mikayel shared the trends he has seen in generated images becoming more common in stock marketplaces, and the products Wirestock is building to enable creators to make money in the age of generative AI. Lastly, he spoke about the capabilities of image and video generation models, and what he expects to see in the coming years. The post Mikayel Khachatryan: AI-Generated Stock Content appeared first on EVN Report.

Tigran Nazaryan, co-founder of 10Web, joins us to discuss how their platform allows users to build websites using AI. Tigran shared with us the founding story of the company, and how their product's popularity has grown over the last few years. Lastly, Tigran spoke about how AI-built websites will evolve as the capabilities of large AI models continue to develop. The post Tigran Nazaryan: AI-Built Websites appeared first on EVN Report.

Samson Avetian, the founder and CEO of Eqwefy, joins us to speak about how the platform they're building is helping enable non-traditional investors to invest in Armenian start-ups. Samson also shared his thoughts on the importance of educating society on personal finance, and encouraging more investing throughout society. The post Samson Avetian: Democratizing Start-up Investing in Armenia appeared first on EVN Report.

Sona Veziryan, Director of the Business Angel Network of Armenia (BANA), joins us to provide a review of the progress and developments in Armenia's tech ecosystem throughout 2023. Sona offered insights into the variety of companies she encounters as an investor, and the kinds of companies she aspires to see more of in Armenia in the future. She also shared with us her thoughts on the state of the investment landscape both in Armenia, as well as globally, and what she expects in 2024. Lastly, Sona shared her thoughts on how to popularize angel investing in Armenia. The post Sona Veziryan: Recapping 2023 in Tech in Armenia appeared first on EVN Report.

Arman Atoyan, founder and CEO of ARLOOPA, joins us to discuss all things augmented and virtual reality. We discussed how his company enables anyone to build augmented reality (AR) experiences and content using the ARLOOPA platform. Arman also shared with us the history of AR, how it's developed over the last decade, and what capabilities can be expected in upcoming releases from the major players in AR. The post Arman Atoyan: Augmenting Reality appeared first on EVN Report.

Adam Bittlingmayer, co-founder and CEO of ModelFront, discusses how machine translation has evolved and improved over the last 15 years. Adam explained how his company aids human translators by identifying sections of machine-translated text in need of human review, enabling them to concentrate on specific areas rather than the whole text. Finally, we delved into the ongoing debates within the AI community regarding the acceleration versus deceleration of AI development, and explored Adam's perspectives on the future direction of the AI ecosystem. The post Adam Bittlingmayer: Machine Translation appeared first on EVN Report.

Anna Shahinyan, co-founder and CEO of Fivebrane, leads a platform designed to streamline the development of AI models in healthcare. Fivebrane provides tools that enable data scientists and healthcare professionals to collaborate while working with the data critical to developing their models. It also provides analytical tools to evaluate the quality of their data. Anna shared with us how AI is used in medical imaging and healthcare today, and the potential it has to help doctors drive better treatment outcomes. The post Anna Shahinyan: AI for Medical Imaging appeared first on EVN Report.

Christian Posse, the Vice President of Data and AI at ServiceTitan, joins us to discuss his long career in the world of data science, and how data practices inform decisions and influence product development at the world's largest companies. We also spoke about how start-ups should best utilize the generative AI technologies that have been released over the last few years, and how ServiceTitan has been building them into their products. The post Christian Posse: AI for the Trades appeared first on EVN Report.

Mushegh Gevorgyan, the co-founder and CEO of Dowork.ai and Rumors Monitoring, discusses his entrepreneurial journey and the work he and his teams are doing at his two companies. Mushegh began by sharing his path with Rumors Monitoring, a platform that provides insights into how companies are perceived across the media sphere and his most recent venture, Dowork.ai, an AI agent for customer service applications. Mushegh also spoke about pivoting ideas and building defensible businesses on top of LLM layers such as GPT. The post Mushegh Gevorgyan: Defensible Businesses Using AI appeared first on EVN Report.

Gevorg Poghosyan, the founder and CEO of reArmenia, joins us to discuss how their platform has facilitated collaboration between Armenians globally over the last two years. Through reArmenia, projects can raise funds or find collaborators who can serve as advisors for projects. Gevorg spoke about reArmenia's curated “Expert Community'', a group of professionals worldwide who are matched with projects on reArmenia that they can contribute their expertise to. Lastly, Gevorg shared what he has learned throughout his career about what the tech industry can actually contribute to Armenia's development. The post Gevorg Poghosyan: Building a Global Expert Community appeared first on EVN Report.

Adrine Naslyan, the General Manager of QaylTech, joins us to discuss how her company enables remote rehabilitation using virtual reality. QaylTech's devices, such as MetaGait, allow people with disabilities to imitate gait (a person's manner of walking) while being immersed in a virtual environment using VR headsets. Adrine shared how QaylTech's idea emerged after the April 2016 war, and how their products have helped wounded soldiers, and other people with disabilities in continuing their rehabilitation process. The post Adrine Naslyan: Enabling Remote Rehabilitation Through VR appeared first on EVN Report.

Irina Ghazaryan, Co-founder and CEO of Doctor Yan, joined us to talk about how her startup simplifies the process of scheduling and managing appointments for doctors and patients in Armenia. Ghazaryan also spoke about Doctor Yan's additional initiatives, such as educating the public about specific treatment protocols and offering guidance on the recommended frequency of medical check-ups. Lastly, we discussed creating venture-backed startups for the Armenian market, and the potential for expanding these products to international markets in the future. The post Irina Ghazaryan: Facilitating Medical Appointments and Building for the Armenian Market appeared first on EVN Report.

Sargis Karapetyan, the interim CEO of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE), joins us to discuss the tech community's role in building a prosperous and secure future for Armenia. Karapetyan explained his vision for UATE and the role it needs to play in talent building, fostering connections in the industry and advocating for a regulatory framework under which companies in Armenia can solve hard tech problems. We also spoke about Digitec 2023's reboot, and its emphasis on building for the local market. Lastly, Karapetyan spoke about the innovation center that UATE launched in Ijevan earlier this year, and plans for building similar innovation centers across the country. The post Sargis Karapetyan: The Tech Community's Role in Armenia's Future appeared first on EVN Report.

Avetik Grigoryan, the CEO and Co-Founder of Bazoomq Space Research Laboratory, and Masis Kumrigyan, the Technical Director of Space Programs at the Center for Scientific Innovation and Education (CSIE), join us to discuss the upcoming launch of Hayasat-1. Developed in a partnership between Bazoomq and CSIE, Hayasat-1 is a CubeSat. Grigoryan and Kumrigyan explain what CubeSats are, their uses, and the current trends in satellite technologies. We also talk about the development process of Hayasat-1 and its potential implications for the future of Armenia's space industry. Finally, we discuss the importance of popularizing science and space in Armenia and explore why this is significant. The post Avetik Grigoryan & Masis Kumrigyan: Building Satellites in Armenia appeared first on EVN Report.

Mariam Torosyan, the CEO and founder of Safe YOU, joined us to discuss her platform's mission to empower women by providing tools to report cases of sexual and domestic violence, seek help, and to create a virtual safe space for women. We delved into the progress Safe YOU has made since its inception three years ago, including the thoughtful consideration of various cultural factors that guide their implementation strategies. Lastly, Mariam shared her insights on the current state of women in the tech industry in Armenia, highlighting the efforts and challenges in ensuring that women not only have access to opportunities but are also encouraged to establish companies and assume leadership roles. The post Mariam Torosyan: Building a Virtual Safe Space for Women appeared first on EVN Report.

In this episode, Narek Aslikyan, co-founder and CEO of Armenian Code Academy, provides insight into the Armenian tech industry's talent infrastructure. He explains how the Academy prepares individuals for employment in both technical and non-technical roles. We also discussed what is required to create employment opportunities outside Yerevan, and the strategies to encourage various stakeholders to expand into different regions of Armenia. The post Narek Aslikyan: Armenia's Talent Infrastructure appeared first on EVN Report.

Gevorg Karapetyan, the co-founder and CTO of Zero, joins us to discuss the development of generative AI solutions for augmenting knowledge workers. We explore the company's platform, Hercules, which delivers generative AI solutions for enterprise customers and the productivity benefits it brings. Gevorg also shared his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in building sustainable and defensible businesses in the era of foundational AI models, as well as the future of co-pilots for knowledge workers. The post Gevorg Karapetyan: The Last Mile of AI Product Deployment appeared first on EVN Report.

In this episode, Davit Baghdasaryan, the co-founder and CEO of Krisp, discusses how his start-up has grown to be a leader in the voice productivity AI space. He shares his thoughts on AI product development in the age of large AI models, and what the newest developments are in the field of voice AI. Davit also talked about his journey of founding BigStory VC, an early-stage venture capital fund in Yerevan and Bazoomq, a non-profit space research lab where Davit is an advisor. The post Davit Baghdasaryan: Voice Productivity AI appeared first on EVN Report.

Suzanna Shamakhyan, Vice President of Strategic Programming at the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), joins us to discuss the organization's initiatives to improve education and science in Armenia. She breaks down how the current poor state of the country's education system can be viewed as an opportunity to pilot innovative new solutions. We also discussed FAST's new Generation AI program, which aims to bring artificial intelligence education to high schools in Armenia. The post Suzanna Shamakhyan: Finding Innovative Solutions to Education in Armenia appeared first on EVN Report.

In this episode, Khachatur Virabyan, the co-founder and CEO of Stylebit, discusses all things design systems. He breaks down how design systems are built, and how Stylebit helps companies track design system metrics such as adoption. Khacatur also spoke about how modern AI systems enable non-technical people to interact with engineering systems through natural language interfaces. He also shared his entrepreneurial journey and the path to finding a product idea that could gain traction in the marketplace. The post Khachatur Virabyan: Scaling Design Systems appeared first on EVN Report.

Hamlet Azarian, CEO and founder of Azarian Growth Agency joins us to discuss validating start-up ideas, gaining traction, and scaling companies. Azarian breaks down the data-driven approach the agency takes to growth marketing, and what metrics they track to ensure that start-ups reach their growth goals. We also discussed Azarian Growth Agency's upcoming initiative called “[A] Growth Academy” that aims to teach growth marketing in Armenia. The post Hamlet Azarian: How to Grow a Start-up appeared first on EVN Report.

In this episode, Mikael Matossian, principal at Tetra Tech, discusses Armenia's energy sector and the progress of clean technologies adoption. We examine the current state of Armenia's energy production and evaluate several initiatives that aim to expand the share of energy derived from renewable sources in the country. Matossian provides insight into the significance of renewable energy adoption in addressing climate change and offers an overview of global trends and advancements in renewable technology. The post Mikael Matossian: Clean Tech and Armenia's Energy Sector appeared first on EVN Report.

Hayk Margaryan, the CEO of the National Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NCIE), joins us to discuss initiatives to facilitate technology transfer in Armenia. Margaryan also speaks about the scope of NCIE's mission, and what plans the center has for the near future. Lastly, we discussed the Mars Simulation Mission, which is scheduled to take place in Armenia in spring of 2024. The post Hayk Margaryan: Facilitating Technology Transfer in Armenia appeared first on EVN Report.

In this episode, Hovakim Zakaryan, co-founder and CEO of Denovo Sciences, discusses how his company is using reinforcement learning for drug discovery, making the process faster and more efficient. He shares insights on the challenges involved in drug discovery, and how AI tools can help overcome them. Additionally, Hovakim sheds light on Armenia's biotech industry and makes the case for why strategic investments should be made in this area. The post Hovakim Zakaryan: Drug Discovery With Reinforcement Learning appeared first on EVN Report.

Hayk Tepanyan, co-founder and CTO of BlueQubit, joins us to discuss all things quantum computing. We dive into the potential applications of quantum computers, and how BlueQubit's platform can help businesses create roadmaps for quantum adoption in their operations. Additionally, Hayk discusses how BlueQubit's quantum simulator can be used for running experiments and testing potential applications. The post Hayk Tepanyan: Understanding Quantum appeared first on EVN Report.

Rem Darbinyan, the founder and CEO of Viral Mango and Smart Click, joins us to speak about the work being done in AI and influencer marketing by his companies. During the first half of the show, we delved into Smart Click's technology-as-a-service approach that makes computer vision algorithms accessible through APIs. In the second half, we explored Viral Mango, an influencer marketing platform, and discussed the inner workings of influencer marketing and its effectiveness. We also examined the impact of influencer and social media culture on society. The post Rem Darbinyan: From Computer Vision to Influencer Marketing appeared first on EVN Report.

In this episode, we talk to Nerses Ohanyan, co-founder of HyeTech, about the organization's recent trip to India and their efforts to connect the Armenian tech ecosystem with the rest of the world. We delve into why it's crucial for Armenia to develop its capacities in the space tech ecosystem, and Nerses shares exciting initiatives such as the Bazoomq space research lab, the Kemurdzhian Challenge, and the Armenian Model Rocketry Association. The post Nerses Ohanyan: Space Tech and Bridging Armenia With the World appeared first on EVN Report.

Sergei Kungurov, Head of Core Product Foundation at Miro, joins us to discuss the company's first year in Armenia since relocating from Russia. As the popular collaborative whiteboarding tool continues to expand its reach (currently serving 50 million users), Sergei shares his insights on product development at scale. The post Sergei Kungurov: Miro's Move to Armenia & Scaling Products appeared first on EVN Report.

In this episode, Gevorg Poghosyan, the CEO of Impact Hub Yerevan, discusses VIA Fund, an impact investment fund managed by Impact Hub Yerevan. Gevorg breaks down what impact investing is and how social enterprises differ from traditional businesses, highlighting their potential for scaling and creating positive change. We also delve into Impact Hub's plans to expand their spaces across Armenia. The post Gevorg Poghosyan: Exploring the World of Social Enterprises appeared first on EVN Report.