#148 Robert Ahdieh: How Many Aggies Does it Take to Innovate?
Release Date: 03/25/2025
#148 Robert Ahdieh: How Many Aggies Does it Take to Innovate?
Innovate Fort Worth
Meet Bobby Ahdieh, the game changing Dean who is bringing innovation from around the state to downtown Fort Worth. In this episode, we are talking about academic innovation from the flagship institution of the state, the Texas A&M System. He has been the driving force behind the new Texas A&M Campus in downtown Fort Worth that will not only bring five new buildings to the southeast corner of downtown, but will also bring a focus on innovation and research from the Texas A&M System to Fort Worth. In addition to his role as Dean, Ahdieh is also the VP of Professional schools and...
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#147 Kelly Baggett: How Fort Worth Innovates
Innovate Fort Worth
Meet Kelly Baggett, the Innovation Coordinator for the City of Fort Worth’s Economic Development Department. She drives innovation in the city by helping foster policy recommendations to help innovation-led companies, assists companies in filling financing gaps through tax incentives and connects innovation districts around the city. A former librarian, Kelly is driving research and development tax credits for qualified companies to spur innovation and economic growth in Cowtown. Kelly also shares where she thinks innovation is headed in the future and shares a glimpse of some exciting...
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#146 Ned Carroll: Taking Tech to Banking
Innovate Fort Worth
Meet Ned Carroll, who is taking the latest technology to the banking industry. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of PNC’s data strategy that includes PNCs efforts to promote intelligent automation and artificial intelligence throughout their nationwide organization. He shares his views on what he thinks the future will look like for innovation and includes his assessment of AI, machine learning and the future of brick and mortar bank braches. Ned has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry with a focus on data, analytics and risk management. Before joining...
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#145 Dylan Jones: Hydrating Hard Working Hounds
Innovate Fort Worth
Meet Dylan Jones, a serial entrepreneur who wants to make sure your pets are heavy drinkers. His new company, called LYX is providing care for animals by making sure they stay well-hydrated, particularly during those hot Texas summers. LYX provides essential hydration for dogs and will be on the market in the next few months, just in time for summer. The pet nutrition market saw over $700 million in sales last year and Dylan thinks LYX is poised for a big year in 2025. To learn more about LYX, visit To learn more about HSC Next, visit
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#144 Rob Lalka: How Big Tech Turned Profits into Power
Innovate Fort Worth
Meet Rob Lalka, Professor of Practice and Executive Director of the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Tulane University. An expert in entrepreneurship and innovation, Lalka authored The Venture Alchemists: How Big Tech Turned Profits into Power. He has held positions in the U.S. Department of State and organizations like Village Capital and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. To learn more about Rob, visit To learn more about HSC Next, visit
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#143 Sasko Cuklev: Seeking Safety in Self-Driving Trucks
Innovate Fort Worth
Meet Sasko Cuklev, Head of On-Road Solutions at Volvo Autonomous Solutions. He oversees Volvo's autonomous freight trucks operating in Fort Worth, serving destinations in El Paso and Houston. Volvo's new office in Fort Worth's South Main Street is driving innovation and advancing driverless technology. To learn more about Volvo Autonomous Solutions, visit To learn more about HSC Next, visit
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#142 Kendel Rogers and Rob Upchurch: Year in Review, 2024
Innovate Fort Worth
Join us for a year-end review as we reflect on the highlights of 2024. Our producers, Kendel Rogers and Rob Upchurch, discuss favorite episodes, notable guests, and emerging trends in Fort Worth's entrepreneurial landscape. To learn more about Innovate Fort Worth, vitist To learn more about HSC Next, visit To learn more about RobMakesPods Productions, visit
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#141 Danny Bush: Real World Friends, Online Connection
Innovate Fort Worth
Meet Danny Bush, CEO and founder of Fun on the Run Plus One, an app connecting people seeking social activities. Inspired by her experiences as a Hurricane Katrina survivor, Bush created an app to foster lasting connections and turn strangers into friends. To learn more about Fun on the Run Plus One, visit To learn more about HSC Next, visit https://hscnext.com
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#140 Tom Chapman: The Big Picture: Entrepreneurship, Ecosystems and Eyelids
Innovate Fort Worth
Meet Tom Chapman, founder of Chapman & Company, CEO of Peeq Industries, and a seasoned venture capitalist. He is a leading expert on measuring the health and performance of entrepreneurial ecosystems, having studied ecosystems across the nation and conducted extensive research on Fort Worth's entrepreneurial landscape. To learn more about Chapman & Company, visit To learn more about Peeq Pro, visit and use code FTWORTH10 to save on your purchase. To learn more about HSC Next, visit
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#139 Paulo Gregory: The Big Picture: Building Networks in Baltimore
Innovate Fort Worth
Meet Paulo Gregory, an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder in Baltimore, Maryland. A designer, inventor, consultant, artist, and performer, Gregory is also the developer of Cohado, a game that embodies community development and cooperation. He founded The Black Butterfly Network to support entrepreneurs of color in Baltimore and is an active member of the Startup Champions Network. To learn more about Coahdo, visit To learn more about the Black Butterfly Network, visit To learn more about HSC Next, visit
info_outlineMeet Bobby Ahdieh, the game changing Dean who is bringing innovation from around the state to downtown Fort Worth. In this episode, we are talking about academic innovation from the flagship institution of the state, the Texas A&M System. He has been the driving force behind the new Texas A&M Campus in downtown Fort Worth that will not only bring five new buildings to the southeast corner of downtown, but will also bring a focus on innovation and research from the Texas A&M System to Fort Worth. In addition to his role as Dean, Ahdieh is also the VP of Professional schools and Programs and the COO of the Texas A&M Fort Worth campus. Before starting his career in law, Ahdieh also spent extensive time in Cold War Russia and speaks fluent Russian.
To learn more about Texas A&M Fort Worth, visit: https://Fort-Worth.TAMUS.edu
To learn more about HSC Next, visit https://hscnext.com