That Tech Pod

Today Laura and Kevin chat with Tom Hurd the CEO & Co-Founder of Zeki Data. Tom first details his time overseeing intelligence and law enforcement operations serving as the senior Homeland Security Advisor to four British Home Secretaries. We learn about the importance of practicing your cybersecurity procedures. Tom talks about what really goes on in a cyber crime lab and dispels some of the myths around James Bond and MI6. We hear about his team's efforts to locate the COVID virus (and Laura's possible direct involvement 😬) and tracking the virus in the same way you can track cocaine. Tom gets into building big data projects around human excellence and finding people who "break the pattern." We learn about "Moneyball for Scientists and Engineers," and how Zeki Data uses AI to find the best talent. Finally Laura does a health check on Tom. This is a really interesting and entertaining episode!
Tom Hurd, the CEO and Co-Founder of Zeki Data, served as the senior Homeland Security Advisor to four British Home Secretaries, leading efforts against state Tom Hurd Horizontal threats, cybercrime, and terrorism, and overseeing intelligence and law enforcement operations. He played a key role in producing the Prime Minister’s Daily Intelligence Brief and was part of the UK’s Joint Intelligence Committee. Tom advocated for using science and technology to enhance operations, leading to his establishment of the UK’s Joint Biosecurity Centre to improve the accuracy of COVID-19 outbreak detection. He was honoured with an OBE in 2011 and a CB in 2020 for his contributions to national security. Tom has transitioned from government intelligence to co-founding a talent intelligence start-up.
At Zeki Data, they specialize in pinpointing the most advanced and innovative minds in science and engineering—individuals who are not just pushing the boundaries but are redefining them. These top deep tech innovators are driven to create groundbreaking solutions, refusing to settle for the status quo. Their sophisticated time series data empowers us to develop a comprehensive view of an individual’s record of innovation and accomplishments, allowing Zeki to accurately forecast their future potential. To identify this elite talent, Zeki meticulously crafted a dataset encompassing 10 million individuals employed at over 40,000 companies across 94 countries, spanning over a decade.

Today on That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin speak with Kylie Uvodich. As a Head of Americas, Go-to-Market at SafetyCulture, Kylie oversees a committed team who support hundreds of businesses across the US to improve workplace operations, including JetBlue, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Air Canada, and Dollar General. With the power of innovative tech, her team helps to give workers a voice, leaders visibility, and unite teams to improve.

Today Laura and Kevin chat with Matt Strippelhoff, the leader behind Red Hawk, to explore the evolving world of software development and the role innovation plays in shaping the industry. Matt shares his excitement about current trends in software development and explains how these advancements are influencing Red Hawk’s approach to building applications. Matt explains how Red Hawk leverages AI tools like code copilots to streamline the development process, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a "human in the loop" approach. He also addresses the concerns surrounding AI replacing jobs, asserting that AI should enhance, not diminish, the role of development teams. However, he stresses that companies should only invest in AI if they can clearly articulate its value to their business. The discussion takes a lively turn as the group delves into the topic of AI chatbot companions. Laura sparks a spirited debate by asking whether chatting with an AI bot could be considered cheating. Kevin and Matt argue that it is, while Laura counters with a humorous take, adding that falling in love with an AI companion might make someone a “loser.” The conversation also touches on the challenges of using AI in recruitment, with Laura recounting a bizarre hiring experience involving a candidate who turned out to be a group of people. Matt offers valuable advice for non-technical founders looking to build software companies, outlining common mistakes they make and providing practical tips to avoid them. He also looks ahead to Red Hawk’s future, discussing the company’s innovative model of bundling software development and engineering into managed services. Matt also shares stories from his 15 years with his rock band, Grace in Gravity, including the time they opened for Sarah McLachlan. Laura playfully suggests starting a new band called “The Tripods,” but Matt remains focused on his commitment to Red Hawk, which he describes as his all-in plan with no backup. There is also a discussion on the pros and cons of remote work versus in-office teams, sparking a debate on building a workforce for the future. With a mix of expert insights, practical advice, and entertaining anecdotes, this episode offers something for everyone—from tech enthusiasts and business leaders to those curious about the intersection of AI and human creativity.
During his career, Matt Strippelhoff has curated an extensive portfolio in traditional and interactive media. Leading the development of web applications, mobile applications, e-commerce websites and specialized interactive marketing programs, he shapes Red Hawk’s technological landscape.
In 2022, The Circuit awarded Matt the Visionary Leader Award for his groundbreaking approach to software development. Recognized for reimagining the process, Matt's bold leadership catalyzes growth and success. His visionary business model bundles software development and technical support services for a fixed monthly fee, offering financial predictability and operational stability for their mid-market clientele.
At Red Hawk, Matt’s vision, disrupting traditional models, has led to explosive growth, multi-year recurring revenue contracts and greater than 95% customer retention. Matt earned a BFA in communication design from the Art Academy of Cincinnati in 1993.
The majority of Red Hawk's work today falls into three categories: workflow automation, sales enablement and systems integration. Red Hawk also serves as the outsourced innovation team for several clients, collaborating closely with client IT and marketing teams. From feasibility studies to fully featured applications, Red Hawk focuses on delivering measurable value with every initiative.

Today Laura chats one-on-one with Relativity CEO Phil Saunders. They chat about Phil's origin story and his journey to Relativity including a desire to work with Andrew Sieja, the Godfather of many things eDiscovery. They discuss if eDiscovery is boring and what keeps Phil up at night. Laura gets Phil's take on Relativity being either the 800 lbs. gorilla in the room, Bruce Lee or even Wayne Gretzky. They talk about Relativity's view on AI, the Say-Do Ratio, the innovator's dilemma and Winston Churchill's cabinet position designed to get to the truth. They also chat about a new approach and framework started by a group of industry leaders, Legal Data Intelligence. Finally, they debate if pickle juice is gross (it is).

Phil Saunders joined Relativity as Chief Executive Officer in December 2022. He has more than three decades of operating experience in the technology industry. Phil has significant expertise in sectors germane to Relativity including enterprise SaaS, as CEO of both Cornerstone OnDemand and Saba Software; infrastructure technology, in roles at Oracle and Motorola; and cybersecurity, as an executive at SafeNet and Thales (formerly Gemalto). He received his bachelor’s degree from University at Albany, SUNY and his MBA from Seton Hall University.

In this week’s episode, Land and Kevin take you inside Legalweek 2025 for a no-holds-barred recap of the biggest legal tech event of the year. We break down the good—the insightful sessions, the exciting product launches, and the incredible people we met. We also cover the bad—from conference logistics to some less-than-stellar booth experiences. And of course, we get into the ugly—including the controversial decision to move Legalweek from its long-time home at the Hilton to the Javits Center in 2026, marking the end of an era.

We hit the exhibit hall, highlighting standout vendors, unforgettable swag (yes, we’re ranking the best and worst giveaways!), and key trends shaping the legal tech landscape.

Plus, we sit down with Josh Janow, CEO of SMI Aware, for a chat on what makes them unique in the world of social media discovery. Josh shares how SMI Aware’s proprietary technology and expert analysis help legal teams uncover and preserve critical open-source data, ensuring compliance and strategic insights in discovery, due diligence, and risk management.

If you missed Legalweek or just want the inside scoop, this episode has everything you need!

Josh Janow is the CEO of SMI Aware, a leader in social media and open-source data discovery. His company specializes in researching, collecting, and preserving publicly available information to support legal, HR, and compliance teams in discovery, due diligence, and risk management.

With a career dedicated to leveraging data for strategic decision-making, Josh has led SMI Aware in providing critical insights that shape client strategies. Previously, he served as General Counsel and later President of gategroup North America, overseeing a $1B operation with 10,000+ employees. His leadership during industry disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, drove significant restructuring and growth. Josh began his career at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, developing expertise in legal and business strategy.