The Tesoro AI Podcast

Insights from top AI founders, engineers, and leaders building the future of technology.

11/18/2025 / Darius Gant / Podcast / Cybersecurity, tech opportunities

Frenos: How Local AI Models Are Powering the Future of Cybersecurity

In this podcast episode, Darius Gant speaks with Harry Thomas, founder of Frenos, about how local AI models are transforming cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. Frenos uses on-premise artificial intelligence to simulate cyberattacks, identify real vulnerabilities, and reduce alert noise in operational technology environments. The conversation explores why local AI is safer, faster, and more cost-effective than cloud-based models, and how domain-specific intelligence is shaping the future of cybersecurity.

Watch Video
10/24/2025 / Darius Gant / Podcast

Breaking Barriers in Venture Capital: Austin Clements on Building Slauson & Co. and Funding the Future

In this episode of the Build Tech Stack Equity Podcast, Darius Gant speaks with Austin Clements, co-founder of Slauson & Co., about redefining venture capital through inclusive investing and lived experience. Austin shares his journey from South Los Angeles to building a leading early-stage fund, discusses the role of timing and storytelling in startup success, and explains where real opportunities exist in AI beyond the hype. The conversation offers a candid look at how venture capital, technology, and equity intersect in today’s innovation economy.

Watch Video
09/15/2025 / Darius Gant / Podcast

AI's Impact on Application Performance Testing and Strategy | Frank Cohen, Clever Moe

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, we sit with Frank Cohen, a Silicon Valley expert specializing in performance architecture and extreme performance testing. Frank shares insights from his 35-year career, including his work with PepsiCo during the Super Bowl, and the development of performance testing software like Push to Test and App Vance. He discusses the growing role of AI in job markets and how it has transformed traditional processes, including how tools like ChatGPT can aid job seekers. The conversation also delves into how AI can enhance application testing and performance across various industries, and the importance of ethical practices and sustainability in AI development. Frank highlights his new venture, Clever Moe, focusing on consulting services and the future of AI-driven solutions.

Watch Video
08/29/2025 / Darius Gant / Podcast

Transforming Black Narratives with Streaming | DeShuna Spencer, Kweli TV

In this episode of the Build Tech Stack Equity Podcast, host Darius Gant interviews DeShuna Spencer, founder of Kweli TV, a streaming service dedicated to showcasing Black stories from around the world. DeShuna shares her journey from journalism to creating a tech platform, discussing her experiences with covering crime stories, the lack of diverse narratives in mainstream media, and her mission to provide authentic, impactful Black content. Kweli TV offers a wide range of content, including documentaries, dramas, comedies, and children's programming, aiming to celebrate and connect the global Black community. DeShuna also delves into the technical challenges she faced, including early funding struggles and platform development, and shares future plans for immersive content and gaming.

Watch Video
07/22/2025 / Darius Gant / Podcast

Financial Modeling Meets AI: The Financial Analyst of the Future? | Albert Gozzi, Aleph

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, we speak with Albert Gozzi, founder of Aleph, about transforming financial processes using AI. They discuss the evolution of Gozzi's career from management consulting at Bain & Company to becoming COO/CFO of an early-stage startup, and ultimately founding Aleph to solve core financial data issues. Gozzi elaborates on Aleph's capabilities in data cleaning, variance analysis, and version control, underlining the significance of AI in enhancing accuracy and accelerating workflows. They also touch upon future developments in AI for finance and how businesses can leverage these advancements for greater productivity and efficiency.

Watch Video
06/13/25 / Darius Gant / Podcast

From Ghosted to Engaged: The Rise of Two-Way AI Chats | Prem Kumar, Humanly.io

In this episode of the Tesoro AI Podcast, Darius Gant sits down with Prem Kumar, co-founder of Humanly, to explore how true two-way AI conversations are reshaping the candidate experience. Prem shares how a personal brush with being “ghosted” as an applicant inspired him to build a platform that engages every candidate—applicants and sourced prospects alike—across chat, email, SMS, and voice, all while embedding compliance guardrails like real-time pay-transparency for each locale. You’ll learn how Humanly’s skill-based matching engine infers hidden competencies from past hires, plugs invisibly into your ATS and HRIS workflows, and even offers candidates a voice-activated agent for interview prep and career guidance—long before they ever speak with a human recruiter. Plus, discover the auditing processes Humanly employs to surface and mitigate bias in real time, ensuring a fair and transparent process for all.

Watch Video
05/15/2025 / Darius Gant / Podcast

Transforming Diabetic Retinopathy Detection with AI | Cristina Campero, PROSPERiA Health.

In this episode, we interview Christina Campero, an entrepreneurial force behind Prosperia, a tech startup focused on AI in healthcare. Christina discusses her professional journey, moving from a background in bioscience and healthcare consulting to co-founding Prosperia. The startup uses AI to scan retina images for early detection of diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases, a crucial service in Mexico due to a high prevalence of diabetes and limited access to ophthalmologists. The conversation covers the development process of their AI model, partnerships with primary healthcare touchpoints, and the advantages of operating in Mexico. They also explore the challenges and breakthroughs in fundraising for a Latin American AI healthcare startup, including securing a seed round from a Swedish fund. The episode ends with a look at Prosperia’s future goals, including expanding their AI applications to detect other health conditions.

Watch Video
03/18/2025 / Darius Gant / Podcast

The Future of QA: How AI Agents are Changing Software Testing | Daniel Loreto, Jetify

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant interviews Daniel, a seasoned technologist with experience at top tech companies like Google, Twitter, and Airbnb. They delve into Daniel's early career and the launch of his startup, Jetify, which aims to accelerate the software development lifecycle. The conversation explores the evolution of AI from its early days to the impact of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. Daniel introduces Jetify’s flagship product, TestPilot, an AI agent designed to automate QA testing by simulating human interactions with web applications. He discusses the challenges of QA, the benefits of AI-driven automation, and the future potential of AI agents in various domains. The episode provides insights into the complexities and advantages of integrating AI in software development, emphasizing how specialized solutions like TestPilot can enhance efficiency and reliability.

03/06/2025 / Darius Gant / Podcast

Tackling AI Deployment Risk Through Ethical and Effective AI Use | George Chamoun, Fairo AI

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant speaks with George, the founder of Fairos, about the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. George shares insights into his background, transitioning from big data and data science to founding an AI-focused startup. The discussion delves into the significant gap between AI investment and realized value, highlighting the importance of AI skills and governance in bridging this gap. George explains how Fairo helps organizations manage AI risks by offering solutions such as bias detection and governance frameworks. The conversation also touches on AI agent technology, industry-specific challenges in AI adoption, and the importance of combining practical experience with AI expertise. Finally, George outlines Fairo’s future plans to launch a new SaaS offering aimed at empowering AI product managers across various industries.

02/25/2025 / Darius Gant / Podcast

Decoding AI Decisions: The Importance of Interpretability in AI Models | Dmitry Lesnik, Stratyfy

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant welcomes Dmitri Lesnik, Co-founder of Stratyfy, to discuss the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Dmitry delves into his background in physics and AI, having developed influential algorithms since his PhD studies in Germany. He highlights Stratyfy's focus on probabilistic logic and interpretable AI, emphasizing their applications in fraud detection, lending, and healthcare. The conversation also explores the broader implications of AI, including the importance of transparency, the risks of biased and fraudulent activities, and the potential future of AI reaching artificial general intelligence (AGI). Dmitry stresses the need for businesses to adopt cutting-edge AI technologies while remaining conscious of their risks and ethical considerations