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Steve Schwartz
CTO, co-founder at CircNova, Inc., Owner at Alfa Jango
Steve Schwartz is a prominent figure in the technology and biotechnology sectors, currently serving as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of CircNova, Inc. He has a strong background in innovation and entrepreneurship, having also founded Alfa Jango, a company focused on advanced technology solutions.
Professional Background
- CircNova, Inc.: As CTO, Schwartz plays a critical role in steering the company's technological direction and product development.
- Alfa Jango: In addition to his role at CircNova, he is the owner of Alfa Jango, which emphasizes his entrepreneurial spirit.
- Previous Ventures: Schwartz was also a co-founder and former CTO of Genomenon, a company that was acquired by Boston Genetics, and Carcode, which was acquired by Edmunds. This experience highlights his significant contributions to the tech industry through various successful startups.
Education
Steve Schwartz graduated from Kettering University, which is known for its engineering and technical programs, providing him with a solid foundation for his career in technology.
Online Presence
You can find more about his professional journey and insights on his LinkedIn profile where he shares updates and engages with the community.
Highlights
Was I right with my AI startup hot take? New study indicates describing products as AI reduces trust and purchase intentions.
https://lnkd.in/etzte9WB
I've gotten so much push-back over the years when saying startups are too quick to describe their products as AI in industries where the target customer considers it undesirable. I think it's done for ego and to impress investors. Examples I've seen include products in clinical diagnosis and financial accounting. Some needs require utmost predictability, observability, and ultimately, understandability.
There are some industries and markets that benefit from AI. But that's the point. Think first. Market the benefits. I've seen some claim AI isn't a benefit, it's a feature. I'd argue it's not even a feature, it's an implementation detail, like using an object-oriented programming language or a relational database. It can imply some feature or benefit, but why not instead market the benefit directly?
Focus on the needs of the customer and industry. Describe the benefits. For customers and investors alike, remove the AI veil of opacity, by describing simply what the AI is doing.
AI startup hot take: If a startup is putting AI in their name or domain, they're more focused on the tech and hype of AI than the problem they're solving.*
When the scope of the company's technology grows beyond the AI components, and the AI hype dips, they'll be saddled with an identity focused on a single aspect of the company. I may start calling this nominative hype'rfocus, describing a company's name being both hyperfocused [on one small aspect], as well as being focused on hype. I'd be concerned the nominative hype'rfocus is indicative of a broader, myopic hype'rfocus in the company's strategy and business.
I'm also weary of using a .ai top-level domain, intended for use by another country and controlled by their government, and thus subject to changes in their commerce and politics. Heed lessons from the .ly domain. Are the incremental branding benefits of the .ai TLD worth the risks?
*If the problem the company is solving is to help others implement AI, then ignore this post.
