Liftoff with Keith: Conversations with Super Founders and Growth Experts sharing useful insights

Physical AI is everywhere in the conversation, but getting it to work reliably in the real world is a very different challenge.
In this episode of Liftoff with Keith Newman, Keith sits down with Mike Link, COO of Kami Vision, to explore what it takes to move computer vision and physical AI from promising demos to real-world products operating across millions of devices.
Mike shares how Kami Vision evolved from home security into AI-powered applications for elder care, including fall detection and remote monitoring, while continuing to expand into enterprise security and robotics.
The conversation covers:
What makes scaling physical AI different from traditional software
Moving from hardware to software and eventually an AI-native model
Using computer vision to transform elder care
The challenges of enterprise AI deployment
Privacy, trust and adoption in real-world environments
Why partner-led distribution can accelerate growth
How AI agents are changing internal business operations
Why founders should get real customers using their product before trying to scale
A practical conversation about the gap between building AI that works in a demo and building AI that works in the real world.
Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/
Connect with John:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbrenard/
Website: https://www.southviewtimber.com/
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Website: https://liftoffwithkeith.com/
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Most investors are chasing the next hot market—from AI and data centers to the latest high-growth opportunities.
But sometimes, the better opportunity is hiding somewhere few people are looking.
In this episode of Liftoff with Keith Newman, Keith sits down with John Brennard, Managing Director & Founder of Southview Timberland Investments, to explore the world of timberland investing and what makes it an intriguing alternative asset class.
John shares how his family's timberland investment in 2008 introduced him to the asset class, eventually leading him to build Southview around timberland and rural land investments across the U.S. Southeast.
The conversation goes beyond timberland, covering:
How to find opportunity in overlooked markets
Why disciplined underwriting matters
The value of patient ownership and hands-on execution
How timber harvesting and land development can create value
Why understanding an investment is critical before entering private markets
The importance of staying close to sales and making progress every day
As John puts it, there are no shortcuts in this game—and sometimes the best opportunities aren't the ones everyone is talking about.
Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/Connect with John:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbrenard/
Website: https://www.southviewtimber.com/

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Most founders think they have a growth problem, team problem, or technology problem.
But what if the real constraint is the founder?
In this episode of Liftoff with Keith Newman, Keith sits down with Damon Flowers, a business growth expert who has spent more than two decades building, scaling, and exiting companies across SaaS, eCommerce, coaching, and real estate—including taking one company from $3.5 million to $30 million in just two years.
Damon explains why businesses often struggle to scale because their founders become the glue holding disconnected systems, people, and processes together.
The conversation explores:
Why a business can only grow as far as its founder does
How founders become the bottleneck without realizing it
The three stages of building a scalable business
Why growth should come after the right operational foundation
How disconnected tools can create more chaos
Why simply adding AI tools isn't enough
How an integrated operating system can help businesses move faster
What founders need to change to make faster decisions and respond to the market
Damon's core message is simple:
Don't just try to grow faster. Build a business that is actually ready to grow.
Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/
Connect with Damon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonflowers
Website: https://modernoperators.com/
Media Kit: https://on.modernoperators.com/media/
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What if you're building a successful company—but accidentally building a life you don't actually want?
In this episode of Liftoff with Keith Newman, Keith sits down with Charles T. Lee, founder of Ideation, to explore what it really means to build a successful business while protecting your health, relationships, purpose, and personal well-being.
Charles shares why founders should:
Slow down to create space for better ideas
Invest in people, not just technology
Understand their personal rhythms and energy
Let go of ego and focus on building the right team
Make time for reflection and personal development
Stop comparing themselves to other founders
Think about what "enough" and success really mean
They also discuss how AI can give founders something increasingly valuable: more time to focus on the human side of leadership.
The goal isn't simply to build a great company.
It's to build a great company without losing the life you're building it for.
Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/
Connect with Charles:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlestlee/
Website: https://theideation.com/
Book: http://www.designyourgoodlife.com/
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Most founders never think about transfer agents... until they become a problem.
In this episode of Liftoff with Keith Newman, Keith sits down with Rob Schoder, Co-Founder & CEO of Vinyl Equity, to discuss why one of the most important pieces of capital markets infrastructure has remained stuck in the past—and how modern technology is changing it.
Drawing from his experience leading portfolio operations at AngelList, Rob explains why outdated shareholder systems create unnecessary friction for founders, investors, and public companies, and how Vinyl is building the next generation of ownership infrastructure.
In this episode you'll learn:
Why transfer agents are critical to every public company
The biggest challenges companies face during IPOs
How legacy infrastructure slows innovation
Why API-first platforms are changing capital markets
The growing role of AI in shareholder management
Lessons from building a regulated fintech startup
Why founders should market their wins earlier
What the future of capital markets could look like
Whether you're a founder, CFO, investor, legal professional, or fintech enthusiast, this conversation offers valuable insights into the technology powering modern equity ownership.
Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/
Connect with Rob:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwsjr/
Website: https://www.vinylequity.com/
Vinyl Equity LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vinyl-equity/home/
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Want to build a high-growth company without falling into the administration trap? Subscribe to Liftoff with Keith and follow for weekly conversations with the founders building what's next.