Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

From breakthrough tech to startup reality

Great ideas are only the beginning.

This episode explores what happens next - how deeptech founders try to turn scientific breakthroughs into real companies.

We attended a pitch night at London Business School where startups were presenting their ideas to investors. Among them were Nanoloom, developing sustainable graphene-based fibres for textiles, and Auralytica, building chemical sensors that can detect food spoilage.

But raising money isn’t easy. Research shows female founders still receive only around 2% of venture capital funding - despite strong evidence that women led businesses often perform as well as or better than male-led ones.So how do you get investors to believe in your idea?

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]
➡️ Email: [email protected]

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en)
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co) ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)

➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769)

➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)

If you like our show please rate and review us.

The AI Boom Is Fuelling a New Wave of E-Waste
Artificial intelligence may feel invisible, but the hardware powering it is very real - and short-lived. As companies race to deploy powerful AI servers, turnover of specialised chips and equipment is accelerating. Yet major tech firms rarely disclose AI-specific hardware figures, making it difficult to track where outdated machines end up. With less than a quarter of global e-waste recycled, the expansion of AI infrastructure could quietly add to a growing waste crisis - an angle we’re reporting on for the first time. The Digiconomist, Alex de Vries-Gao, explains his latest research.

Can AI Also Be Part of the Solution? Tackling Cyberbullying in Real Time
While AI raises environmental concerns, it’s also being deployed to solve urgent social challenges. With more than one in three young people globally reporting experiences of online bullying, according to UNICEF, the need for early intervention is clear. Serbian startup CyberParent says its AI-powered app can detect signs of cyberbullying on a child’s phone and alert parents in real time - aiming to stop harm before it escalates. Nemanja Stojmenovic, founder of Cyberparent is on the show.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]
➡️ Email: [email protected]


📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en)
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co) ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)

➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769)
➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)

If you like our show please rate and review us.

🌍 When Satellite Images Lie: The Rise of Space Deepfakes
Deepfakes are no longer just fake celebrity videos - they’re moving into orbit. AI can now generate or manipulate satellite images, potentially fabricating disasters, military sites, or climate events. In a world that relies on satellite data for journalism, science, and security, that’s a serious threat. Shoaib Burq, AI Researcher Project Lead at Verisat AI explains how they can detect hidden “fingerprints” left by generative models. Backed by the European Space Agency, the project is building tools to help governments and media separate real imagery from artificial deception - before misinformation spreads.

🗣️ African Languages Go Digital: The App Reclaiming Identity Through Tech
Esther Imogu, Founder CEO, NaijaTeach Technology, is preserving and teaching African languages using an app. NaijaTeach helps users learn African languages like Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Pidgin with accurate pronunciation, cultural context, and interactive lessons designed for both children and adults. Built with native educators rather than automated translations, the platform supports tonal learning and real-life usage. With plans to expand into Arabic, NaijaTeach is part of a growing movement using tech to strengthen identity, heritage, and connection.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]
➡️ Email: [email protected]

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en)
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)

➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769)

➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)

If you like our show please rate and review us.

🎙️ Agentic AI, Audio Ads the Future of Creativity
At Web Summit Qatar in Doha, the marketing world asked a bold question: when AI starts planning, creating, and deciding - what’s left for humans? Wilfrid Obeng, Co-Founder of AudioMob talks about how AI is transforming advertising in real time. From hyper-personalised audio ads generated on the fly to emotion-powered voice cloning inspired by tools like ElevenLabs, Wilfred explains how brands are reaching audiences faster, cheaper, and more creatively than ever before - without losing the human spark.

💼 Fighting Job Scams in Nigeria: Mission to Empower Women in the Job Market
We head to Nigeria, where Adeife Adeoye, Founder and CEO of “Remote WorkHer”, is tackling one of the country’s biggest challenges: employment fraud and job insecurity. With over 23 million Nigerians unemployed or underemployed, Remote WorkHers is building a verified, all-in-one career platform designed specifically for women. By manually vetting both employers and candidates - and refusing to rely solely on AI – tech is creating a safer, smarter pathway to meaningful work in one of Africa’s toughest job markets.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]
➡️ Email: [email protected]

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en)
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co) ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)

➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769)
➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)

If you like our show please rate and review us.

🌍 Scaling Local Innovation Into Global Influence
Recorded at Web Summit Qatar in Doha, we explore how organisations build global relevance without losing their local roots. As markets become more interconnected, AI and strategic leadership are essential to scaling beyond borders. Yasmin Kayali, Chief Marketing Officer and Societal Impact Leader at Deloitte Middle East, and Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, unpack how global brands localise strategy, why Serbia is emerging as a tech hotspot, and how teaching coding and AI early is fuelling next-gen innovation.

💡 Nigerian Women Using AI Health Tech to Save Lives
Africa has some of the world’s highest rates of delayed diagnosis for conditions like breast and cervical cancer. Now a new app uses AI triage, virtual consultations, and hybrid services to shrink the gender health gap - helping millions of women access care earlier and with confidence. Victoria Okundaye, Operations Lead at Débbo Africa, shares how her team is building a new health platform - designed to connect women with the right care as quickly and as safely as possible.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/ Production manager: Liz Tuohy Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.
🎥 Learn more about what we do:
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]
➡️ Email: [email protected]

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en)
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co) ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)

➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769)
➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)

If you like our show please rate and review us.