ASEF Podcast – Season 4 Launch and #35 Episode Featuring Bird Buddy
The ASEF Podcast returns for its fourth season, bringing thought-provoking discussions on science, technology, business, and global collaboration. This season introduces four unique verticals, each hosted by an ASEF Fellow, covering diverse topics from healthcare digitalization to philosophy of mind, business and technology, and firsthand experiences of ASEF Fellows in Slovenia.
- Luka Petravić explores how cutting-edge technologies are transforming healthcare.
- Tanja Janko delves into consciousness, philosophy of mind, and neurophilosophy.
- Martin Jurkovič shares stories of ASEF Fellows and their journey in the Visit Slovenia program.
- Frenk Dragar unpacks the intersection of AI, business, and entrepreneurship.
Episode #35: Scaling AI and Hardware Innovation with Bird Buddy
In the first episode of Season 4, we explore the journey of Bird Buddy, a Slovenian startup that has successfully blended AI, computer vision, and hardware to create a smart bird feeder loved by over half a million people worldwide.
Joining us is Tom Vodopivec, COO at Bird Buddy, who brings deep expertise in AI, startups, and venture capital.
Topics covered in this episode:
- The Bird Buddy journey, from Kickstarter success to $100 million in revenue
- Strategies for market validation and product development in deep tech
- The challenges of scaling a tech company between Slovenia and the USA
- Market differences, talent education, and international expansion
- The future of tech-for-nature startups and Bird Buddy’s next steps
About the guest:
Tom Vodopivec is the Chief Operating Officer at Bird Buddy, where he helps scale the company into a global tech-for-nature brand. He holds a PhD in artificial intelligence and has a background in data science and startup advising, specializing in strategy, product development, and data-driven decision-making. Before joining Bird Buddy, he worked with early-stage startups and investors, helping companies navigate growth and innovation. Now, he is leading Bird Buddy’s expansion, including the launch of the Wonder line, which brings AI-powered tracking to insects and plants to complement their original bird feeder technology.
Listen to the full episode to learn more about the intersection of AI, entrepreneurship, and environmental technology.