Ignite Startups: Scaling AI Solutions for Safety with Egor Olteanu of Volt AI | #108

Ignite: Conversations on Startups, Venture Capital, Tech, Future, and Society

In this episode of the Ignite podcast, host Brian Bell interviews Egor Olteanu, co-founder and CEO of Volt AI. Egor shares his journey from joining the U.S. Army after high school, which instilled in him the discipline and resilience that paved the way for his career. He later worked at Google X, where he contributed to high-profile projects such as Google Loon and witnessed the company's immense growth. Egor explains how his experiences at Google X, surrounded by some of the brightest minds, helped shape his entrepreneurial mindset and prepared him to start his own venture in the AI space.

Egor also discusses the origin of Volt AI, an AI-driven startup focused on improving physical security. He recounts how a close encounter with a shooting incident at the YouTube campus in 2018 prompted him and his co-founder to think about how technology could be used to prevent such tragedies. Volt AI uses AI to monitor existing security cameras and detect threats in real time, providing a crucial tool for first responders to minimize response times. Egor shares compelling stories of how their system has helped prevent potential disasters and improved security in schools and businesses, illustrating the impact and necessity of this technology.

In the latter part of the episode, Egor touches on the challenges of balancing privacy and security in an AI-driven world, emphasizing that their system is designed to protect people without compromising individual rights. He also talks about the importance of building tools that genuinely help first responders, making them more effective at their jobs rather than providing unnecessary gadgets. As Volt AI continues to expand, Egor envisions a future where AI and automation revolutionize physical security, reducing human error and increasing efficiency across industries.

The conversation wraps up with insights into Egor's leadership philosophy, including the importance of resilience and adaptability in high-pressure situations. He also advises aspiring entrepreneurs to take action and start building their ideas, as there is no perfect time to begin. Egor leaves listeners with a powerful message: start now, face your fears, and keep moving forward despite the challenges.

Chapters:

Introduction to Egor Olteanu & Volt AI (00:01 – 00:44)

Egor's Journey: From Military Service to Google X (00:45 – 03:28)

The Birth of Volt AI: Inspiration from a Near-Tragedy (03:29 – 06:46)

How Volt AI Integrates with Existing Security Systems (06:47 – 10:24)

Challenges of Working at Google X & Lessons Learned (10:25 – 13:31)

Real-Time Threat Detection: How Volt AI Works (13:32 – 17:07)

Volt AI's Impact: Success Stories in Schools and Enterprises (17:08 – 22:15)

Balancing Privacy and Security in an AI-Driven World (22:16 – 25:48)

AI in Security: A Look at Future Trends (25:49 – 32:15)

Overcoming Challenges in Entrepreneurship (32:16 – 38:14)

Fundraising and Growth of Volt AI (38:15 – 43:01)

The Role of AI in Reducing Human Error in Security (43:02 – 48:44)

Volt AI’s Vision for the Future (48:45 – 52:13)

Rapid Fire Questions with Egor (52:14 – 56:50)