Andy’s story begins as a gifted child who joined the Navy, became an engineer, and went out to the world of tech entrepreneurship.
In this episode of Before IT Happened, our host Donna Loughlin tells the story of Andy Lowery, a pioneer in the development of wearable technology. Andy’s story begins as a gifted child who joined the Navy, became an engineer, and went out to the world of tech entrepreneurship. Realware, the brand he co-founded, is now the industry leader for powerful, voice-operated headset computers, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in to learn how Andy built this successful brand by observing and iterating on other tech companies’ mistakes.
Before any world-changing innovation, there was a moment, an event, a realization that sparked the idea before it happened. This is a podcast about that moment — about that idea. Before IT Happened takes you on a journey with the innovators who imagined — and are still imagining — our future. Join host Donna Loughlin as her guests tell their stories of how they brought their visions to life.
JUMP STRAIGHT INTO:
(01:49) - Andy Lowery, a gifted child who joined the US military - “I had all this built up momentum and all this passion. I was super happy about being a Marine and fighting dragons.”
(07:27) - Becoming an engineer for the Navy in the “.com” boom - “I really was trying to get through college quickly, get my military obligation out of the way so I could go be an entrepreneur.”
(11:56) - Military and corporate life vs. Andy’s entrepreneurial spirit - “Even in a huge socialistic structure like the military, you can still have entrepreneurial feelings and adventures.”
(17:08) - Andy’s avant-garde tech company, DAQRI - “We built some of the craziest, most outlandish platforms and products and things that were way ahead of their time.”
(21:14) - Realware: Jumping the line in the wearable technology space - “If I just fix the problems I saw Google Glass was having, I think I'm onto something. I think there's a real demand for it.”
(26:59) - How to get 50+ paying customers with a beta product? Plus, the unbelievable Alexander Rainsberger - “Our summit was incredible! It was unheard of to have such a well-run and well-attended event.”
(32:30) - How the pandemic boosted Realware - “COVID changed that because travel went to zero. They had to put a computer that you could wear on an airplane so that they could then transmit back what they were seeing to someone who knew how to fix it.”
(35:19) - Mission accomplished?: Why Andy left for Harvest Technology Group - “I wanted to go places with Realware that cellphones don't typically go. But I realized there was a major problem, connectivity.”
EPISODE RESOURCES:
Connect with Andy Lowery through Twitter and LinkedIn
Read GeekWire’s Geek of the Week: After years as Navy nuke officer, RealWear CEO Andy Lowery finds a new connection
Watch Andy speak at the second RealWear Summit
Watch the SNL Google Glass Weekend Update
Learn more about Harvest’s Industrial Grade Connectivity
See RealWear’s Hands-Free Wearable Headset Computers
Learn more about Apogee Semiconductor
Before IT Happened is produced by Donna Loughlin and StudioPod Media with additional editing and sound design by Nodalab. The show coordinator is Deanna Morenci and the audio engineering was provided by Dave Clarke McCoy. The Executive Producer is Katie Sunku Wood. All episodes are written by Jack Buehrer.
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