Artist Uprising connects creative talent with large corporations and businesses. The company started with Merrick’s passion for artists and her desire to see “starving artists” get paid. Many talented artists lack business skills. There is a need for them to bridge the gap between their work and the business world. Both sides have a hard time communicating their needs. Merrick comes in and helps them get on the same page.

When it comes to finding artists, Merrick does a lot of work through Instagram. Her team focuses on acquiring talent that isn’t mega-famous yet but still has large followings. Having consistent content that has a purpose is very important as well. Merrick refers to word of mouth as one of the best ways to find solid talent, similar to how the corporate world operates.

Artist Uprising and Innovation

When the conversation of NFTs started getting popular, Merrick got flooded with requests from artists wanting to collaborate. NFTs are digital assets that are purchased and represent things like pieces of art. Artist Uprising eventually hosted the first NFT pop-up gallery in the Richardson area, the third in the country. The event was successful and boosted the business.

In Richardson, Artist Uprising pulls in local artists to work on murals, augmented reality murals, live music activations, live music festivals, etc. For businesses, they even bring in musicians to perform at monthly happy hours. During COVID, murals were the company’s principal work. Since musicians couldn’t play live shows, they augmented pre-recorded concerts within art murals.

Collaboration Success

Now more than ever, Merrick believes that brands want to connect with creatives. Last year, Artist Uprising collaborated with Cannon USA when they were coming out with a poster printer. The commercial was artist-focused rather than product-focused, which promoted the printer in perfect light.

Large collaborations are often challenging to make authentic, but they can be done with the right people and focus. Artists live and breathe ideation, but when companies are over-controlling, they halt that creativity. Artist Uprising educates and brings both parties together, resulting in unique innovations that benefit everyone.

About our Guest: Merrick Porcheddu

Merrick is the Founder of Artist Uprising, a business resource for talent and a talent resource for business. They focus on abolishing starving artistry by curating and booking talent and creative experiences for brands and organizations. Merrick is becoming an NFT expert in Richardson, Texas. She is passionate about bridging the gap between creatives and the corporate world.

Adaptive 3D is an innovative company that partnered with Desktop Metal and UT Dallas. Walter Voit discusses the innovation behind microarchitecture within material manufacturing and how partnerships in Richardson, Texas, have created a thriving innovation ecosystem.

Innovating 3D Printing and University Research

At Adaptive 3D, Walter focuses on using 3D printing to produce additive materials. The company recently joined Desktop Metal to mass manufacture durable materials rapidly. Printing is often limited to small parts, so the company focuses on manufacturing large materials.

In companies like Adaptive 3D, a new generation of designers uses AI to enhance the manufacturing process. Materials are more intelligently architected, resulting in lower costs, lighter materials, increased sustainability, etc. Microarchitecture is what drives these innovations. As technologies scale, the ability to build large microarchitecture inexpensively becomes a reality.

In the past, there has always been a tradeoff between going green and being cost-efficient. The goal of Adaptive 3D is to have a balance of both. If, by the power of microarchitecture, turning cost structure on its head, it will benefit both the internal supply chain and external customers.

Adaptive 3D with UT Dallas

Adaptive 3D is a few miles from UT Dallas. Walter is an associate professor of material science and engineering and mechanical engineering at the university. Even though it’s a young university, UT-Dallas has been a pioneer in tech transfer and the original location for the core technology.

In Dallas, there is an incredible drive to solve practical problems for industries. Since the tech transfer program emerged, the university has supported founders and inventors and flourished innovation. Part of this is because local industries and UT Dallas have such close ties. The university truly understands what the industry needs to survive and thrive.

The Richardson IQ

The Richardson IQ is the real deal when looking at public and private cooperation. UT-Dallas, Texas Instruments, Raytheon, etc., has created a merging ecosystem of startups and seasoned experts who want to change the game. In Texas, people don’t look to the government to solve their problems. Instead, they do it themselves. Government leadership has established a system that supports this mindset, allowing the ecosystem to thrive.

About our Guest: Walter Voit

Walter Voit is the President and CEO at Adaptive3D, the premium Additive Manufacturing polymer resin supplier. Walter leads one of the new University of Texas – Dallas research centers in the IQ, focused on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Desktop Metal recently acquired adaptive 3D.

Joining us are three guests who lead innovation efforts in Richardson, Texas, known for the "Telecom Corridor." The Richardson Innovation Quarter (IQ) lies within the city, a 1,200 square foot land where innovative companies and entrepreneurs collaborate.

The Richardson Innovation Quarter

Paul Voelker has been in the Richardson, Texas area for over thirty years. To Paul, being mayor is his way of giving back to the community. Richardson has a wealth of innovation history behind it. At the time when Paul became Mayor, Richardson's innovation focus was on large companies. He and his team decided to shift the focus from large companies to entrepreneurs and startups. Doug McDonald leveraged Richardson's history and the city's connection with the University of Texas – Dallas. His task was implementing the mayor's vision to bring new innovative companies and individuals to Richardson,

Innovation Partnership

An innovation partnership with UT Dallas has been a key factor in IQ's growth. Dr. Joseph Pancrazio is the Vice President for Research at UT Dallas in Richardson and is part of the Innovation Quarter. The partnership's primary focus is revitalizing the IQ through specialized innovation efforts. The university believes that its partnership with the City of Richardson is the beginning of something unique.

Paul and the city team understand and embrace the fact that they live in a global marketplace. UT-Dallas exemplifies this marketplace with the diversity of its students. Dr. Pancrazio says that UT-Dallas has 200 national merit scholars and that the students have created a culture of excellence. Paul emphasizes the diverse group of talented students in the city during talks with businesses about moving there. In my opinion, it is that diversity that often brings excellent ideas.

Implementing the Vision

In terms of selling the vision of the new IQ, the biggest obstacle that Doug deals with is running a major hub to showcase the area's uniqueness. Through the partnership with Dr. Pancrazio and UT-Dallas, this hub is in the works. UT-Dallas offers the companies in Richardson the opportunity to acquire research from them, often sparking innovations.

In Richardson, places like the IQ create value, culture, and ultimately wealth. This wealth is what drives many innovative ideas. It then gets reinvested back into institutions, companies, and the highly educated workforce in the area. There is power in the vision held by both teams; Mayor Voelker's and the University of Dallas, Richardson's.

About our Guests: Paul Voelker, Doug McDonald, Dr. Joseph Pancrazio

Paul Voelker is the current Mayor of Richardson, Texas, and a Business Development Executive at Lone Star Analysis. After receiving his BA in Business Administration from William Penn University, Paul went to work for HP, where he took on numerous roles in his twenty-eight years with the company. He is a sales and marketing executive with experience in business development, marketing, and portfolio and alliance management.

Doug McDonald is the Strategic Initiatives Manager at the City of Richardson, under Mayor Paul Voelker.

Dr. Joseph Pancrazio is the Vice President for Innovation & Research at the City of Richardson under Mayor Paul Voelker.

Today, we see an emergence of technologies in healthcare. Richardson Methodist Medical Center is at the helm of breakthrough medical innovations. Josh Smith joins us to discuss his work at the medical center around cardiology and electrophysiology.

Technology Breakthroughs and Challenges

Technology has allowed physicians and scientists to explore sub-specialties of specialties like cardiology. Josh is a cardiologist specializing in electrophysiology, the study of the heart's conduction, and correct abnormal heart rhythms.

Fifty years ago, there wasn't a lot that cardiologists could do to help those with heart issues. Partnerships between physicians and companies aided in accelerating healthcare innovation. Due to these partnerships, many of the technologies created are available to consumers. One ongoing challenge for hospital systems is acquiring technology and staying up to date with it.

Eight years ago, at the Cable Labs, the healthcare industry asked us to create a cable lab. We had to get the hospitals and the manufactures to work together to standardize the operation. This task was very complicated because it required several different components to work together.

Josh has noticed how more people are now researching the health issues they are having. The availability of information empowers people to do their research. Growing up, my mom would avoid the doctor at all costs, but with personalized healthcare, there is now so much good that can be done.

The evolution of technology has opened up the door for life-changing treatment. My dad had a severe heart issue in the 1970s, and the technology at the time left him in the hospital for three or four days. Now, top cardiologists can perform certain operations in ten minutes. Years ago, Josh had a pain in his chest and went to get it checked. It turned out he had a blockage and had to get two stints. He is thankful that he went because he protected his heart for the long term. None of this would have been possible if it weren't for innovators in the medical field.

Richardson Methodist Medical Center

People often think that all innovation happens in Silicon Valley. In reality, there are innovators all over the U.S and all around the world. The people at Richardson Methodist Medical are doing some groundbreaking innovations. A typical open-heart surgery would take seven to ten days. At Richard Methodist Medical Center, a device bypasses that process.

About four years ago, the medical center launched the TAVR Program, which deploys a valve within your heart's valve, resulting in the valve functioning again. This procedure drastically improves the lives of those suffering from heart issues. The outcome of this healthcare innovation is truly amazing.

Future Healthcare Innovation

Currently, pacemakers have a life of 7-10 years. Innovators in the medical world are currently working on making chargeable pacemakers, which Josh is excited about. Josh is also excited about the possibility of 3D-printed organs and things of that nature. Dean Kamen, who was previously on the show, is currently creating that technology with his team.

Josh is also really excited about the potential of telehealth. Due to COVID, telehealth accelerated, and I believe it will continue to grow. Josh thinks the next big one will be something related to telehealth when it comes to healthcare consumer devices.

About our Guest: Josh Smith

Josh Smith is a U.S Army Veteran and an Invasive Cardiologist, Electrophysiologist, and Radiologist at Methodist Richardson Medical Center in Richardson, Texas. Josh joined the team at Methodist Richardson Medical Center in 2015 and is passionate about advancing healthcare innovation through technology and evidence-based practice.