In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Bill Near, Founder and CEO of Helios, a performance wearable helping hockey players and teams improve faster through motion-based data and video integration.

Bill breaks down Helios’ first-principles approach to avoiding “tech fatigue” by delivering recurring, practical value—most notably through time-saving video workflows and emerging AI-driven coaching insights that turn raw data into actionable development guidance for players and parents alike.

Bill also shares the personal and technical journey behind Helios, from growing up playing hockey in New Hampshire to studying engineering at MIT and recognizing a critical gap in player development technology. He explains how Helios was built as a zero-infrastructure solution using motion sensors rather than rink-based tracking, enabling scalable adoption across youth, collegiate, and professional levels.

Be inspired by Bill Near’s clear-eyed take on data, coaching, and building technology athletes actually stick with on in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Helios
https://helioshockey.com/


Bill Near's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/billnear/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ole Lensmar, co-founder and CTO of Testkube.

Ole shares his unique perspective growing up across Germany, the US, and Sweden, and how those experiences shaped his adaptability and approach to entrepreneurship. He reflects on the differences between launching tech startups in Europe versus the United States, and why he believes the US remains a more mature market for scaling innovation. From his first ventures in the mid-90s to the creation of SoapUI, Ole explains how his passion for coding and solving practical problems led him to build tools that filled gaps in the QA and software testing space.

Ole dives into the origins of Testkube, explaining its mission to decouple testing from CI/CD pipelines and empower QA teams with a centralized, cloud-native platform. He discusses the open-source model, the challenges of enterprise sales, and the evolution of his ideal customer profile. Ole also shares insights on how Testkube differentiates itself from CI/CD tools and cloud execution vendors, enabling companies to run unlimited tests at scale without infrastructure limitations.

Explore how Ole Lensmar turned coding challenges into software solutions and shaped modern QA practices in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Testkube
https://testkube.io/


Ole Lensmar's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/olensmar/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Det Ansinn, the founder of Brick Simple LLC, serial entrepreneur with four successful exits, and current CEO of MedTech company Neuralert.

Det shares his journey from pumping gas at the Doylestown Airport to building multiple innovative ventures, emphasizing the value of authentic connections, strong team culture, and pursuing projects that excite him over purely profit-driven motives. From creating Brick Simple’s first product to developing apps for Xbox Live and navigating the post-dot-com era, Det reflects on how his experiences shaped his approach to entrepreneurship and leadership.

Det also delves into his current work at Neuralert, a breakthrough stroke detection company, where he stepped in as CEO following the previous leader’s unexpected passing. Det discusses the unique challenges of leading a company he didn’t found, the importance of building resilient teams, and his dedication to making a meaningful impact in healthcare. He also shares insights on the Bucks County startup ecosystem, balancing professional intensity with personal passions like motorcycling, and maintaining perspective through mental health practices.

Step inside Det Ansinn’s world and discover a career fueled by curiosity, innovation, and purposeful action in this insightful episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
BrickSimple LLC
http://bricksimple.com

Neuralert Technologies
https://neuralert.co

Det Ansinn's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/detansinn/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/