# 308: More Energy

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2019-11-01
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 308
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-01-308-more-energy
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/308-more-energy

## Summary

Jacob Martinez, founder and CEO of DigitalNEST, a non-profit workforce development center in Watsonville and Salinas, CA, explains how the organization provides free technology access and career training to youth aged 14-24. Martinez discusses the challenge of Silicon Valley companies recruiting from distant universities rather than local communities, and how DigitalNEST bridges this gap by teaching technical skills alongside essential soft skills like teamwork and confidence. He details the organization's funding model, which relies heavily on individual donors and foundations because the Santa Cruz County location falls outside the eligibility bubble for major tech grants, and outlines plans to scale the model to other 'forgotten' communities.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-01-308-more-energy#t=6) Introduction: Jacob Martinez and DigitalNEST
- [1:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-01-308-more-energy#t=66) DigitalNEST's Mission and Model
- [4:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-01-308-more-energy#t=286) Addressing the Local Talent Gap
- [6:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-01-308-more-energy#t=380) The Importance of Soft Skills and Social Capital
- [13:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-01-308-more-energy#t=813) Funding Challenges and Community Support
- [24:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-01-308-more-energy#t=1449) Overcoming Barriers to Tech Access
- [36:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-01-308-more-energy#t=2201) Scaling DigitalNEST and Challenging Silicon Valley

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- DigitalNEST (company)
- Driscolls (company)
- Martin Aliases (company)
- West Marine (company)
- Google (company)
- Facebook (company)
- Apple (company)
- Adobe Creative Suite (product)
- Plantronics (product)
- Logic (product)
- Cruise IO (company)
- Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (company)
- Kiva (company)
- Vote.org (company)
- American Express (company)
- NEST Flight (product)
- BizzNEST (product)

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- [BONUS - IPC President and CEO John Mitchell on Talent Shortages at APEX 2023 - EMSNOW & SCOOP On Location](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-02-02-bonus-ipc-president-and-ceo-john-mitchell-on-talent-shortages-at-apex-2023-emsno) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Education Panel: How to Expand the Semiconductor Industry Talent Pool](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-23-education-panel-how-to-expand-the-semiconductor-industry-talent-pool) (EE Times Current)
- [The Robots Aren’t Coming For Your Jobs | Venture For America, Pittsburgh Robotics Network | Jenny Sharpe](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-09-16-the-robots-arent-coming-for-your-jobs-venture-for-america-pittsburgh-robotics-ne) (TRADEOFFS)
- [How Large Organizations Can Help Close the Skills Gap with PPG's Divya Thadani](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-03-how-large-organizations-can-help-close-the-skills-gap-with-ppgs-divya-thadani) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-01-308-more-energy. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.