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Mike Oder
Entrepreneur, VR/AR/XR
Professional Background
Mike Oder is a prominent figure in the fields of biology, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR). He has successfully bridged the gap between scientific inquiry and technological innovation, carving out a niche as an insightful organizer and passionate advocate for immersive technologies. With a strong foundation in the sciences from one of the top institutions in the world, Mike holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the prestigious California Institute of Technology. His academic background not only highlights his dedication to understanding complex systems but also equips him with the analytical skills essential for success in the fast-paced technology landscape.
Over the years, Mike has contributed significantly to the immersive technology community, most notably through his role as an organizer for the AR/VR Creators Meetup Group. This platform serves as a hub for creators, developers, and enthusiasts to share ideas, showcase innovations, and foster collaboration. By facilitating an environment of learning and creativity, Mike plays a crucial role in promoting the potential of AR and VR to transform industries ranging from entertainment to education.
Prior to his current endeavors, Mike co-founded Enigmatic, a company devoted to exploring the boundaries of interactive media. His entrepreneurial spirit was also demonstrated through his work at Eggroll Games, where he contributed to the development of engaging gaming experiences that leverage cutting-edge technology.
In addition to his organizational efforts, Mike has also been involved in public speaking, particularly focusing on mobile and virtual reality development. His ability to communicate complex ideas in a relatable manner has made him a sought-after speaker at various tech conferences and workshops, where he shares his insights on the intersection of biology, technology, and the emerging world of immersive experiences.
Education and Achievements
Mike's academic journey began at the California Institute of Technology, where he pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biology. This rigorous program not only instilled a profound appreciation for scientific inquiry but also sharpened his critical thinking abilities and problem-solving skills. The knowledge gained during his studies has informed his approach to technology, particularly in understanding user behavior and the implications of innovative design in AR/VR applications.
Mike's career trajectory showcases a blend of entrepreneurship and community engagement. As a co-founder of Enigmatic, he was integral in shaping the company’s vision and creating experiences that resonate with diverse audiences. At Eggroll Games, he demonstrated his versatility and passion for gaming, where he contributed to projects that leveraged emergent technologies to enhance user engagement and storytelling.
Additionally, his work as an organizer for the AR/VR Creators Meetup Group reflects his commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a supportive community amongst creators in the VR and AR space.
Achievements
- Leadership in the AR/VR Community: As the organizer of the AR/VR Creators Meetup Group, Mike has successfully brought together countless professionals and enthusiasts, enhancing collaboration within the immersive technology sphere.
- Innovative Contributions in Gaming: Through his involvement with Eggroll Games, Mike has contributed to the development and success of games that utilize advanced technologies, fostering a love of gaming and immersive experiences.
- Effective Communicator and Educator: Mike's public speaking engagements highlight his skill in translating complex technical concepts into accessible narratives, empowering others to understand and leverage technology in their own endeavors. His commitment to public education places him at the forefront of technology advocacy, where he inspires others to explore the benefits and possibilities of AR and VR.
- Entrepreneurial Spirit: As a co-founder of multiple startups, Mike has demonstrated a knack for identifying opportunities within the tech landscape, driving innovation and inspiring collaboration among diverse teams.
In conclusion, Mike Oder's education in biology coupled with his extensive experience in the AR and VR sectors makes him a valuable asset to the tech community. His leadership in organizing meetups, coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit, positions him as a thought leader in the immersive technology space. As technology continues to evolve, Mike's contributions will likely have a lasting impact, inspiring future generations of creators and innovators in the fields of augmented and virtual reality.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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- Reminders and Notes: Helps you remember important details about contacts
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- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay takes privacy seriously. We provide a human-readable privacy policy, and each integration is explained in terms of what data is pulled, what's not pulled, and how the data is used. Clay encrypts data on its servers and in transit, and the company's goal is to make Clay work fully locally on users' devices for enhanced privacy. Clay is also SOC 2 Type 2 certified.
Clay is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Clay is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
Clay is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.