Erik's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-braund/
Katmai: https://katmaitech.com/

In this conversation, we explore how a former music producer from Alaska transitioned into founding a cutting-edge virtual office company, Katmai. Erik Braund shares the unexpected journey that led him from running a production studio to launching immersive video conferencing software at the height of the pandemic.

Erik walks us through how Katmai went from stealth mode to serving major clients like Starbucks, and why immersive 3D environments can radically change how remote teams communicate. We also dig into Katmai’s product evolution, the gamification of remote work, and how the company balances enterprise use cases with viral consumer experiences.

What you’ll learn:

- How Erik transitioned from a creative career to building a tech startup
- The origin story and product evolution of Katmai
- How immersive virtual offices are reshaping communication for remote teams
- Why Katmai built a custom experience for Starbucks and what it taught them about scale
- The role of video storytelling in explaining emerging tech

I hope you enjoy the episode!