Start At Zero
Start at Zero is a conversation-first podcast about what it actually takes to modernize technology, build a business from scratch, and make sense of AI without the hype. Episodes range from focused 15-minute interviews with government leaders and tech founders to longer deep dives where I walk through what I'm building in real time - the AI agents, the automation stack, the hard lessons from 20 years of consulting.
The tone is direct and honest. I don't do scripted questions or softball setups. I want the story behind the story - what went wrong, what you'd do differently, what nobody in the room was willing to say. Guests should expect a conversation that feels like two people working through a real problem together, not a performance.
Topics include government technology, AI in the real world, entrepreneurship, consulting, procurement, and the messy intersection of all of them. Some episodes are interviews, some are just me thinking out loud about something I built or broke that week.
If you've got a real story - something you built, something that failed, a lesson that cost you - you'll fit right in here. I'll send a loose topic outline beforehand, but the best episodes happen when we go off-script.
Episodes
141 episodes
How Long Should Digital Transformation Really Take?
How long should digital transformation actually take?Nine months? Twelve? Eighteen? Two years?In this episode of Untangled, we break down what truly determines a realistic public sector transformation timeline — and why t...
•
29:21
5 Budget Decisions That Will Shape Local Government Through 2030
In this episode of Untangled, an experienced public-sector consultant walks through the five critical technology areas local governments must prioritize as they prepare 2026–2027 budgets.With AI now overtaking cybersecurity as t...
•
55:31
Your Employees Will Reject This ERP Unless You Do This First
ERP implementations don’t fail because of software.They fail because people were never prepared to change.In this episode of Untangled, we unpack why so many government ERP projects stall after go-live — even when the techno...
•
23:40
Government AI Pilots Are Failing — Here’s Why
Over 90% of enterprise AI pilots never make it to production — and in local government, the consequences go far beyond wasted budgets.In this episode of Untangled, we break down why so many AI initiatives collapse after impressi...
•
34:16
AI & GovTech: The Race to Do It Right
AV sits down with Vidhu Shekhar, AI thought leader and Microsoft executive, to explore what it really means to lead in the age of artificial intelligence—from space-based data centers to responsible AI adoption in local government.They u...
•
28:47
The 90-Day ERP Check: Warning Signs That Predict Project Failure
Most ERP failures don’t come out of nowhere. They announce themselves early — usually within the first 90 days.In this episode of Untangled, we break down why the first three months of an ERP implementation determine the entire ...
•
26:37
Why Your AI Pilot Will Fail (And What Actually Works Instead)
Most government AI pilots don’t fail because the technology is bad. They fail because the problem was wrong, the data wasn’t ready, the demo lied, and no one defined what success actually meant.In this Untangled episode, we break down wh...
•
34:17
Why ERP Projects Break Down Long Before Go-Live
Most ERP projects don’t fail because of bad software or poor intent. They fail quietly, months or years earlier, when decisions are rushed, assumptions go unchallenged, and foundational work is skipped.This Untangled episode breaks down ...
•
26:03
Best of Breed vs All-in-One: The ERP Debate That’s Costing Governments Millions
The best-of-breed versus all-in-one ERP debate is framed as a choice — but that framing is the problem. Both sides are selling you something, and neither is telling the full truth.In this Untangled conversation, we break down why this is...
•
22:20
Dirty Data: Why Legacy ERP Migrations Fail Before They Start
Your data is dirty. Not because your staff is careless — but because legacy systems were designed to be forgiving. Over decades, phone number fields became notes, dates changed meaning, duplicates piled up, and rules were quietly broken to keep...
•
12:14
Bulletproof RFPs: How to Turn Procurement From Opinion Into Math
Most government RFPs aren’t vague because teams are careless — they’re vague because people are trying to be “fair.” Broad language feels safe. In reality, it’s exactly what gets agencies sued, protested, and stalled for years.In this ep...
•
9:14
Vaporware Traps: Why Government Keeps Falling for Software Demos
Software demos are built to sell you a story — not to show you what a product can actually do. And in government, that story can cost millions. Vendors walk in with polished screens, AI “prototypes,” and roadmap features presented as if they’re...
•
11:13
From Practitioner to CIO: The Leadership Evolution No One Talks About
A lot of government CIOs step into the role carrying years of technical experience — but almost no preparation for the executive expectations that come with it. The shift from practitioner to CIO is bigger than most people realize, and it has v...
•
38:12
Why Avero Isn’t a “Tech Firm” — And What Modernization Actually Requires
Avero gets labeled a “tech firm” all the time — but that’s exactly what we are not. In this episode, we break down why being vendor-agnostic matters, why we refuse to sell software, and why true modernization has far more to do with vi...
•
41:50
GovAI Summit Recap: Separating Signal from Noise in Government AI
The GovAI Coalition Summit brought together government leaders, vendors, and innovators to talk about the future of AI in the public sector. But beneath all the excitement, one truth stood out: not everything labeled “AI” is actually meaningful...
•
57:13
From Paper to Person: Injecting Life into Vendor Interviews in Public Procurement
Procurement shouldn’t feel like a cemetery of PowerPoints.In this episode of Untangled, Megan Seaton (VP of Strategic Growth) and Robert Kornovich (VP of Strategic Initiatives) dive into why so many shortlist ve...
•
38:17
Leveraging Technology to Build Trust in Local Government | ICMA 2025
Trust is the most valuable currency in local government — and technology can make or break it.In this episode of Untangled, AV shares insights from his ICMA 2025 presentation, “Leveraging Technology to Build Trust in ...
•
40:56
What’s a Realistic Timeline for Public Sector Transformation?
Every agency wants modernization to move faster—but how fast is realistic?In this episode of Untangled, Megan Seaton and Robert Kornovich break down the truth about transformation timelines. From readiness a...
•
29:21
From Phoenix to Policy: Reflections on Housing Innovation at NAHRO 2025
Innovation, AI, and community engagement were front and center at this year’s NAHRO Conference in Phoenix.In this episode of Untangled, Megan Seaton and Robert Kornovich recap key insights from conversations w...
•
36:57
What’s a Realistic Timeline for Public Sector Transformation?
Every city wants transformation fast—but is faster always better?In this episode of Untangled, Megan Seaton and Robert Kornovich break down what it really takes to modernize a public agency. From readiness assessments to vendor...
•
29:21
Modern Policing & Data-Driven Leadership: A Conversation with Chief Paul Noel
In this episode of Untangled, Avero Advisors CEO Abhijit Verekar sits down with Chief Paul Noel, Knoxville’s 27th Chief of Police, to explore how visionary leadership and technology are reshaping modern policing.Kn...
•
1:24:49
From Benchmarks to Predictive SIS: The Future of Student Data
This episode of Untangled explores how student data is moving beyond static benchmarks toward predictive insights that can actually guide educators, counselors, and families. We discuss:Why legacy SIS platforms limit progre...
•
49:42
From Disaster to Best Practices: Lessons in Government ERP
ERP projects don’t have to end in disaster. While some agencies struggle with payroll crises and costly failures, others—like Atlanta—prove that success is possible when leaders follow proven principles.In this episode of Untangled
•
16:30
2026 Paradigm Shifts: Rethinking Government ERP Implementations
The landscape of government ERP is shifting fast. As agencies look ahead to 2026, it’s clear the old frameworks for selection, contracts, and implementation no longer fit today’s realities.From AI maturity and workforce expectations to r...
•
39:15