S2 E24 - Immigrant Empowerment, Frontier Tech and AR Innovation

On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with  Aytakin Aliyeva, Founder of Femigrants Foundation; Iryna Voskerician, Founder and Managing Partner of MachX; and Randy Marsden, CEO of Skidattl.

 

Aytakin is the Founder of the Femigrants Foundation, a global community dedicated to empowering diverse female immigrants through connection, mentorship, and visibility. Featured in Forbes and Yahoo Business, Ika is a recognized social entrepreneur who transformed a group of 10 women into a thriving network of over 5,500 in just three years.

 

She curates high-impact events in the Bay Area and London that unite immigrant leaders, expats, and changemakers, and she frequently speaks on international stages to amplify the voices of underrepresented women. Ika is a double Gold Award recipient from the Women Changing the World Awards 2023 in London and has been personally recognized twice by Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York. She was also named a Top 25 Female Influencer of 2023 by WomElle.

Her inspiring journey has been featured in Forbes, Yahoo Finance, AP News, The Washington Times, London Daily Post, Huffmag, Intuit, and other global media. By leveraging LinkedIn, she scaled her personal brand from 500 to over 25,000 followers in just two years.

 

Beyond her nonprofit work, Ika has over a decade of experience as a senior project manager, leading cross-functional teams at tech giants such as Instagram, Oculus, NVIDIA, and HTC VIVE.

 

Iryna is the Founder and Managing Partner of MachX, a venture fund investing in frontier technologies across AI, biotech, space, media, and next-gen consumer innovation. She is currently a participant in the elite VC/PE Investor Accelerator at Venture University, where she collaborates with leading venture capitalists to source deals, conduct due diligence, and invest in high-growth startups.

 

With over 15 years of corporate experience in procurement and supply chain strategy at global Fortune 500 firms, Iryna brings deep operational expertise and a data-driven lens to evaluating startups and scaling businesses efficiently.

In parallel, Iryna is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Red Hot Monde Magazine, a boutique media platform spotlighting visionary founders, investors, and creatives in fashion, art, tech, and wellness. Her work as a brand strategist and publicist has positioned her as a go-to amplifier for CEOs, entrepreneurs, and luxury innovators.

She is also Co-Executive Producer of Silicon Valley Stilettos, a bold reality TV series co-created with multiple Emmy Award-winner Rick Borjas. The show chronicles the journeys of powerful female entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, blending tech, culture, and ambition.

 

Randy is a serial entrepreneur, inventor, and innovator with 27 patents and four successful exits to date. Currently, he serves as CEO of his fifth startup, Skidattl, which delivers augmented reality "virtual signs" at geo-located points—helping people rediscover the world around them through immersive technology.

 

Previously, Randy served as Senior Director of Innovation at Nike, where he led groundbreaking work in sport science, including collaborations with Nike’s Sport Research Lab. Before Nike, he was a Senior Engineering Manager and Project Lead at Apple, where he joined via acquisition in 2014. At Apple, he contributed to text input systems and later became a founding manager and Product Lead for the Exposure Notifications project, Apple's global COVID-19 contact tracing technology.

 

Earlier in his career, Randy founded or co-founded four companies focused on human-computer interaction—developing 12 commercial products, including Swype, DRYFT, Cleankeys, and adaptive tools like onscreen keyboards and head-tracking cameras for users with disabilities. A hands-on engineer at heart, Randy has deep experience across hardware and software. He has spoken on global stages, including a TED Talk that highlights his innovative work in accessible technology: Watch here.

 

This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact!

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.