Ignite Startups: Exploring the Future of Data Analytics with Edge Delta’s Founder, Ozan Unlu | Ep63

Ignite: Conversations on Startups, Venture Capital, Tech, Future, and Society

In this episode of the Ignite podcast, host Brian Bell welcomes Ozan Unlu, founder and CEO of Edge Delta, a company specializing in the observability space. Unlu shares his extensive experience in technology, highlighting his early career at Microsoft and subsequent shift to Sumo Logic before founding his own company. The conversation delves into the evolution of observability platforms, discussing traditional solutions and the innovative approach Edge Delta takes by focusing on data ingestion and pre-processing to enhance operational efficiency. Unlu explains the technical challenges in handling vast amounts of data, moving from gigabytes to petabytes, and the necessity of transitioning from traditional data analysis methods to more scalable solutions like those offered by Edge Delta. This shift is crucial as companies deal with increasing data volumes that make traditional storage and exploration impractical. Edge Delta’s differentiation lies in its ability to preprocess and transform data effectively, setting it apart from other observability platforms that may focus more on data storage or detailed querying capabilities. The discussion also touches on the broader implications of advanced data management technologies, including AI and machine learning, and their role in future business operations and strategies. Unlu emphasizes the importance of adaptability in technology, particularly how businesses must evolve their approaches to data management as the scale of data grows exponentially. The podcast wraps up with Unlu reflecting on his journey from a developer to CEO, highlighting the lessons learned and the challenges of innovating in a rapidly advancing technological landscape. Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into the complexities of modern data systems and the innovative solutions companies like Edge Delta are developing to tackle these challenges. It also underscores the importance of leadership and vision in navigating the ever-changing tech environment.

Chapters:

1. Introduction to Ozan Unlu (00:00 - 00:32) - Introduction of Ozan Unlu, founder and CEO of Edge Delta.
2. Explaining Edge Delta (01:14 - 02:40) - Ozan describes the core concept and mission of Edge Delta in observability.
3. Competitive Edge (02:40 - 05:11) - Discussion on how Edge Delta differentiates itself from other observability platforms.
4. Challenges in Tracing (05:11 - 06:15) - Ozan talks about the complexities of implementing effective tracing systems.
5. Career Insights (07:15 - 09:55) - Ozan shares his career journey and how past experiences influenced his current role.
6. Shift to Sales and Startups (09:55 - 12:57) - How Ozan transitioned from engineering to sales and eventually to founding a startup.
7. The Founding of Edge Delta (12:57 - 17:02) - The story of how and why Ozan decided to start Edge Delta.
8. Impact of COVID-19 (17:02 - 22:27) - Ozan discusses the challenges and adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
9. Vision for Observability (22:27 - 29:29) - Future directions for observability and the role of edge computing.
10. AI and Observability (29:29 - 37:11) - The integration of AI and machine learning in improving observability platforms.
11. Large Language Models in Tech (37:11 - 50:46) - Exploring the potential of large language models to revolutionize data handling and insights.