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aaronthomasson.bsky.social
Aaron T
@aaronthomasson.bsky.social
46 followers 110 following 78 posts
Founder & Editor-in-Chief @uatechjournal.bsky.social | Comms & AR pro in tech 👨🏻‍💻 | Villanova alum ✌🏻| lapsed academic 📚 | avid hiker 🏔️ | part-time philosopher 🤔 | can be found ambling around Kyiv 🇺🇦 with my camera & mini dachshunds
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aaronthomasson.bsky.social
Aaron T @aaronthomasson.bsky.social · Jan 7
A few of my favorite recent photos from my winter walks through Kyiv.
Reposted by Aaron T
uatechjournal.bsky.social
AeroMotors has raised $550,000 from Sweden-based Front Ventures to scale production of electric motors for military drones and expand manufacturing in Europe.

The Ukrainian company supplies motors for FPV quadcopters and fixed-wing reconnaissance drones.

www.uatechjournal.com/ukrainian-dr...
Aeromotors Raises $550K to Scale Ukrainian Drone Motors
The funding will help the Ukrainian manufacturer triple production capacity for non-Chinese drone motors as demand for locally manufactured defense components grows.
www.uatechjournal.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Reposted by Aaron T
uatechjournal.bsky.social
Reface, a Kyiv-based AI consumer app studio behind popular face-swap and image animation tools, has secured $18M from Singapore-based PvX Partners to support user growth.

According to the company, its apps have surpassed 300M downloads worldwide.

Full story: www.uatechjournal.com/reface-secur...
Reface Secures $18M Revenue-Share Deal for User Acquisition
The PvX Partners financing uses a revenue-share model to fund marketing without equity dilution, highlighting a growing shift in how mature consumer apps finance growth.
www.uatechjournal.com
December 30, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by Aaron T
uatechjournal.bsky.social
Sky Spy has raised $1.6M to scale Agent 001, its drone-mounted SIGINT payload tested in frontline missions in Ukraine. The 500g module detects and geolocates hostile emitters in congested electromagnetic environments where legacy systems struggle.

www.uatechjournal.com/sky-spy-rais...
Sky Spy raises $1.6M for battle-tested SIGINT payload
Sky Spy’s Agent 001 module turns small drones into autonomous spectrum hunters, tackling the signal overload that has crippled traditional battlefield intelligence.
www.uatechjournal.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Reposted by Aaron T
uatechjournal.bsky.social
M-Fly has raised $1.4M from Brave1 to expand production of its high-precision drone gimbals and autonomous guidance systems. Founded by CEO Vladyslav Myhovych, the tech is already used on Ukrainian reconnaissance drones.

Full story: www.uatechjournal.com/m-fly-raises...
M-Fly raises $1.4M for drone imaging and targeting tech
The investment strengthens Ukraine’s growing defense-tech sector as M-Fly expands production of high-precision gimbals and autonomous guidance modules.
www.uatechjournal.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Reposted by Aaron T
uatechjournal.bsky.social
Haiqu has reached a notable quantum milestone on IBM’s Heron processor, loading 500+ features into 128 qubits and boosting anomaly detection performance. The US–Ukrainian startup was founded by CTO Mykola Maksymenko and CEO Richard Givhan.

Full story: www.uatechjournal.com/ukrainian-am...
Haiqu advances quantum anomaly detection on IBM Heron
The startup encoded more than 500 features on 128 qubits, advancing anomaly detection and strengthening its position as one of Ukraine’s most globally connected deep-tech companies.
www.uatechjournal.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Reposted by Aaron T
uatechjournal.bsky.social
Y Combinator says it’s ready to make exceptions for Ukrainian defense-tech founders accepted into its Winter 2026 batch.

The statement came after Ukrainian entrepreneur Oleg Kostour noted that founders can’t leave the country under martial law.

Full story: www.uatechjournal.com/y-combinator...
Y Combinator Opens Remote Access to Ukraine Defense Startups
The Silicon Valley accelerator will allow Ukrainian founders to join its next batch remotely — a landmark exception granting $500,000 investments and global mentorship to defense-tech innovators unabl...
www.uatechjournal.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Reposted by Aaron T
uatechjournal.bsky.social
Oppenheimer Acceleration, a Silicon Valley venture fund led by Oleksandr Soroka and Valeriy Omelchenko, made its first investment: $500K in Ukrainian defense-tech startup Swarmer.

uatechjournal.com/oppenheimer-acceleration-launches-syndicate-with-first-500k-investment-in-ukraines-swarmer
Oppenheimer Acceleration invests $500K in Swarmer
The Silicon Valley-based fund opens a new gateway for defense-tech investors, launching its first syndicate with a $500,000 deal in AI drone startup Swarmer.
uatechjournal.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Reposted by Aaron T
uatechjournal.bsky.social
U.S.-Ukrainian startup Vermeer raised $10M Series A led by Draper Associates.

Its GPS-free Visual Positioning System (VPS) keeps drones flying when GPS is jammed — tech now used by U.S. and Ukrainian defense forces.

Full story: www.uatechjournal.com/american-ukr...
American-Ukrainian Startup Vermeer Raises $10M
The startup will scale its GPS-free visual navigation platform as deployments expand across defense and dual-use applications.
www.uatechjournal.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:56 AM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
I used to receive admiration — and the occasional scorn — for my writing. Now I receive mostly accusations that I used ChatGPT.

We’ve entered a new epoch in human history when the authenticity of nearly all content will be in doubt.

That’s unfortunate.
July 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
Brad & Bill provide a good assessment of the current challenges facing the U.S. as it pertains to its strategic economic and technological position in wrt China.

Though they seem to pull punches — indicative of their slight partisan lean & insider associations.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
China, AI Immigration, Rare Earths & Chips, Tariffs, Market Check | BG2 w/ Bill Gurley & Brad Gerstner
Podcast Episode · BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley · 06/05/2025 · 1h 1m
podcasts.apple.com
June 12, 2025 at 5:09 PM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
If an AI agent is doing the shopping, who is the price really for?

That’s what I kept wondering after reading this latest in the WSJ, where she explores how Walmart and others are preparing for a future of AI-powered shopping agents.

It’s a fascinating shift — and a troubling one for pricing.
May 19, 2025 at 12:31 PM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
Alternate Realities hit home. My dad is also deep in far-right conspiracies. It’s changed how he sees the world, impacts his daily life, & strains his relationships. This podcast captures that experience with honesty & care. Powerful work from @zachmack.bsky.social

www.npr.org/2026/01/01/1...
Alternate Realities: A Strange Bet : Embedded
Episode 1: Reporter Zach Mack thinks his dad has gone all in on conspiracy theories, while his father thinks that Zach is the one being brainwashed. In 2024, after the latest round of circular argumen...
www.npr.org
March 31, 2025 at 6:36 AM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
From Shakespearean actor to retail pricing expert—my latest #PricingHeroes guest Joshua Pollack shares provocative insights on how aggressive pricing and 'shrinkflation' erode brand equity.

Could Trader Joe's authentic approach win as consumers revolt against price manipulation?

Link below 👇
March 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
Just read Joshua Pollack's analysis on tariffs reshaping retail. His blueprint for building resilience through cross-functional coordination is brilliant.

We touch on this in our upcoming Pricing Heroes episode, but his blog gives you the full strategic playbook now. Worth your time! 👇
March 21, 2025 at 11:07 AM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
I'd love an inbox that uses AI to sort emails based on priority. For example, if an email chain for a project requires a reply by a certain date, or if an event registration or call for speakers relevant to my role, it would take the top-most spot. Perhaps an AI assistant could prompt me with CTAs.
March 21, 2025 at 9:25 AM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
I just learned of layoffs a week ago at @wsj.com impacting phenomenal journalists. Just a reminder for PR folks and business leaders to be kind to journalists and prioritize bringing value to your relationships.

talkingbiznews.com/media-news/h...
Here are the WSJ tech journalists whose jobs were eliminated - Talking Biz News
Here are The Wall Street Journal journalists whose jobs were eliminated on Tuesday: Reporters: Asa Fitch — a reporter covering the semiconductor companies, including Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm. Prior ...
talkingbiznews.com
March 15, 2025 at 9:42 AM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
Check out this excellent assessment by Tim J. smith on the impact tariffs will have on pricing throughout the supply chain and how executives might respond.

www.linkedin.com/pulse/threat...
The Threat of Trump’s Tariffs
Trump initiated tariffs with major U.S.
www.linkedin.com
February 6, 2025 at 3:14 PM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
Check out Gabriela Barkho’s thoughtful analysis of the growing trust gaps in retail pricing. Transparency matters—pricing impacts day-2-day lives. While dynamic pricing is a concern, perhaps AI can help balance fairness, margins, & loyalty if done ethically & communicated well.
January 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
If you send unsolicited emails like the one I just received below, you don’t deserve to ever land a new client. This is dishonest and unprofessional. No matter what product or service you are selling, I would never do business with you.
January 15, 2025 at 4:59 PM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
This seems like a policy that could put employees at risk. It’s challenging enough for baristas to handle difficult customers. How are they expected to enforce a “buy something or leave” policy? Will the purchase of a $3 cup of coffee really improve the atmosphere?
January 15, 2025 at 9:09 AM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
While I have reservations about the direction of AI—especially around content creation, I’m hopeful for the applications that will make my role in corporate comms easier. Generating professional-quality leadership videos in a matter of minutes would be invaluable.
January 15, 2025 at 8:26 AM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
I hope more journalists, analysts and thought leaders make their way to @bsky.app. It’s so much more refreshing on this platform. Reminds me of the early days of Twitter when I could follow and interact with people I would otherwise not have access to.
January 14, 2025 at 3:59 PM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
Since moving to Europe, I've noticed just how easy it is to eliminate single-use plastic bags. It's standard practice at this point. You want a bag? You pay for it. I'm surprised U.S. retailers act as though it's an impossible task. It's been 7 years, Kroger... Is Parkinson's Law to blame?
January 14, 2025 at 1:41 PM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
Excellent article by Belle Lin.

I see denial of AI readiness for taking on enterprise tasks. But #AgenticAI has been a popular topic #NRF2025. The question isn't if but when. We're in a hype cycle, but AI agents are coming, & we'll have to reconcile what that means.

www.wsj.com/articles/how...
How Are Companies Using AI Agents? Here’s a Look at Five Early Users of the Bots
Artificial intelligence agents have emerged as one of the most exciting aspects of generative AI for business because they take chatbots to the next level, performing complex tasks without help from h...
www.wsj.com
January 14, 2025 at 9:42 AM
aaronthomasson.bsky.social
The AR landscape is shifting rapidly, as seen with Forrester’s recent cuts. Now more than ever, businesses need skilled AR pros to navigate these changes. AR isn’t an afterthought—it’s a strategic necessity. Carter Lusher’s insights break it down 👇🏻
carterlusher.bsky.social Carter Lusher @carterlusher.bsky.social · Jan 13
Breaking: Forrester Announces 6% Workforce Reduction - What It Means for You

This move has significant implications for:
* Tech vendors & AR teams
* Enterprise clients & tech buyers
* Other analyst firms & industry watchers

My analysis: lusheradvisory.substack.com/p/forresters...

#ARchat
Forrester's 6% Layoff: Strategic Necessity or Wall Street Theater?
Breaking: Forrester Announces 6% Workforce Reduction - What It Means for You
lusheradvisory.substack.com
January 14, 2025 at 8:18 AM