Business

How William Erbey’s ideas become reality

Published

5 years ago

September 22, 2020

How the entrepreneur, philanthropist and inventor Bill Erbey applies his philosophy to machines and medicine.

It’s rare to meet a serial entrepreneur who founded six multibillion-dollar publicly-listed companies, who applies mathematical and statistical concepts to his business projects. When questioned about their success, others choose happenstance over conspiracy; for William Erbey, it’s the application of math and statistics each time.

“For the last 50 years I have applied those concepts to my businesses wherever possible-my goal is to devise products that provide greater value to the customer, that can be produced at a lower cost, so I can compete on price if need be,” said Bill. In his case those projects almost always involved a technological solution grounded in math and statistics.

Bill has invented a patent-pending control system for generators and electric motors. In simple terms, it reduces the heat generated by half, and increases the engine’s efficiency by about 8%. The Kira motor technology will radically enhance the modern electric motor by increasing its driving range, which will significantly increase electric vehicles mass adoption.

A recent investment close to Bill’s heart is in the futuristic area of medical devices, and more specifically, in the medical technology associated with kidney failure.

“Of course, there’s obviously math and analytics involved here, but not the same type. What are the three biggest medical spends? – Kidney, cancer and cardiac. Do you realise that medical treatment involving kidneys in the United States will represent a $1.4 trillion spend by 2030, so it’s a massive issue”, he said in a recent RealVision interview.

What interested Bill specifically was John Erbey’s idea, changing the whole way of thinking about how one deals with kidney problems.

In essence most of today’s solutions are all about pushing fluid through the kidney, or “renal preload”. “Today, we try and put more fluid through the system, and we use drugs as well”.

For Bill it was the way the fledgling company is looking at the whole issue from outside the box. “The reason I invested in the company, besides him being my nephew” he smiled “was the fact that his solution was so elegant. “Why didn’t anybody think of looking at the problem in that way before? Why do you push fluid through the kidney-why wouldn’t you pull fluid through it instead? It is a very elegant and simple solution to a major problem”.

According to the Strataca Systems’ official website, the company believes ‘expensive medical problems require effective solutions’. Few problems are as large or as expensive as acute decompensated heart failure, which leads over 1 million hospital admissions in the USA each year. The primary reason for hospitalisation is congestion-fluid overload-which leads to shortness of breath’. Since the kidneys are responsible for fluid management, as renal function is compromised, the morbidity, mortality and costs for these patients rise. The company is developing patented technology to improve urine output and decrease congestion.

The problem that is being addressed is hugely significant in numbers alone; between eight and 10% of the world’s population suffers from cardiorenal syndrome-that is, kidney failure. In real terms that’s 12 Americans dying each day.

What separates Bill from many investors, is that he really is interested in the minute detail of how the product or service works. He’s a man who really cares about making people’s lives better – it’s his key to success. He wanted to know exactly how the medical device worked and what was the thought behind it. And he’s therefore able to explain the details.

“By pushing liquid through the kidney, you put more pressure on it-the kidney itself is in a semirigid sack, so it actually starts deteriorating the kidney function. So it was interesting when my nephew explained to me exactly how they deal with the problem today. It was like my understanding of the Internet”. Today, the cure for this ‘congestion’, rather like the cure for the increased Internet congestion, is again trying to push more stuff through the system. The kidney pushes back and basically nothing happens. John spent four months thinking about why nobody had ever thought about the problem in his way. So what he does is use negative pressure to pull the urine out of the kidney. It’s already through the animal testing stage and is now going through human testing”.

And like his other projects combining investment with innovation, machinery, conservation, Internet streaming, Bill believes that this will ultimately help people to not have to go on dialysis.

“It’s a horrible thing and certainly significantly truncates one’s life expectancy. As I said it’s a $1.4 trillion market which is amazing. And that figure represents the US alone. Globally it’s probably closer to $3 trillion. So it’s a massive market, and he has a very strong patented protection around the idea”.

It’s no wonder that they call Bill Erbey a Renaissance man; looking at his myriad of inventions and investments, he certainly seems to exemplify the expression “the man with the Midas touch”. Watch this space.

Business

What to Look for in an Enterprise Webcasting Solution

Published

5 days ago

September 12, 2025

Matthew Wiles

The modern workplace doesn’t stand still. Teams are global, employees are remote, and companies must communicate faster and at scale. That’s why enterprise webcasting has gone from a niche tool to an essential part of internal communication strategies.

Reliability is the starting point when broadcasting to hundreds or thousands of employees, stakeholders, or partners. The platform you choose needs to deliver more than a stable video feed; it must offer security, accessibility, scalability, and real engagement.

For enterprises navigating this decision, here’s what to consider before committing to a webcasting platform.

Scale and Performance Matter More Than You Think

It’s one thing to host a video call with your immediate team. It’s another to run a high-stakes webcast for your entire global workforce. Enterprise webcasting means reaching large, often geographically dispersed audiences, sometimes tens of thousands of people at once. And when that’s the case, performance isn’t negotiable.

Your platform should offer proven scalability with minimal lag, buffering, or outage risk. Many organizations underestimate the bandwidth and technical infrastructure needed to deliver seamless webcasting at scale. Look for solutions that utilize global content delivery networks (CDNs) and redundant systems to guarantee smooth streaming, regardless of your viewers’ location.

The reality is, your message only lands if the technology holds up under pressure.

Security Isn’t Optional

In a world of growing cyber risks and data privacy concerns, security must be front and center, especially for enterprise webcasts. Not every message is meant for public ears, from internal town halls to sensitive investor briefings.

Leading webcasting platforms provide enterprise-grade security features like encrypted streams, password protection, login authentication, and customizable access controls. Depending on your industry, you may also need to meet specific regulatory requirements for data protection and compliance.

Ultimately, your webcasting solution should provide peace of mind, knowing that confidential information stays where it belongs.

User Experience Makes or Breaks Engagement

Let’s face it: no one wants to wrestle with clunky software minutes before a big company update. The best webcasting platforms make life easy for both presenters and attendees.

Intuitive interfaces and simplified workflows reduce stress and help presenters focus on delivering the message. The process should be frictionless for attendees, with one-click access, mobile compatibility, and no need for complicated installations.

But accessibility isn’t just technical, it’s also about inclusivity. Your platform should offer features like captions, translations, or on-demand playback options to ensure your workforce can engage with the content.

Because if people can’t easily join or follow along, your webcast risks becoming background noise.

Engagement is More Than Just Showing Up

In enterprise settings, communication can’t be one-way. True engagement requires interaction.

Modern webcasting solutions offer features like real-time Q&A, live polls, and chat functions to turn passive viewers into active participants. These elements keep audiences focused and create opportunities for meaningful feedback.

Especially for company-wide meetings or virtual events covering important updates, giving employees a voice makes the experience feel collaborative, not just another broadcast.

Data and Insights Drive Improvement

One of the most overlooked aspects of enterprise webcasting is analytics. But without data, it’s impossible to measure success or spot opportunities for improvement.

Look for platforms that provide detailed reporting, including attendance metrics, engagement rates, audience locations, and performance benchmarks. Over time, these insights help refine your communication strategy, adjusting formats, reworking content, or targeting specific groups with follow-up resources.

The more visibility you have into how people interact with your webcasts, the better equipped you are to make those events impactful.

Flexibility for Different Event Types

Not all webcasts are created equal. Some are formal, high-production events with large audiences. Others are more casual, interactive sessions for smaller groups.

The platform you choose should give you the flexibility to manage both scenarios. Whether you’re hosting a polished executive briefing, a technical product demonstration, or a virtual town hall, the tools should scale to fit your needs, without requiring entirely different systems or workflows.

Many providers also offer managed services for high-profile events, giving you access to technical experts who handle the backend so your team can focus on the message.

Final Thoughts

Webcasting has become a critical tool for modern businesses, but choosing the right platform requires more than just comparing price tags. It’s about finding a solution that delivers reliability, security, engagement, and scalability while making the process simple for both your team and your audience.

With enterprise webcasting, companies can ensure their most important messages are delivered securely and at scale, whether to employees down the hall or stakeholders around the globe.