In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Carl Gould, co-founder and CTO of Inductive Automation.

Growing up in California’s Bay Area during the rise of the modern internet, Carl developed an early fascination with computers that eventually led him to study computer science at UC Davis. What began as a summer project connecting industrial machine data to SQL databases soon evolved into a full software platform used by engineers around the world to build applications that monitor and control factories, water systems, and other industrial operations.

Carl shares the story behind Inductive Automation’s earliest days, including how mentorship from industry veteran Steve Hechtman helped shape their understanding of the market and how their first independent customer—a project at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company—validated the idea that their solution solved a widespread industry gap. Along the way, Carl reflects on building a company from the ground up, the value of staying close to users, and why solving a real problem matters far more than chasing technology trends. More than two decades later, he remains energized by seeing what engineers create with Ignition and by staying connected to the people whose work the software powers every day.

Explore how Carl Gould helped modernize industrial software by focusing on real problems engineers face in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Inductive Automation
http://www.inductiveautomation.com


Carl Gould's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-gould/

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