Aaron Tartakovsky is the Co-Founder and CEO of Epic Cleantec, a leading startup revolutionizing onsite water reuse and sustainability in the built environment. His journey blends bold innovation with a legacy of science and policy. Raised by a Soviet-trained rocket scientist father, Aaron grew up with cutting-edge engineering in the household. Aaron went on to shape federal policy before co-founding Epic Cleantec, initially inspired by tackling a lighter challenge: after his co-founder received a ticket for not clearing up his dog’s poop, they imagined a device to disintegrate waste. That idea evolved, and work with the Gates Foundation’s Reinvent the Toilet Challenge led to Epic’s current mission. Today, Aaron leads Epic Cleantec to deploy water reuse systems in buildings, turning wastewater into reusable water, reducing costs, carbon, and reliance on aging infrastructure. Their clients include Salesforce Tower in San Francisco and other high-profile developments committed to water resilience and sustainability. He’s a vocal advocate for blending smart regulation, government partnerships, and technology to drive global water resilience.

(01:57) - Aaron's Journey to Epic Cleantec

(05:51) - How Epic Cleantec Revolutionizes Water Recycling for Buildings

(08:36) - The Gates Foundation & Public Reception

(14:10) - Real Estate's Water Infrastructure Challenges

(18:15) - Scaling Epic Cleantec

(21:26) - Feature: Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate - Register for 2025: The Premier Event for Industry Executives, Real Estate & Construction Tech Startups and VC's, at The Venetian, Las Vegas on Sep. 16th-18th, 2025.

(28:39) - Navigating Regulations and Politics

(36:29) Collaboration Superpower: Aaron's grandfather

💚 Learn more:
➡️ Visit Epic Cleantec
➡️ Aaron Tartakovsky on LinkedIn

💚 Feature:
➡️ Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate - Register for 2025: The Premier Event for Industry Executives, Real Estate & Construction Tech Startups and VC's, at The Venetian, Las Vegas on September 16th-18th, 2025.

💚 Connect with Tangent:
➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn
➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn
➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn
➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn

Disclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

David Esber is the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Enviz, a platform revolutionizing how unbuilt properties are designed, marketed, and sold. Frustrated by the limitations of blueprints and static renders, David launched Enviz in 2019 to enable immersive, 1:1 virtual and augmented reality walkthroughs that bring unbuilt spaces to life. Since then, Enviz has helped thousands of users, architects, developers, and homebuilders visualize, refine, and sell their projects with greater impact, saving time, reducing errors, and enhancing customer engagement. At Enviz, David leads sales, marketing, and operations, driving the company’s mission to empower 3D designers and shape the future of spatial visualization.

(01:42) – Understanding VR, AR, ER / MR
(02:51) – The Journey of Enviz
(04:28) – Real-Time 3D Visualization
(09:14) – The Future of AR
(20:05) – Feature: Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate - Register for 2025: The Premier Event for Industry Executives, Real Estate & Construction Tech Startups and VC's, at The Venetian, Las Vegas on Sep. 16th-18th, 2025.
(20:58) – Challenges & Costs
(22:30) – Trust in Pre-Development Sales
(26:33) – Targeting Architecture Firms & Large Clients
(28:54) – Sales Cycles & Client Criteria
(33:13) – Competition landscape & moats
(39:45) – Collaboration Superpower: David's dad & Jaron Lanier (VR founder, Wiki)

💚 Learn more:
➡️ Visit Enviz
➡️ David Esber on LinkedIn

💚 Feature:
➡️ Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate - Register for 2025: The Premier Event for Industry Executives, Real Estate & Construction Tech Startups and VC's, at The Venetian, Las Vegas on September 16th-18th, 2025.

💚 Connect with Tangent:
➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn
➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn
➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn
➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn

Disclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

Andrew Ackerman is the Head of REACH Labs at Second Century Ventures, the strategic venture arm of the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Backed by NAR, SCV invests in early-stage Proptech and construction tech companies, providing them with access to a vast network of real estate professionals and industry expertise. A former entrepreneur, angel investor, and accelerator director at Dreamit Ventures, Andrew has backed 70+ startups and designed structured programs to help founders raise capital and close deals faster. He is also the author of “The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey,” a story-driven startup guide, and a frequent contributor to Forbes, Propmodo, and other leading publications.

(01:19) – Andrew Ackerman's Journey in PropTech
(03:06) – Evolution of the PropTech Landscape
(06:40) – The Role of REACH Labs, Second Century Ventures and NAR
(10:06) – Challenges in Real Estate Transactions
(13:00) – Venture Returns in PropTech
(21:01) – Feature: Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate - Register for 2025: The Premier Event for Industry Executives, Real Estate & Construction Tech Startups and VC's, at The Venetian, Las Vegas on Sep. 16th-18th, 2025.
(23:03) – Qualifying Investment Opportunities
(23:32) – Challenges in Portfolio Construction & Valuation Dilemmas
(30:00) – The Role of Venture Debt
(35:59) – The Entrepreneur's Odyssey

(29:22) - Collaboration Superpower: Richard Nixon

💚 Learn more:
➡️ Visit REACH Labs
➡️ Andrew Ackerman on LinkedIn
➡️ Read The Entrepreneur's Odyssey

💚 Feature:
➡️ Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate - Register for 2025: The Premier Event for Industry Executives, Real Estate & Construction Tech Startups and VC's, at The Venetian, Las Vegas on September 16th-18th, 2025.

💚 Connect with Tangent:
➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn
➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn
➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn
➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn

Disclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.