Podcasts / Fast Forward STL / Capacity CEO David Karandish on entrepreneurship, AI, and attracting talent to St. Louis

Capacity CEO David Karandish on entrepreneurship, AI, and attracting talent to St. Louis

What’s the secret to building a billion-dollar business and leading the AI revolution? How can St. Louis attract—and retain—more tech talent? Find out in the debut episode of Fast Forward STL.

by SLM Staff January 15, 2026 at 6:00 AM January 28, 2026

Fast Forward STL: A Business Podcast with Keith Alper | Featuring Capacity CEO David Karandish — Host Keith Alper, Capacity CEO David Karandish

In the debut episode of Fast Forward STL, host Keith Alper interviews David Karandish, an accomplished entrepreneur and CEO of Capacity, an AI-driven support automation platform. David shares his entrepreneurial journey from early ventures to selling a company for nearly $1 billion and discusses how Capacity supports businesses by automating customer service tasks. He also addresses the potential of AI in transforming industries and offers insights on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in St. Louis. You don’t have to be a business insider to enjoy this conversation—if you’re interested in St. Louis and the ideas driving its future, this episode will have something for you. Watch on YouTube, and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. Love the show? Be sure to follow or subscribe.

“We need to retain a bigger portion of the high talent folks that we’re attracting. And the way to do that is you have to show them that it’s possible to go start a business here and have a great success. It doesn’t mean that everyone needs to be an entrepreneur, but there are a lot of people that would love to work for an up-and-coming entrepreneurial company. If they saw that they had the opportunity to do that here in St. Louis with a low cost of living and minimal traffic, they’d get behind.” —DK

This episode is sponsored by Capes Sokol. Capes Sokol is a St. Louis–based law firm that partners with entrepreneurs and growing businesses to turn ideas into sustainable success. From entity formation and contracts to intellectual property and scaling strategies, their attorneys provide clear, practical legal guidance, so founders can focus on building what’s next. Whether you’re launching or leveling up, Capes Sokol is here to support your growth. Learn more.

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About The Host

Keith Alper

As the CEO of St. Louis–based Nitrous Effect, Keith has more than 30 years of experience in marketing, branding, and event production. He works across large-scale live events, broadcast projects, and creative strategy. He’s an active contributor to the region’s entrepreneurial community, serving in advisory and board roles. Keith is the author of From Like to Love, a reflection on how organizations build stronger, more meaningful connections. He’s excited for you to join him on his podcasting journey with Fast Forward STL.