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4 minute read
Summary
On this episode of Direct from the Expo, The Collab Collective’s Craig Durr talks with Erik DeGiorgi, CEO of NetSpeek, live from Enterprise Connect 2025. NetSpeek is an emerging company introducing an AI-driven approach to IT administration, designed to simplify and enhance the management of unified communications and pro AV technology. Their conversation explores how NetSpeek is tackling operational challenges with a clean-slate AI solution built to reduce IT burden and enhance efficiency.
Their Discussion Covers:
- NetSpeek’s Mission: Addressing operational inefficiencies in IT and AV management with AI-driven automation.
- Introducing Lena: A generative AI assistant designed to streamline day-to-day administration tasks.
- The Multi-Vendor Challenge: How NetSpeek supports diverse ecosystems with a platform designed for AI from the ground up.
- What’s Next for NetSpeek: Their upcoming general availability launch at InfoComm and opportunities for early engagement.
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Transcript
Craig Durr: Hey everyone, this is Craig Durr, Chief Analyst and Founder of The Collab Collective, and I want to welcome you to Direct from the Expo at Enterprise Connect 2025. I’m really excited about today’s conversation because we’re featuring an emerging company that’s making waves in the industry. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new player enter the market in a meaningful way, and today we’re talking with Erik DeGiorgi, CEO of NetSpeek—with two Es.
Erik DeGiorgi: That’s right. How are you doing, Craig?
Craig Durr: I’m doing well, thanks. Erik, it’s rare to see new companies emerge in this space. Tell me about NetSpeek—what’s the problem you’re solving?
Erik DeGiorgi: Sure. The genesis of NetSpeek started about two years ago. My background is in digital signage, where I spent 20 years helping grow a company in that space. We started talking to customers and realized they were struggling with managing multi-vendor ecosystems—whether it was signage, collaboration tools, or meeting room technology. The complexity was growing, and they needed a better way to manage it all.
So, about two years ago, with the emergence of generative AI, we decided to take a clean-slate approach. Instead of building another tool that already exists, we wanted to create something entirely new. We went heads-down for two years, debuted at ISE last month, and now we’re here at Enterprise Connect, running full speed ahead.
Craig Durr: Well, let’s get the level set here. What is NetSpeek, and what specific problems are you addressing?
Erik DeGiorgi: NetSpeek is the first end-to-end, vertically integrated generative AI platform built specifically to assist with the day-to-day operations and administration of UC and pro AV technologies. IT teams managing this equipment are increasingly overwhelmed, and their roles are evolving. Many are being integrated into broader IT functions, leading to the loss of subject matter expertise.
We asked: What if we could build an AI that takes on the more challenging, mundane, or operationally bloated tasks and works alongside human operators? Imagine an AI that has studied all the technical documentation for every device on your network, can communicate with those devices, and can assist with routine tasks like daily room checks.
Craig Durr: That makes a lot of sense—every room is unique, and manual checks can be tedious. You’ve also taken an interesting approach by giving your AI assistant a personality. Tell us about that.
Erik DeGiorgi: Our product is called Lena—short for Language-Enabled Network Administrator. We wanted to make Lena more than just a tool; it’s a counterpart that works alongside IT teams. You can communicate with Lena in natural language, just like we’re talking now, and it can take actions based on your commands.
We’ve even leaned into the idea of personifying it, so Lena has a LinkedIn page, and we encourage people to connect with her.
Craig Durr: I love that. I’ll have to connect with Lena after this.
Now, IT has always had management tools, but many of them are built on legacy frameworks. You started fresh, which seems to be a key advantage.
Erik DeGiorgi: Exactly. We built NetSpeek from the ground up with AI in mind, rather than trying to force AI into an existing platform. This industry is inherently multi-vendor, and we knew that from day one. By designing NetSpeek with AI as its core, we avoided the technical debt that weighs down traditional IT management tools.
Craig Durr: That’s a big differentiator. You also touched on something that excites me—the shift of AV professionals into IT departments. There’s valuable knowledge being lost in that transition. Is Lena helping bridge that gap?
Erik DeGiorgi: Absolutely. One of the key benefits of Lena is its ability to retain and apply expert knowledge across platforms. We’re building a strong partner ecosystem with major vendors in our industry, which allows us to integrate their expertise into Lena.
This makes installation, operation, updates, and troubleshooting easier, reducing friction for IT teams. In some cases, the system can even self-heal without human intervention.
Craig Durr: That’s an important point—this isn’t about replacing humans. It’s about enhancing their capabilities.
Erik DeGiorgi: Exactly. IT administrators often start their day by putting out fires—they’re constantly in a reactive state. They rarely have time to step back, assess root causes, or proactively plan. Lena removes the monotonous, day-to-day burdens, allowing IT teams to focus on higher-value work.
Craig Durr: That’s a game-changer for IT professionals. You’re focusing on pro AV and IT administration now, but where do you see NetSpeek expanding?
Erik DeGiorgi: Right now, we’re focused on known pain points—conference rooms, collaboration spaces, and IT environments where organizations are struggling. But we built the platform to scale both vertically and horizontally. Our strategy is to solve the most pressing issues first and then let the market guide our next steps.
Craig Durr: AI is a big, complex topic, but you’re applying it in a way that solves a tangible problem. That’s what makes NetSpeek exciting.
Erik DeGiorgi: We’re seeing this across industries—AI is maturing past the hype phase and into targeted applications. At NetSpeek, we see ourselves as building the "computer on the Starship Enterprise"—sophisticated, intuitive, and deeply integrated into IT workflows.
Craig Durr: That’s a great way to put it. For those interested in learning more, where can they go?
Erik DeGiorgi: We’re preparing for general availability at InfoComm, where we’ll have some major announcements. In the meantime, people can visit NetSpeek.com or connect with Lena on LinkedIn.
Craig Durr: Erik, this is a fascinating conversation. I appreciate you sharing your insights.
Erik DeGiorgi: Thanks for having me, Craig.
Craig Durr: That wraps up another session of Direct from the Expo at Enterprise Connect 2025. Stay tuned for more updates from the show floor.
