Business Innovation Accelerator

The CVSN Business Innovation Accelerator Program connects members with technology innovators through focused, sales-free discussions designed to improve real-world processes, efficiency, and decision-making across the independent commercial vehicle aftermarket.

This isn’t a webinar series. It’s a structured innovation platform built to pressure-test ideas, capture industry insight, and create lasting value for CVSN members.

What Is the Business Innovation Accelerator?

The Business Innovation Accelerator is a twice-monthly, member-focused program featuring short (20–25 minute) moderated sessions with technology innovators.

The result: practical insights, honest industry perspective, and actionable takeaways, without sales pitches. Over time, these sessions build a searchable knowledge archive that supports smarter decisions across operations, sales, IT, and leadership teams.


Why It Matters

For Members

  • Curated exposure to technology ideas that actually matter

  • Real-world feedback from peers — not marketing demos

  • On-demand access to short, focused content you can share internally

For Innovators

  • Honest input from industry practitioners

  • Insight into operational fit, adoption barriers, and real use cases


Featured Sessions & Deep-Dive Resources

Watch the high-level discussions in the CVSN Video Vault, and explore the comprehensive supporting materials, implementation guides, and panel insights below. Link to vault: https://cvsn.freshplatemedia.com


 

🎥 Session 1: Unifying Distribution with Prokeep 

  • Description: In the premiere episode of the CVSN Business Innovation Accelerator, we sit down with Jack Carrere, Co-Founder and CEO of Prokeep, to discuss the digital transformation of the commercial vehicle aftermarket. Prokeep is an AI-powered communication and order management platform built specifically for wholesale distributors (such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing suppliers). It unifies order requests from text, email, fax, and web chat into one shared inbox so counter teams can process and quote orders faster

  • Webinar Panelists:

    • Moderator: Edward Kuo, CVSN President

    • Featured Innovator: Jack Carrere, Co-Founder & CEO of Prokeep

    • Panelists: Laura Hewitt - HDA Truck Pride, Bryan Thueson - JNPOpticat, Joseph Ghering - Cummins Driveline & Braking Systems, Matt Schroeder - Truck Equipment, Zeb Todd - The Service Company, John Trant - GPC Heavy Vehicle Parts Group

  • Supporting Materials & Resources:


 

🎥 Session 2: Building an AI Workforce with Heavi AI

  • Description: As the heavy duty faces a growing talent gap. how can technology preserve decades of institutional knowledge? Backed by a16z, Heavi builds AI-powered "Mechanical Reasoning Engines" designed specifically to support heavy vehicle mechanics, reducing parts research and supply chain friction

  • Webinar Panelists:

    • Moderator: Edward Kuo, CVSN President

    • Featured Innovator: Sanjay Dasari & Michael Holkesvik, Co-Founders of Heavi Ai

    • Advisory Council Panelists: Bryan Thueson - JNPOpticat, Laura Hewitt - HDA Truck Pride, Joseph Ghering - Cummins Driveline & Braking Systems, Andrew Katibnikov - VIPAR

  • Supporting Materials & Resources:


🎥 Session 3: How to Make Returns Transparent and Painless

  • Description: Moritz Mahler of TecAlliance shows how a digital-first approach gives customers total transparency  on warranty claims and returns. TechAlliance is a global market leader and trusted digital infrastructure provider for the independent automotive aftermarket (IAM). Founded in 1994, the company standardizes massive amounts of repair, maintenance, and spare parts data to seamlessly connect parts manufacturers, dealers, workshops, and fleets.

  • Webinar Panelists:

    • Moderator: Edward  Kuo, CVSN President

    • Featured Innovator: Moritz Mahler, TecAlliance

    • Advisory Council Panelists: Bryan Thueson - JNPOpticat, Nick Chelmen - DRiV, Chris Crockett - Blaine Brothers - Matt Schweickert - FindItParts

  • Supporting Materials & Resources:


Accelerator Advisory Council

Each session is supported by the CVSN Accelerator Advisory Council — a rotating group of distributors and select suppliers who help:

  • Pressure-test ideas

  • Identify operational fit

  • Surface adoption challenges

  • Highlight pilot opportunities

Council members actively participate live and complete short post-session feedback surveys to help guide future topics and innovation efforts.