10-Minute Tech Talks: How Tech Entrepreneurs Fail & How You Can Avoid It

Jonathan Kersting

Are you an entrepreneur building a technology company and looking to grow fast? This show teaches and inspires entrepreneurs to build better companies by learning from the failures of other tech companies and entrepreneurs. If you're striving for rapid growth while avoiding the mistakes that have led others to failure, this podcast is designed to help you stay on track. Avoid the devastating mistakes that tech entrepreneurs have made, which led their businesses to collapse. Hear from tech, business, and entrepreneurial experts detailing what went wrong in famous tech busts and modern-day meltdowns so you don't follow the same path. Learn how to overcome adversity and make your tech company a long-term success. If you're ready to grow your tech venture quickly and avoid pitfalls, start with our fan-favorite episode: Don't Fall In Love With Your Technology.

  1. -5 J

    Product Management Whiz Dan Olsen on Why Entrepreneurs Need to Pay Attention to Vibe Coding Right Now

    What happens when building a product gets radically easier? You're about to find out. Today's featured voice is Dan Olsen, author of The Lean Product Playbook and keynote speaker for ProductCamp Pittsburgh. In this excerpt, Dan dives into the fast-rising world of vibe coding and why it matters a whole lot more than just writing code faster. He explains how AI tools are making it easier for non-technical founders, product leaders, and startup teams to create prototypes, test ideas, and move from concept to customer feedback without getting stuck waiting on design or engineering resources. But here's the real spark under the hood: when it becomes easier to build almost anything, the real competitive edge shifts to knowing what to build, why it matters, and how to validate it before wasting time and money. Dan makes the case that product management fundamentals are becoming more important, not less, in the AI era. You'll also hear why entrepreneurs should stop thinking of these tools as just shiny demos or productivity hacks. Dan sees them as a way to unlock faster experimentation, better customer testing, and maybe even the next wave of one-person or ultra-lean companies. So if you've been wondering whether AI is changing how products get built, or whether vibe coding is something founders can actually use, this conversation will get your wheels turning. Check out ProductCamp Pittsburgh here. Check out The Lean Product Playbook here. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, this is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

    11 min

  2. 12 AVR.

    The Real Cost of Building Robots? Time. HEBI Robotics Explains

    What if the biggest breakthrough in robotics is not the robot itself, but the time you save building it? In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, we sit down with Bob Raida and Dave Rollinson of HEBI Robotics and they explain how modular design can help engineers move faster, cut development friction, and avoid reinventing the wheel, while also showing how that same approach is opening doors for applications in industry and even space. This is a great lesson for entrepreneurs: the value of your product is not always just what it does, but how much friction it removes for the people using it. Hebi's approach is a reminder that saving time, reducing complexity, and building with confidence can be a real competitive edge.  Watch the entire interview with HEBI right here. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, this is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

    7 min

  3. 5 AVR.

    From Idea to Market: How HEBI Robotics Found the Real Business

    What happens when a company starts with one cool idea, then realizes the real business is hiding in the pieces they built along the way?  In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, Bob Raida and Dabe Rollinson of HEBI Robotics share how it evolved from snake robots to a modular robotics platform designed to help people build faster, test sooner, and get real tools into the real world. Their idea is simple: build, test, learn, repeat. HEBI found value not by clinging to the original idea, but by recognizing what customers could actually use and moving toward it. This is a smart reminder for any entrepreneur: sometimes the first idea is not the business, but the capabilities you build along the way might be. HEBI's story is a great lesson in product-market fit, staying adaptable, and testing early before you burn years on the wrong problem.  Watch the entire interview with HEBI right here. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, this is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

    8 min

  4. 30 MARS

    How Tech Entrepreneurs Can Grow Companies Without Losing Their Souls

    How do you build a business that can stand the test of time and keep your soul intact? In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, Lou Camerlengo of fivestar* shares the kind of hard-earned insight entrepreneurs rarely get from a playbook. Rather than chasing growth for growth's sake, Lou explains how fivestar* has stayed relevant by building deep client relationships, staying adaptable, and creating a company that is truly "built to evolve." You'll hear why long-term partnerships matter more than quick wins, how staying close to customers can shape smarter strategy, and why culture and flexibility are essential for lasting success. For entrepreneurs trying to grow without losing their edge, this conversation delivers practical lessons you can put to work right away. 3 key takeaways Long-term client relationships beat short-term wins Sustainable growth often comes from trust, service, and becoming a real partner. The best companies stay built to evolve Markets shift, customer needs change, and durable businesses adapt without losing their identity. Staying close to the customer is a competitive advantage Small, smart, responsive teams can punch far above their weight when they listen well and move with purpose. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, this is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious. Keywords

    8 min

  5. 23 MARS

    How AI and Lidar Are Turning Maps Into Intelligent Machines

    AI is transforming everything — but some of the most powerful applications are happening in places most people never see. In our Techvibe interview with Woolpert CEO Neil Churman, he explains how AI, lidar, and geospatial data are turning maps into machines that can detect landslides, monitor infrastructure, and help prevent disasters before they happen. It's a fascinating look at how real-world AI is changing industries that have existed for more than a century. Woolpert is a global architecture, engineering, and geospatial technology firm that uses advanced tools like AI, lidar, and digital twins to design infrastructure, map the world, and help organizations build and manage everything from airports and pipelines to data centers and smart cities. Make sure you check out the full TechVibe conversation with Woolpert CEO Neil Churman. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, this is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

    9 min

  6. 16 MARS

    From Steel Mills to AI: Why Pittsburgh's Tech Future Is Built on Its Industrial DNA

    Pittsburgh is often called a comeback city. But Woolpert CEO Neil Churman sees something deeper. As discovered in his Techvibe interview, Neil believes the same industrial DNA that built America's steel industry is now powering the region's rise in AI, robotics, and infrastructure technology. In this short conversation, Neil shares a personal story about his great-grandfather working in the steel mills — and why that legacy still shapes the future of innovation." Woolpert is a global architecture, engineering, and geospatial technology firm that uses advanced tools like AI, lidar, and digital twins to design infrastructure, map the world, and help organizations build and manage everything from airports and pipelines to data centers and smart cities. Be sure to listen to the full TechVibe interview where we dive deeper into AI, infrastructure, and the companies helping build the next generation of technology. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, this is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

    5 min

  7. 9 MARS

    Hey Tech Entrepreneurs! Here's Why AI Won't Replace Experts

    AI is everywhere right now, and there's a lot of fear about what it means for jobs. And Woolpert CEO Neil Churman sees it differently. He believes AI won't replace experts — it will make them better. Woolpert is a global architecture, engineering, and geospatial technology firm that uses advanced tools like AI, lidar, and digital twins to design infrastructure, map the world, and help organizations build and manage everything from airports and pipelines to data centers and smart cities. As part of the Pittsburgh Technology Council's TechVibe Radio deep dive conversation, Neil shares how curiosity, collaboration, and new technology are reshaping leadership and helping companies unlock the full potential of their teams. Be sure to check out the full TechVibe interview where we explore AI, infrastructure, and Pittsburgh's role in the global innovation economy. And don't forget to subscribe to 10 Minute Tech Talks for quick insights from the entrepreneurs and innovators building the future. This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

    8 min

  8. 2 MARS

    Why Tech Entrepreneurs Win by Ignoring AI Hype

    Are you building technology or are you building results? In this episode, you are going to hear why some leaders believe AI has been massively overhyped and massively undersold all at the same time. And why? The companies that win aren't just chasing trends. They are chasing outcomes. Pittsburgh Technology Council CEO Audrey Russo interviewed Jonathan Jungk of Palantir and Chris Johnson of TeleTracking Technologies at the Pittsburgh Tech Council's 2026 Think!AI Summit to get their insights. So if you care about growth, revenue, and real impact, this one is for you. Hit PLAY and listen right now. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, this is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

    8 min
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À propos

Are you an entrepreneur building a technology company and looking to grow fast? This show teaches and inspires entrepreneurs to build better companies by learning from the failures of other tech companies and entrepreneurs. If you're striving for rapid growth while avoiding the mistakes that have led others to failure, this podcast is designed to help you stay on track. Avoid the devastating mistakes that tech entrepreneurs have made, which led their businesses to collapse. Hear from tech, business, and entrepreneurial experts detailing what went wrong in famous tech busts and modern-day meltdowns so you don't follow the same path. Learn how to overcome adversity and make your tech company a long-term success. If you're ready to grow your tech venture quickly and avoid pitfalls, start with our fan-favorite episode: Don't Fall In Love With Your Technology.

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