About the show

The Hardtech Podcast pulls back the curtain on the bold ideas, design challenges, and engineering breakthroughs behind today’s most innovative hardware products — and the people who make them happen. From first sketch to final build, we dive deep into the minds shaping the future of physical tech.

The Hardtech Podcast on social media

Episodes

  • Backing Hardtech: A VC’s Perspective with Dipalo Ventures

    July 14th, 2025  |  Season 2  |  46 mins 48 secs

    In this episode of The Hardtech Podcast, hosts DeAndre Harakas and Grant Chapman sit down with Rafiq and Monica from Dipalo Ventures, a venture capital firm backing ambitious hard tech startups. They unpack the realities of investing in hardware: long timelines, capital intensity, and the critical role of early user validation. The conversation explores why community, patience, and deep technical conviction are essential for success in hard tech and how founders and funders can better align around the journey.

  • Navigating Project Management in Medical Devices

    July 7th, 2025  |  Season 2  |  54 mins 13 secs
    healthcare innovation, healthcare systems, keywords hard tech, light therapy, medical devices, podcast, project management, reperfusion injury, technology transfer, waddell group

    In this episode of The Hardtech podcast, the hosts discuss the unique challenges and innovations in the medical device industry with the Waddell Group. They explore the importance of project management in bringing medical devices to market, the specific challenges faced in healthcare systems, and the innovative use of light therapy to address reperfusion injury. The conversation highlights the need for effective project management, the complexities of healthcare systems, and the opportunities for innovation in medical technology.

  • From Zambia to Zipp and the Future of Mobility with Andy Ording

    June 30th, 2025  |  Season 2  |  1 hr 2 mins

    In this episode of The Hardtech Podcast, Andy Ording, former CEO of Zipp Wheels and co-founder of Fundraiser Capital, shares his journey from building one of the most iconic brands in cycling to investing in the future of micromobility. The conversation explores the challenges of scaling hardtech, the grit required to survive near failure, and the importance of people over technology in both startups and venture investing.

  • The Future of AI in Engineering with Troy Kelly

    June 23rd, 2025  |  Season 2  |  44 mins 21 secs

    In this episode of The Hardtech Podcast, the hosts discuss the evolution of AI in software development and its implications for engineering. They explore the importance of proper prompting, the role of AI in enhancing junior developers' learning, and the security challenges posed by AI technologies. The conversation also touches on building successful service businesses and the future of AI in engineering, emphasizing the need for quality and delivery in a competitive landscape.

  • The Intersection of Sports and Technology with HOOPTEQ

    June 16th, 2025  |  Season 2  |  49 mins 58 secs
    hard tech, hardtech, hardtechpod, hardtechpodcast, thehardtechpodcast

    In this episode of The Hardtech Podcast, we speak with Eric Roberson, founder and CEO of HOOPTEQ, about the innovative basketball training technology designed to make elite training accessible to youth athletes.

  • Science & Business with Emily Atkinson

    October 10th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  41 mins 27 secs
    design, early stage, engineering, founder, fundraising, glassboard, glasslab, indiana, iu, product development, university, vc, venture capital

    We sit down with Emily Atkinson of IU Ventures to explore the challenges and strategies of early-stage product investment, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, timing, and de-risking in attracting investors, particularly within the life sciences and consumer product sectors.

  • Process Obsessed with SEP

    June 30th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  50 mins 48 secs
    consulting, design, engineering, glassboard, glasslab, process, product development, sep, software engineering professionals

    This episode provides valuable insights into handling unknowns, changing requirements, and future trends in the consulting industry.

  • Building Your Way To Building Great Products with Mike Kelly

    March 19th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  40 mins 27 secs
    accelerator, design, developertown, engineering, glassboard, glasslab, product development, vc, venture capital, venture studio

    This month we talk with Mike Kelly, Managing Partner at Developertown. Developertown is leading software consulting company who partners with companies of all sizes to take their technology visions from concept to reality.

  • What is a venture studio? With Dick Aderman

    February 29th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  44 mins 32 secs
    accelerator, boomerang ventures, design, engineering, glassboard, glasslab, product development, vc, venture capital, venture studio

    In this episode of the Glasslab Podcast, we sit down with Dick Aderman of Boomerang Ventures to discuss his career path, his current role, and the differences between an accelerator and a venture studio.

  • Rose Hulman Engineering Design with Dr. Patsy Brackin

    September 11th, 2023  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 1 min
    engineering design, hard tech, indianapolis, product development, rose hulman

    On this episode of the Glasslab podcast, we speak with Dr. Patsy Brackin of Rose Hulman Institute of Technology about their unique and real-world-focused Engineering Design Program.

  • Intern Takeover

    August 1st, 2023  |  Season 1  |  46 mins 39 secs
    butler university, interns, internship, product development, purdue university, rose hulman institute of technology, techpoint, xtern

    On this episode of Glasslabs, the Interns take over! Join Glassboard's Xtern Class of '23: Matthew Kane, Chase Strother and Alaina Wol as they talk about their experiences and what it's been like working with the team this summer.

  • Best Practices for Early Stage Product Founders with Devon Campbell of Prodct

    July 10th, 2023  |  Season 1  |  44 mins 5 secs
    product development, quality, regulatory, risk management

    On this episode of Glasslabs, we talk with Devon Campbell, Founder at Prodct Medical Device Advisory, about best practices early-stage founders can take when creating a new product and how companies like Product and Glassboard support their development.