Finding the Beachhead: How Bailout Systems Pivoted from Firefighting to Arboriculture

January 26th, 2026  |  Season 2  |  39 mins 10 secs

In this episode of the Hardtech Podcast, hosts DeAndre Harakas and Grant Chapman connect with Michael Ragsdale, Founder of Bailout Systems, and engineer Alex Bowersox. Born from a tragic events of Black Sunday, Bailout Systems has evolved into a key player in the arbor market. Michael explains the strategic pivot that made this possible, while Alex sheds light on the engineering hurdles involved in building life-saving climbing devices.

Together, the group discusses the realities of securing funding through pitch competitions, the necessity of founder-led sales, and the often-overlooked challenge of managing mental health while building a hardware company. This conversation offers a transparent look at the decade of work required to turn a safety concept into a market-ready product.