A business-minded builder who uncovers how breakthrough products create breakthrough companies.
Forever exploring how innovation fuels growth; not just in revenue, but in impact.
DeAndre Harakas has hosted 42 Episodes.
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Ayla Networks - Scaling the Connected World
July 22nd, 2025 | Season 2 | 42 mins 24 secs
In this episode, John Grady, CEO of Ayla Networks, joins the Glassboard team to explore what it takes to deliver seamless, scalable connected experiences. From smart home devices to emerging applications in medtech and industrial IoT, John shares lessons from supporting over 50 global brands and activating more than 13 million devices. The conversation dives into hardware-software integration, user experience design, and why the first 30 seconds of setup can make or break a product.
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Dipalo Ventures - Backing Hardtech from a VC’s Lens
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.
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Waddell Gourp - Project Management in Medtech
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.
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Fundracer Capital - The Future of e-Mobility
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.
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E-gineering - The Future of AI in Engineering
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.
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HOOPTEQ - Scaling Sports Tech Hardware
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.