10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
Are you an entrepreneur building a technology company and looking to grow fast? In 10 minutes or less, this show teaches and inspires entrepreneurs to build better companies by tapping some of the smartest technology, entrepreneurial and business minds from Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, get weekly tech insights, trends and inspiration to keep you on track or open up new business Possibilities. And if you have a little extra time on your hands we'll also post deep dive interviews from our guests on Pittsburgh's only technology talk radio show TechVibe that airs every Sunday morning at 6 AM on 100.1 FM AM 1020 KDKA.
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The Future of Power Doesn't Need a Plug
10/31/2026
The Future of Power Doesn't Need a Plug
What if you never had to plug in your phone, swap a sensor battery, or think about charging the thousands of smart devices around you? Pittsburgh's Powercast has been building that future for more than two decades — and they're just getting started. Host Jonathan Kersting (Pittsburgh Technology Council & TechVibe Radio) sits down with Powercast CEO Charlie Goetz to unpack how radio frequency (RF) technology delivers power through the air, no wires, no pads, no alignment required. One Transmitter, Dozens of Devices Charlie breaks down the three flavors of RF power — intentional, anticipated, and ambient — and explains why RF's one-to-many approach is fundamentally different from Qi pads and magnetic resonance. One transmitter can power dozens of endpoints simultaneously, just like a radio tower where every car pulls the same signal. Batteries Aren't the Enemy Powercast isn't anti-battery — they trickle-charge them, work alongside them, and see them as part of a larger ecosystem. But when sensors are embedded in walls, moving parts, or hard-to-reach places, RF wireless power changes the math on total cost of ownership. "Our Stuff Will Take Care of Us" Charlie shares a vision of a world where devices interrogate their environment and automatically find the best available power source — inductive in the countertop, magnetic resonance on the walls, RF everywhere — seamlessly switching between them without you lifting a finger. And with AI entering the picture (teased in the next episode), the possibilities get even wilder. Roots in Pittsburgh, Inspired by Tesla With origins at the University of Pittsburgh and a direct line back to Nikola Tesla's dreams of wireless power, Powercast is proof that some of the biggest ideas take patience, persistence, and a couple of decades to mature. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, 10-Minute Tech Talks — where some of the biggest ideas come in pretty small packages.
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VR Isn't Dead. It's Growing Up!
10/25/2026
VR Isn't Dead. It's Growing Up!
Is virtual reality fading away or preparing for its next big breakthrough? Schell Games founder Jesse Schell has been developing VR experiences since the early 1990s, long before consumer headsets became mainstream. Now he believes virtual reality is entering a fascinating new phase. In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, Schell explores why younger gamers are embracing VR as a social playground, how professional and hardcore gaming applications could reshape the market, and why immersive entertainment must offer experiences people simply can't get at home. From the future of VR headsets to the spectacular possibilities of interactive attractions, discover why one of the gaming industry's most experienced innovators believes the best experiences start with understanding human behavior. 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.
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Can a Video Game Save Your Life?
10/18/2026
Can a Video Game Save Your Life?
Can a video game help save someone's life? Pittsburgh's Schell Games is proving that gaming technology can do far more than entertain. In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, founder Jesse Schell takes us inside Night Shift, an innovative medical training game developed with UPMC and Dr. Deepika Mohan to help emergency room physicians make critical trauma care decisions. Discover how immersive storytelling, emotion and interactive gameplay can help doctors practice complex decisions and why the psychology behind great games can also make powerful educational tools. It's a fascinating example of Pittsburgh innovation at the intersection of gaming, healthcare and human behavior. 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.
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Build First. Raise Later: Titan Robotics’ Growth Story
10/12/2026
Build First. Raise Later: Titan Robotics’ Growth Story
Can paying customers help fund the technology behind your next stage of growth? Titan Robotics’ Stuart Lawrence explains how early seed support, government-funded development and a deliberate push toward commercial markets helped build the Pittsburgh robotics company. In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo explore Titan’s financing journey—from Innovation Works and friends-and-family support to repaying that financing during COVID and considering outside investment after building a substantial operating business. Three reasons to listen: • Understand how customer-funded development helped Titan build its capabilities. • Hear why moving from defense work into commercial markets takes sustained effort. • Explore how a track record changes the conversation about raising growth capital. An entrepreneurial lesson in capital efficiency, commercialization and knowing what investment should help you accomplish.
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When the Big Deal Falls Apart: Titan Robotics’ Pivot
10/05/2026
When the Big Deal Falls Apart: Titan Robotics’ Pivot
What happens when the contract opportunity you’re counting on stalls? Titan Robotics’ Stuart Lawrence shares how anticipated Air Force contract awards ran into resistance—and why the Pittsburgh robotics company began expanding beyond laser coating removal into manufacturing applications. In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo explore the customer conversations that helped shape Titan’s direction, from robots that require specialized programmers to tools that give operators more control. Three reasons to listen: • Hear how Titan responded when its original growth plan hit a wall. • Discover why easier adoption can be as important as technical capability. • Learn why Stuart’s advice to entrepreneurs is simple: “Don’t lie to yourself”—check the data behind your claims. A candid conversation about entrepreneurship, customer discovery, robotics and building products that deliver measurable value.
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The Tech Founder Who Sent 10,000 Emails to Land One Customer
09/25/2026
The Tech Founder Who Sent 10,000 Emails to Land One Customer
What does it take to build a tech company from scratch? For Ben Taylor, co-founder and CEO of SoftLedger, it started with frustration, a piece of printer paper, and an idea for a better way to manage accounting. In this episode of 10-Minute Tech Talks, host Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council and TechVibe Radio sits down with Ben to unpack the realities of tech entrepreneurship — from sketching a software concept by hand, to building the product from the ground up, to sending more than 10,000 emails before landing on his first customer. Ben shares what it took to bridge the gap between basic accounting tools like QuickBooks and complex enterprise ERPs, and why slower early growth gave SoftLedger the foundation to build something stronger. If you're a tech entrepreneur or aspire to be one, this conversation is a reminder that the first breakthrough doesn't always arrive with fireworks. Sometimes it arrives after email number 10,001.
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What Is Your Tech Business Really Worth? The Wealth Gap Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know
09/21/2026
What Is Your Tech Business Really Worth? The Wealth Gap Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know
What determines what your business is actually worth? In this episode of 10-Minute Tech Talks, host Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council sits down with Christine Robinette and Bryan Reft of Fragasso Financial Advisors for the final installment of a three-part mini-series on exit planning and business valuation. Bryan breaks down two critical concepts every Tech Entrepreneur should understand: the wealth gap: whether your business can fund the life you want after you sell; and the value gap: why a company that looks just like yours might be worth millions more. The answer comes down to one word: risk. You'll learn about the four intangible capitals — human capital, customer capital, structural capital, and social capital — that drive 80% of your company's value yet never appear on a financial statement. If you're a Tech Entrepreneur thinking about exit planning, employee ownership, or simply building something worth owning, this episode gives you the framework to start closing the gaps while you still have time. 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.
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The Tech Entrepreneur's Guide to Exit Planning and ESOPs
09/14/2026
The Tech Entrepreneur's Guide to Exit Planning and ESOPs
How will you eventually exit your business? In Part 2 of our miniseries with Christine Robinette and Bryan Reft of Fragasso Financial Advisors, host Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council explores how employee ownership and ESOPs can become a powerful succession strategy. Learn the "three legs of the stool" — personal, financial, and business goals — and why every entrepreneur should treat exit planning as present-day business strategy, not an afterthought. Whether your exit is two years or twenty away, the smartest time to start planning is 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.
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Skin in the Game: How Tech Entrepreneurs Build Loyal Teams
09/07/2026
Skin in the Game: How Tech Entrepreneurs Build Loyal Teams
Ever wonder what the smartest tech companies are using to win the talent war—besides just bigger paychecks? In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council anf TechVibe sits down with Christine Robinette and Bryan Reft of Fragasso Financial Advisors to break down equity compensation in a way that actually makes sense. Here are three reasons you should hit play right now: You'll finally understand RSUs, ESOPs, and vesting—without the jargon headache. Christine and Bryan cut through the alphabet soup of equity comp and explain how these tools actually work in plain English, from four-year vesting schedules to the tax surprises that catch employees off guard. You'll learn the hidden risk almost nobody talks about. When your salary and your wealth are both tied to the same company, you're carrying double the exposure. Bryan breaks down the 10% concentration rule and why even a great stock benefit can become a portfolio problem. You'll walk away with a competitive edge for hiring and retention. Whether you're a founder wondering if it's too late to set up an equity plan or a leader looking to out-recruit your competitors, this episode lays out exactly how giving employees real "skin in the game" changes the game entirely. This is Part 1 of a three-part miniseries on building business value through employee ownership. Fire up the RSUs and dive in. 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.
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Teaching AI How to Write the Right Code IS the Next Breakthrough in Software Development
08/31/2026
Teaching AI How to Write the Right Code IS the Next Breakthrough in Software Development
Can AI Really Make Developers 100 Times Faster? Artificial intelligence is changing software development at an incredible pace, but the biggest breakthroughs aren't coming from AI replacing developers. They're coming from giving AI the right tools, the right knowledge, and the right plan. In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council sits down with Chris Bannon of MESCIUS to explore how AI-powered coding assistants are transforming the way software is built. From intelligent development tools and MCP servers to smarter planning techniques, Chris explains why the future belongs to developers who know how to work with AI instead of simply asking it to write code. You'll discover why spending more time planning can dramatically reduce development time, how AI can eliminate days of frustrating API work, and why human expertise remains the secret ingredient behind great software. You'll learn: Why AI coding assistants are making developers dramatically more productive. How MCP servers give AI the knowledge it needs to generate better code. Why planning before coding leads to faster, higher-quality software. How experienced developers are becoming even more valuable in the AI era. The surprising lesson a plate of AI-generated county fair food teaches us about trusting artificial intelligence. Whether you're a software developer, startup founder, technology leader, or simply curious about where AI is taking software engineering, this conversation offers practical insights into one of the biggest shifts happening in technology today. Hit play and discover why the future of coding isn't just artificial intelligence. It's intelligent collaboration between humans and AI. 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.
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Entrepreneur Boot Camp Part 3: Can AI Fix a Broken Operation?
08/24/2026
Entrepreneur Boot Camp Part 3: Can AI Fix a Broken Operation?
Can AI Fix a Broken Operation? AI can automate almost anything. That doesn't necessarily mean it should. In the final installment of the 10 Minute Tech Talks Entrepreneur Boot Camp Mini Series, Angela Domhoff of Advantage Operations explains why companies need to understand their operations before throwing AI at them. Angela has spent more than 25 years thinking about operations, workflows and efficiency, and she has a refreshingly practical way of looking at artificial intelligence. She says AI can be incredibly powerful at eliminating what she calls “the noise”: repetitive work, routine tasks and processes that consume employees’ time without requiring their best thinking. But there’s a catch. If the process underneath the technology is broken, automating it might just help you make mistakes faster. In this episode, Angela breaks down how entrepreneurs should really think about AI, automation and operational efficiency. 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.
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Entrepreneur Boot Camp Part 2: Can Your Business Survive Its Own Growth?
08/17/2026
Entrepreneur Boot Camp Part 2: Can Your Business Survive Its Own Growth?
Can Your Business Survive Its Own Growth? Landing the big customer sounds like the dream. Until the order hits, everybody panics and suddenly you're talking about hiring 20 people, leasing more space and piling expenses onto a business that hasn't actually collected the revenue yet. Welcome to Part Two of the 10 Minute Tech Talks Entrepreneur Boot Camp Mini Series. In this episode, Angela Domhoff of Advantage Operations delivers some seriously practical advice on preparing for growth, controlling expenses, setting realistic expectations and avoiding the temptation to build tomorrow’s company with today’s money. Because sometimes the biggest threat to a growing business isn’t failure. It’s success arriving before you’re ready for it. And once the business is running smoothly, there's one more irresistible question every entrepreneur is asking right now: What should we automate? That's where we're headed in Part Three of Entrepreneur Boot Camp: Automate It. 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.
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Entrepreneur Boot Camp Part 1: Can You Turn What You Know Into a Business?
08/10/2026
Entrepreneur Boot Camp Part 1: Can You Turn What You Know Into a Business?
Can You Turn What You Know Into a Business? At some point, experience stops being just a résumé and starts becoming an asset you can build around. In Part One of the 10 Minute Tech Talks Entrepreneur Boot Camp Mini Series, Angela Domhoff shares how more than 25 years of operational leadership ultimately led her to launch Advantage Operations. After years inside major healthcare organizations, Angela began having conversations where people were asking for the kind of expertise that could directly improve their businesses. That sparked a realization: maybe it was time to stop giving all that knowledge away and build something of her own. Angela didn’t wake up one morning with some completely unrelated startup idea. She looked at the expertise she had built over decades and asked a much more powerful question: how can I turn what I already know into something people need? That’s Start It. Next up in Entrepreneur Boot Camp, the business exists. Now comes another challenge entirely: Can it survive its own growth? 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.
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Tech Entrepreneur Insights: Screens Everywhere, but Which Ones Actually Create Value?
08/03/2026
Tech Entrepreneur Insights: Screens Everywhere, but Which Ones Actually Create Value?
Screens are everywhere. They fill stores, trade shows, stadiums, museums and just about every available wall in Las Vegas. But here is the bigger question: Is that screen actually helping anyone? In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, Makeway’s Josh Lowery and Greg Cunneyworth take us inside an interactive kiosk developed for America’s Best. The experience helps customers understand complex lens options, gives sales teams another tool and creates valuable data about how shoppers make decisions. We will also explore some of the emerging display technologies Makeway discovered at InfoComm and why the future is not about putting a screen everywhere. It is about putting the right experience in the right place. Hit play to learn how: Makeway approaches touchscreens and immersive experiences as business tools. They can educate customers, support employees, simplify complex information and help organizations understand how people interact with their environments. And with transparent displays, durable screens and entirely new hardware entering the market, the creative possibilities are growing quickly. 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.
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Digital Transformation Therapy: Entrepreneurs Need to Get Aligned Before They Build
07/27/2026
Digital Transformation Therapy: Entrepreneurs Need to Get Aligned Before They Build
Before your company invests in a new website, touchscreen, application or digital experience, there is one deceptively simple question to answer: Does everyone agree on what you are actually building? In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, Josh Lowery and Greg Cunneyworth of Makeway introduce what we jokingly call “digital transformation therapy.” Their new Workshop as a Service offering gets stakeholders into the room, uncovers hidden assumptions and turns a complicated idea into a clear plan of action. It is not another meeting about having more meetings. This is about solving the right problem before an expensive project starts rolling in the wrong direction. Hit Play to learn how: Clarity might not sound as flashy as a new website, immersive touchscreen or digital platform, but it may be the most valuable deliverable of the entire project. Makeway’s workshops are designed to align stakeholders, test assumptions and give teams a practical playbook for moving forward. A few focused hours at the beginning could prevent weeks, months and plenty of headaches later. Learn more about Josh Lowery, Greg Cunneyworth and Makeway’s Workshop as a Service at Watch the entire interview on 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.
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From Prototype to Payoff: Using AI to Build, Scale and Prove ROI
07/20/2026
From Prototype to Payoff: Using AI to Build, Scale and Prove ROI
Every entrepreneur has had this moment: you have an idea, you can see the product in your head and you know there is a market problem to solve. Then reality arrives with a clipboard. How do you build it? How do you secure it? How do you scale it? How do you know whether the idea is worth a year of your life and a mountain of budget? On this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, we are back with Adam Wynne of Wynne Technologies to talk about how AI is changing that equation for founders and small businesses. Adam explains how entrepreneurs are already using vibe coding to build early versions of products. That can be a great start, but many hit a wall when it is time to move into production. This is where Adam’s APES methodology comes in, helping companies turn prototypes, spreadsheets, algorithms and raw ideas into software that can be owned, operated and improved. You will also hear why AI is helping businesses prove value faster, find quick wins and avoid spending a year and a half chasing an idea that may not work. Let’s swing into the second part of our conversation with Adam Wynne. 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.
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Beyond Vibe Coding: Building AI Apps That Don’t Break
07/13/2026
Beyond Vibe Coding: Building AI Apps That Don’t Break
What happens when your AI-built app looks amazing, but it is not ready for real customers? That is the question we are tackling on this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks with Adam Wynne, founder of Wynne Technologies. There is a lot of excitement around vibe coding right now, where entrepreneurs can prompt their way into building apps, websites and software tools faster than ever before. But Adam makes a critical point: a great-looking demo is not the same thing as a secure, scalable, production-ready product. Adam brings about 25 years of software engineering experience to this conversation, including work at Amazon, the Department of Energy and Bosch. Now he is using that experience to build APES, which stands for AI Project Engineering with Specs. Yes, we get a few ape and banana jokes in here, but the business case is serious. This clip is all about how entrepreneurs can use AI to accelerate software development without slipping on the banana peel of weak architecture, poor documentation or systems that crash once customers start showing up. 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.
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Growth Code: Tech Entrepreneurs Need More Cowbell!
07/05/2026
Growth Code: Tech Entrepreneurs Need More Cowbell!
Can having more fun actually help build a more serious company? In this episode of Growth Code: How to Crack the Inc. 5000, Dan Desko, Founder of Echelon Risk + Cyber, explains two of the values that make Echelon’s culture stand out: more cowbell and turning pro. Dan talks about why teams doing intense cybersecurity work need room to celebrate, laugh and stay connected. He also shares why “turning pro” is not a one-time achievement, but a constant commitment to getting better for clients, teammates and the business. Listen to this episode for a memorable lesson in building a company culture that balances serious work with personality, continuous improvement and just enough cowbell to keep the whole machine humming. 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.
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Growth Code: Tech Entrepreneur Hiring Lessons From Echelon Risk + Cyber
06/28/2026
Growth Code: Tech Entrepreneur Hiring Lessons From Echelon Risk + Cyber
How do you build a high-growth company without hiring a team full of clones? In this episode of Growth Code: How to Crack the Inc. 5000, Dan Desko, Founder of Echelon Risk + Cyber, shares why one of Echelon’s key growth values is hiring people with personality. For Dan, technical talent matters, but so does curiosity, character and the ability to work with people when the pressure climbs. He also explains why strong teams have to face issues head-on. That means building enough trust for people to speak honestly, challenge each other productively and keep the business moving forward without getting tangled in politics or fear. Listen to this episode for a smart look at how culture, trust and leadership accountability can become real growth tools for tech entrepreneurs. 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.
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Growth Code: Tech Entrepreneur Lessons From Echelon’s Inc. 5000 Growth
06/21/2026
Growth Code: Tech Entrepreneur Lessons From Echelon’s Inc. 5000 Growth
What does it really take to build a company that clients trust when the stakes are sky-high? In this first episode of Growth Code: How to Crack the Inc. 5000, Jonathan Kersting talks with Dan Desko, Founder of Echelon Risk + Cyber, about the first value that helped power Echelon’s rise to number 433 on the Inc. 5000: being truly client-centric. Dan explains why Echelon does not think in terms of “customers,” but instead builds real client relationships rooted in trust, urgency and service. He also digs into why cybersecurity is a team sport, especially when companies are facing sophisticated threats and need partners who will show up fast. Listen to this episode for a practical reminder that growth does not start with a sales pitch. It starts with building relationships that can withstand pressure. 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.
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Wins, Worries and Wild Cards: Huntington Bank's Economic Outlook For the Tech Entrepreneur
06/14/2026
Wins, Worries and Wild Cards: Huntington Bank's Economic Outlook For the Tech Entrepreneur
We are officially at the halfway point of the year, which makes this a perfect time to pop the hood on the economy and see what is really driving the engine. For entrepreneurs, business builders and tech leaders, the economy can feel like a dashboard full of blinking lights. Inflation. Interest rates. Consumer spending. AI investment. Hiring. Global uncertainty. Every one of those indicators can change how you plan, hire, invest and grow. That is why today’s 10 Minute Tech Talk features insights from Olu Omondunbi, PhD, Chief Economist for Huntington Private Bank. Olu recently broke down the national economic picture at Huntington Bank’s Economic Outlook & Market Overview event, and his message is one entrepreneurs should pay attention to: despite uncertainty, the U.S. economy continues to show resilience. His outlook can be summed up in three buckets: Wins: Consumer resilience, productivity gains and business investment Worries: Inflation, interest-rate policy and consumer spending outpacing income Wild cards: Global conflict, energy prices and geopolitical disruption Host Jonathan Kesrting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council reviews five key takeaways on the economy moving forward. So, before you make your next big move, listen in. This is your midyear economic checkpoint. 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.
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Father-Son Entrepreneurs Are Using AI and Gaming to Find Future Innovators
06/08/2026
Father-Son Entrepreneurs Are Using AI and Gaming to Find Future Innovators
What if the next great engineer, roboticist or AI innovator is already here in Pittsburgh, but just hasn’t been discovered yet? On this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, we’re featuring Damola and Wole Idowu of TOYZ Electronics, a Pittsburgh-based company blending AI, gaming, storytelling and STEAM education to help students see new futures for themselves. This clip, ripped from TechVibe, gets right to the heart of what makes TOYZ so compelling. Wole talks about being the “alpha test” for the platform, while Damola lays out why this work matters for our innovation economy. It’s about finding raw talent, building pathways and making sure more people are ready to create in the Intelligence Age. TOYZ Electronics is working to scale a platform that connects students to AI, gaming, digital twins, robotics, storytelling and real career pathways. And as you'll hear, this is not theory. They are already working with students, building traction and looking for partners who want to help us unlock more of our talent. 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.
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Entrepreneurial Triple Threat: How Ecotone’s Zeus Converts Food Waste Into Soil Sauce
06/01/2026
Entrepreneurial Triple Threat: How Ecotone’s Zeus Converts Food Waste Into Soil Sauce
What if the leftovers from lunch could become fertilizer, data and a climate solution? On this 10 Minute Tech Talk, we’re digging into one of the coolest circular economy stories growing right here in Pittsburgh. Dylan Lew, Co-Founder of Ecotone Renewables, walks us through Zeus, the company’s automated biodigester built inside a reused shipping container. Zeus takes food waste from schools, hospitals, offices and other organizations, processes it on site and turns it into a locally produced fertilizer called Soil Sauce. Along the way, Ecotone is also capturing data that can help customers understand what they are wasting in the first place. In just a few minutes, Dylan explains how Ecotone is turning a messy problem into a scalable technology platform. Food waste goes in. Soil Sauce comes out. And Pittsburgh innovation gets a little greener, smarter and saucier. 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.
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AI Cybersecurity Risks Every Business Needs to Understand
05/26/2026
AI Cybersecurity Risks Every Business Needs to Understand
On this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, we’re diving into the fast-moving, slightly chaotic and very real world of AI and cybersecurity with Isabelle Syring and Robert Ragan of CUSTOS IQ. Everyone is using AI. Employees are testing tools. Teams are dropping company data into large language models. Copilot, ChatGPT and browser-based AI tools are showing up inside workflows before policies, security controls or legal guardrails have had a chance to catch up. That’s where CUSTOS IQ comes in. In this quick cut from TechVibe Radio, Isabelle and Rob explain why AI is not just an IT issue. It is a business-risk issue, a data-governance issue and, in industries like energy and manufacturing, potentially a critical infrastructure issue. The big takeaway: AI can absolutely be a powerful tool, but it needs policies, oversight, secure data practices and experienced people asking the right questions. Whether you’re using it to write emails or support predictive maintenance in critical infrastructure, the same rule applies: don’t let the machine outrun your judgment. 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.
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FBI Cyber Advice Every Tech Entrepreneur Needs to Hear
05/18/2026
FBI Cyber Advice Every Tech Entrepreneur Needs to Hear
Cybersecurity is not just an IT issue. It is now a core business discipline. In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, Jonathan Kersting talks with Richard Evanchec, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office, following his keynote at Cyburgh 2026. Evanchec shares practical guidance for business and technology leaders on how to strengthen cyber defenses before an incident occurs. The conversation highlights the FBI’s Winter Shield initiative and its focus on basic but critical cybersecurity practices: eliminating default passwords, applying software patches, using phishing-resistant authentication, maintaining offline backups and testing recovery plans. Evanchec also explains why companies need to think differently about cybersecurity spending. Rather than treating it as a late-stage investment or overhead expense, he says cyber readiness must become part of everyday business decision-making. The conversation also explores how AI is changing the threat landscape. From deepfakes that trick employees to tools that help criminals analyze stolen data for leverage, AI is making attacks more efficient. But Evanchec also notes that defenders and law enforcement are using AI to respond, investigate and bring bad actors to justice. 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.
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What Makes a Tech Company Worth Buying? A Pittsburgh Entrepreneur Explains
05/11/2026
What Makes a Tech Company Worth Buying? A Pittsburgh Entrepreneur Explains
What makes a company worth buying? Most people think it’s revenue. Or technology. Or market share. But after spending more than 30 years building Pittsburgh-based engineering firm IQ Inc., founder Barbara VanKirk believes the answer starts somewhere else entirely: People. In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks, you’ll hear how VanKirk built a company culture around growth, curiosity, and leadership—and why those values ultimately attracted a global acquisition from Critical Software. You’ll also hear her candid reflections on being one of the only women in engineering rooms early in her career—and why confidence and belonging still matter in tech today. If you’re building a company or building yourself as a leader, this conversation delivers a few lessons worth stealing. Listen VanKirk's entire interview 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.
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Tech Entrepreneur Hiring Hack: Why AI Skills Matter More Than Experience
05/04/2026
Tech Entrepreneur Hiring Hack: Why AI Skills Matter More Than Experience
What if the best hire for your company isn’t the most experienced… but the most AI-enabled? In this quick hit from the Pittsburgh Technology Council's TechVibe Radio interview with Sandesh Sukumaran, founder of Outcome Logix, we dig into a major shift happening right now: companies are rethinking experience—and leaning hard into talent that knows how to use AI tools to move faster and smarter. The hiring game is no longer about years—it’s about leverage. The entrepreneurs who win are the ones building teams that know how to use AI, not just teams with long resumes. If you’re hiring, scaling, or just trying to stay competitive, this one might change how you build your team. Listen to the entire interview 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.
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Tech First, Not Tech Only: How Entrepreneurs Can Find Friction, Fix Processes, and Lead With Data
04/27/2026
Tech First, Not Tech Only: How Entrepreneurs Can Find Friction, Fix Processes, and Lead With Data
What happens when you stop treating technology like overhead and start using it to give people their time back? In this episode, we talk with Monica Fletcher of Auberle, a nonprofit leader who’s thinking like a startup operator. She’s finding friction, digitizing clunky processes, using data to make smarter decisions, and rolling out AI in a way that supports people instead of replacing them. A few takeaways to listen for: why “tech first” does not mean “tech only” how to spot friction points that are quietly draining your team why the best use of AI might be giving your people more time for the work only humans can do Even though Monica works in human services, the lessons here travel really well for founders, managers, and anyone trying to build a smarter, more efficient organization. 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.
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Product Management Whiz Dan Olsen on Why Entrepreneurs Need to Pay Attention to Vibe Coding Right Now
04/20/2026
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 Check out The Lean Product Playbook 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.
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The Real Cost of Building Robots? Time. HEBI Robotics Explains
04/12/2026
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 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. 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.
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