“Hardware is hard” is the biggest lie in tech.
Yet VCs keep repeating it while holding their iPhones – literally a piece of hardware that made Apple one of the world’s biggest companies.
In today’s episode of Bricks & bytes, we had Nathan Kirchner and we got to learn about why the “hardware is hard” myth is killing innovation in construction, how to break through corporate inertia, and the real barriers startups face when selling to billion-dollar companies… and many more!
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why 7 out of 10 biggest companies are actually hardware-dependent
✅ How to escape “pilot purgatory” and get real corporate deals
✅ The psychology behind why big companies resist innovation
✅ Why bringing domain experts into your team beats perfect tech every time
Listen now on Spotify and discover how construction startups can actually win against corporate giants.
———–
🎧 Listen to the Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0xSpdQpmgf0xJvAsGAQRX5?si=QgmckXGVRnO46vOZKa0I1Q
📩 Subscribe to the Bricks & Bytes Newsletter: https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/
🌐 Visit our website: http://bricks-bytes.com/
📲 Follow us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/
Twitter: https://x.com/bricksbytespod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/
Enjoying the insights? Hit that Follow button to stay ahead in construction tech, AI, and the future of how we build.
———–
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:30 Introduction to Hardware Startups
05:30 Challenges in Building Hardware Startups
08:20 The Role of Hardware in Major Companies
11:19 Nathan’s Journey into Hardware and Robotics
14:12 Innovations in Construction and Robotics
17:03 Engaging with Large Corporations
20:15 The Consultant vs. Innovator Mindset
23:07 Incremental Innovation vs. Grand Solutions
26:00 Cultural Differences Between Startups and Corporates
28:54 Bridging the Gap Between Startups and Corporates
36:56 Breaking Barriers in Compliance
41:40 Navigating Commercialization in Robotics
49:15 The Pilot Process: A Necessary Evil?
57:44 The Future of Robotics: Visible vs. Invisible
62:15 Insights from the Venture Capital Perspective
