Are you struggling to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape and ensure your business is leveraging this technology responsibly? As an entrepreneur or business leader, it's critical to understand the importance of trust and verification when implementing AI solutions. Failing to do so can lead to disastrous consequences for your organization. We welcome Larry Gioia with PWC's Emerging Tech R&D | Technology & Innovation to tell you how: Why verifying the source and intent of AI tools and platforms is essential before implementation How to rethink your testing strategies to ensure AI outputs align with your organization's goals and thresholds Practical tips for using AI as a strategic tool to augment your team's capabilities and drive innovation Hit that PLAY button now to gain the insights you need to leverage AI responsibly and position your business for success. 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.
Are you an entrepreneur looking for the newest tech trends to scale your business? Discover the transformative power of synthetic reality and how it can unlock new avenues for learning, training, and customer engagement. As a tech entrepreneur, you're constantly seeking innovative ways to grow your business and stay ahead of the curve. This episode explores the convergence of AI, avatars, and media, ushering in a new era of authentic, scalable digital experiences that could revolutionize your approach. Understand how synthetic reality can create innovative, scalable content and communication solutions for your business. Learn how to prioritize trust and transparency when leveraging powerful AI-powered tools. Discover emerging trends and opportunities in the rapidly evolving synthetic reality landscape to position your business for success. Listen now to gain the insights you need to leverage synthetic reality and propel your tech business to new heights. 10 Minute Tech Talks is produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council 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.
Are you struggling to build a high-performing team for your business? As an entrepreneur or business leader, you know that assembling the right team is crucial for success. This episode dives deep into the proven framework for developing cohesive, productive teams. We welcome Jennifer Honig, founder of Techstra Solutions, to discuss: The three essential stages of team development and how to navigate them effectively Strategies for addressing underperforming team members and making tough decisions Insights on fostering an environment that enables your team to thrive Press play now to discover the secrets to building a rockstar team that drives your business forward. 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.
Are you a tech entrepreneur struggling to avoid the pitfalls that cause tech companies to fail? As a tech entrepreneur, you're constantly navigating the challenges of building a successful business. This episode, host Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council explores crucial insights from PwC's 2025 AI Business Predictions that can help you strategically leverage AI to drive innovation, boost productivity, and ensure responsible growth. Listen and discover: Why full integration of AI into your core business strategy is essential for progress How AI agents can effectively double your workforce and transform how work gets done The importance of responsible AI deployment to unlock AI's full potential while maintaining ethical standards Tune in now to learn actionable strategies that will position your tech venture for long-term success in the AI-driven future. Read the article here. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Coiuncil, 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.
Are you an entrepreneur struggling to avoid the common pitfalls that trip up so many startups? As a founder, you know the path to building a successful business is full of challenges. Avoiding critical missteps can mean the difference between thriving and failing. In this episode, you'll discover: How to validate your market and ensure you're solving a real problem Strategies to accurately forecast your financial needs and avoid running out of runway Techniques to stay focused on your core objectives while being open to necessary pivots Press play now to learn Pittsburgh Technology Council CEO Audrey Russo's top tips for steering clear of the top entrepreneurial traps. 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.
Have you ever considered reaching out to someone influential in your field but felt too intimidated to make the move? For many entrepreneurs and business owners, the fear of reaching high can often deter potential opportunities that might drastically change their business landscape. This episode dives into the thrilling story of an Digital Fix Founder Cary Hill who took a leap of faith by contacting Apple CEO Tim Cook and the incredible outcome that followed. Discover the power of professional courage and how it can open doors you never thought possible. Understand the importance of standing up for your business and effectively communicating your value to top industry leaders. Learn key takeaways about seizing opportunities and how they can fundamentally enhance your business capabilities. Listen now to find out how one email can potentially alter the course of your business forever! 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.
What does it really take to be an tech entrepreneur, and how do you balance ambition with preparation for the tough road ahead? This episode explores the wisdom of Mike Vertolli, founder of ComTec Systems, who shares insights from decades of entrepreneurial experience. From making metrics-based decisions to understanding the sacrifices required, he offers a roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to thrive in a competitive world. Learn why defining your "why" is critical to entrepreneurial success. Discover how to base decisions on data instead of emotions. Gain inspiration from Mike's mentorship stories that highlight the power of paying it forward. Listen now to hear Mike's advice and learn how to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship with clarity and resilience. 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.
How do you compete with a tech giant like Google and avoid becoming a marketing cautionary tale? This episode dissects Microsoft Bing's infamous "Bing and Decide" campaign and reveals how marketing missteps—like lacking clear differentiation and misjudging audience needs—can derail even the biggest brands. Learn the dangers of self-declared branding and how it alienates consumers. Understand why audience-first messaging is critical to building trust and engagement. Discover actionable tips to ensure your marketing aligns with your product's unique value. Hit PLAY to hear Kevin Meany of 9Rooftops uncover Bing’s branding blunders and share lessons to strengthen your marketing strategy. 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.
What if AI could transform your cybersecurity, marketing, and social media strategies all at once? As businesses increasingly adopt AI, understanding its potential and limitations is crucial for entrepreneurs looking to stay competitive. In this episode, we explore groundbreaking AI trends set to dominate 2025, from enhancing digital security to driving hyper-personalized marketing and even creating virtual influencers. Learn how AI-powered tools can detect vulnerabilities and fortify your cybersecurity strategy. Discover how AI personalization can revolutionize marketing and customer engagement. Understand the role of virtual influencers and real-time engagement in transforming social media landscapes. Listen now to uncover how these AI trends can position your business for future success! Read the entire article here. 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.
Have you ever wondered why raising money for your tech startup feels like stepping into the ring of a high-stakes competition? In the rapidly evolving tech landscape, securing funding is a monumental challenge that stands between many entrepreneurs and their dreams. This episode, featuring Audrey Russo, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, dives deep into the world of fundraising, shedding light on common pitfalls and empowering strategies for emerging tech entrepreneurs. Learn the art of effectively asking for investment, understanding what investors are truly looking for. Discover how to articulate your vision and the use of funds in a way that excites prospects and closes the deal. Gain insight into common fundraising pitfalls and how to sidestep them, ensuring your venture doesn’t fall at the first financial hurdle. Listen to this essential episode now and arm yourself with the knowledge to turn your fundraising efforts from a battle into a victory. 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.
What if your tech startup could plug into the next big trend that’s reshaping digital consumer behavior? Super apps are transforming how consumers interact with technology by combining multiple services—like payments, e-commerce, and streaming—into a single platform. This Wednesday Wake Up episode explores how entrepreneurs can leverage this trend to build stronger customer relationships, expand market reach, and increase revenue streams. Learn how super apps meet the growing demand for seamless, all-in-one user experiences. Discover strategies for tapping into this trend to expand your product's reach and lifetime value. Understand the importance of building ecosystems through partnerships to create loyal, engaged customers. Tune in now to uncover how super apps can be a game-changing opportunity for your tech business! Check out the Upsilon article here. 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.
Why did Apple’s Newton—one of the first personal digital assistants—fail, while later innovations like the iPhone and even the Blackberry soared? Even tech giants make mistakes, and the story of the Newton offers powerful lessons for any entrepreneur developing disruptive technology. Kevin Meany, CEO of 9 Rooftops, joins this episode to explore how over-ambition, product timing, and customer needs play crucial roles in determining a product’s success or failure. Hit play and: Discover the risks of releasing tech before it's truly ready for the market. Understand the importance of timing and need-based innovation. Learn how to handle setbacks and use failures to fuel future success. Tune in to gain insights from marketing expert Kevin Meany and learn how to avoid the missteps that cost Apple millions on the Newton. 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.
Are you ready for synthetic reality to take your business to a new level? In our never-ending search to find tech to help your company grow fast, at the Pittsburgh Technology Council, we partner with PWC as our go-to source for all things AI. Its latest article Synthetic Reality for Business and Media explores the burgeoning growth of synthetic reality, driven primarily by advancements in AI technologies. Host Jonathan Kersting explores three takeaways every entrepreneur should consider. Listen for insights on Rapid Integration and Scalability; Ethical and Security Implications; and Enhanced Customer Experience and Operational Efficiency. If you're looking to fully nerd out after giving this Wednesday Wake Up episode a listen, read the entire article here. 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.
Why do so many promising tech startups stumble when it comes to raising capital? For new tech founders, securing funding is often the difference between success and failure. In this episode, Audrey Russo of the Pittsburgh Technology Council shares insights from her years in tech, revealing the key mistakes entrepreneurs make when seeking investment—and how to avoid them. Learn why bootstrapping can help you better understand your customer and strengthen your business. Discover why understanding investor risk tolerance is essential before accepting funding. Hear Audrey's advice on the importance of financial transparency with potential investors. Listen to gain invaluable insights as you're ready to raise capital. 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.
In this "Wednesday Wake Up" episode of 10-Minute Tech Talks, host Jonathan Kersting highlights key advice from Pittsburgh TEQ magazine on generating AI content responsibly. He shares insights from William Wright of Direct Online Marketing, emphasizing the importance of human oversight in AI-generated content to prevent penalties from search engines like Google. Jonathan also previews next week's episode with Pittsburgh Tech Council CEO Audrey Russo, who will discuss common mistakes in startup fundraising and the critical role of bootstrapping. Join to learn practical steps for balancing AI and avoiding entrepreneurial pitfalls. Read the full article here. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, this podcast is 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.
What happens when a startup with groundbreaking technology can’t connect with the right buyers? In a world where automation has become essential, the collapse of Karakuri, an automated meal assembly company, offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs looking to make waves in challenging markets. Despite a promising $6 million investment, Karakuri couldn’t scale its innovative fry and meal assembly robots for the food industry. In this episode, host Jonathan Kersting welcomes Joel Reed, CEO of OpenArc, to analyze what happened and what you can learn from it. Discover the pitfalls of selling complex tech to risk-averse industries and why big chains resist small startups. Learn why market testing and industry partnerships are critical in high-stakes sectors like food automation. Gain insights into the importance of balancing engineering innovation with strong market strategy. Listen now to uncover the missteps that brought down Karakuri and learn how to avoid them on your own entrepreneurial journey. 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.
Every entrepreneur needs to embrace artificial intelligence. There is no way around. Whether using it to streamline your operations or integrating it into your products, it cannot be ignored. At the Pittsburgh Technology Council's TEQ Newsmagazine we just published an "Anit-Whiplash Guide to Embracing AI. For your Wednesday Wakeup, listen to get some key takeaways including: AI is not a passing trend but a foundational shift in technology. Tech entrepreneurs need to recognize this and ensure they are leveraging AI to stay ahead. As an entrepreneur, it's important to focus on how AI can enhance efficiency and generate revenue rather than getting distracted by the hype cycle. Tech leaders should not just indiscriminately adopt AI but rather strategically plan their AI initiatives. Give it a listen and then read the entire article if you want to nerd out more! 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.
Ever wonder how one of the most anticipated games, like Anthem, could crash despite being backed by big names like Bioware and EA? In this episode, James Deighan of Mega Cat Studio joins host Jonathan Kersting to break down what went wrong with Anthem—from bugs and rushed releases to the critical lack of user feedback—and how these mistakes can happen to any project, big or small. If you’ve ever felt pressured to rush a product to market, this episode is for you. Learn why over-promising and under-delivering can severely damage your reputation. Understand the value of getting user feedback early and often to avoid major failures. Discover how poor planning and time management can lead to costly mistakes. Listen now to learn the key lessons from Anthem's failure and avoid making the same mistakes in your next product launch! Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, 10-Minute Tech Talks 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.
Generative AI is devloping at break-neck speeds and trying to keep up with it can be stressful to say the least! Listen to this Wednesday Wake Up for guidance from PWC's Six Generative AI Takeaways and how it can help your business scale fast. Read the full report here. It's not just for CIOs. And get ready for next week's episode featuring James Deighan of Mega Cat Studios exploring key lessons from the failure of the Anthem video game! Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, 10-Minute Tech Talks 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.
How could a streaming platform with $1.8 billion in funding fail in just six months? In a time when streaming services are booming, Quibi's short-form content seemed like a perfect fit for our fast-paced lives, but something went terribly wrong. This episode of 10-Minute Tech Talks dives into Quibi’s downfall and how you can avoid making the same mistakes in your own ventures. Joining host Jonathan Kersting is Joel Reed of OpenArc, a Pittsburgh-based technology consulting firm specializing in talent, strategy, and software development services, to look at just what went wrong with Quibi. Keep listening to: Learn the dangers of investing too much without testing your product on real audiences. Understand why timing can make or break a business, even with the best ideas. Get practical advice on how to take small steps before committing all your resources to a new idea. Don’t miss out on key lessons from Quibi's collapse—listen now and learn how to build a successful business without making billion-dollar mistakes! This is a podcast produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council 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.