Episode 59 | Insights in Building a Startup in Hard Tech | Nick Hegeman

In this episode I sit down with Nick Hegeman, co-founder and CEO of PaintJet, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities in building a startup in the hard tech and construction space. Nick shares his journey from engineering student to franchise owner to founding PaintJet, a company revolutionizing the way large-scale surfaces are painted using robotics.

We explore the realities of a labor shortage in construction, why Nick deliberately chose a practice-run business before launching PaintJet, and how PaintJet's technology reduces waste, improves safety, and increases precision in industrial painting. Nick also dives into the importance of building a strong team, maintaining a growth mindset, and creating a business model that both scales and generates positive cash flow in a challenging market.

This episode is full of valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those looking to break into the hardware and robotics space.

Timestamps:

[02:30] Nick's journey from engineering to entrepreneurship
[06:45] The origins of Paintjet and addressing the labor shortage
[12:00] Assembling the founding team and early challenges
[16:50] Paintjet’s unique business model and customer demand
[22:15] The robotics and technology behind Paintjet
[28:00] Improving safety, reducing waste, and increasing efficiency
[32:40] The importance of hiring the right people for growth
[36:50] Innovations in real-time quality control and the future of Paintjet
[41:30] Addressing concerns about robotics replacing manual jobs
[45:00] Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in hard tech and robotics

More about our guest:
linkedin.com/in/nickhegeman/

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Connect with me on LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian