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 roboticsMore about our guest:linkedin.com/in/nickhegeman/------Connect with me on LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian

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