10-Minute Tech Talks: How Tech Entrepreneurs Fail & How You Can Avoid It
10-Minute Tech Talks: How Tech Entrepreneurs Fail & How You Can Avoid It
Jonathan Kersting
When the Big Deal Falls Apart: Titan Robotics' Pivot
9 minutes Posted Oct 5, 2026 at 4:00 am.
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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.