The Founder’s Path Is Never Straight

What does it take to reimagine how hardware products are built in a world moving at the speed of AI? Michael Corr, founder and CEO of Duro, shares how he turned two decades of experience in engineering and manufacturing into a modern platform that helps hardware teams move faster and smarter. From journaling early product ideas to navigating the relentless pace of innovation, Michael reveals what it really means to be a founder when the path is anything but straight. Key takeaways • Why traditional hardware manufacturing processes create hidden risks—and how software can solve them • The journaling habit that helped shape Duro’s first product features • How to balance investor demands with long-term product vision • The danger of chasing every shiny object as a CEO and how to filter noise for your team • Why adaptability matters more than rigid 5-year plans in today’s tech landscape Timestamped highlights 00:36 — How Duro is reinventing product lifecycle management for hardware teams 05:39 — “If I were king for a day…” the origin story of Duro 06:52 — The role of note-taking and journaling in building a company from scratch 09:31 — Staying true to a mission while adapting to market and investor pressures 14:54 — The trap of chasing every customer request and how to avoid burning out your team 19:03 — Why looking beyond 18 months is mostly speculation in a fast-changing industry Memorable insight “All we can really focus on is the next 12 to 18 months—everything beyond that is just speculation.” Resources mentioned Duro website: getduro.com Pro tip When you’re leading a fast-moving company, not every customer request deserves a green light. The best founders know when to say no, even to a big check, to protect long-term focus. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show for more conversations with tech leaders shaping the future of software, hardware, and everything in between.