CTO Confessions Brought to you by IT Labs · 2026-03-04 · 48 min
What does it really take to build great hardware in a software-first world? In this episode of CTO Confessions, we sit down with Nico Cormier, CTO of reMarkable - the company behind the world's leading paper tablet - to explore what modern hardware development actually looks like from the inside. We get into the risks, the rewards, and the mindset it takes to ship a physical product people love. Nico draws on his experience at Cisco, Nasdaq, and DxO Labs to share what separates hardware teams that succeed from those that don't. In this episode: - Why CTOs need to be business builders, not just tech experts - The brutal reality of hardware risk - and why it's still worth it - How to listen to user feedback without cherry-picking the good stuff - Staying mission-driven while staying open to change "Nothing beats being able to hold a product in your hands." - Nico Cormier
Episode 206: Dissecting the CTO Role Misconceptions, Hiring, and the Age of AI with Jay Dalke59 / 100Episode 205: Behind the Platform Powering Modern Background Checks with Luca BonmassarEpisode 204: How fast is technology evolving with Ahmed AbdelrahmanEpisode 203: Getting Priorities & Requirements Right with Rigvinath Chevala
Episode 202: Your system doesn’t need heroes - A guide on building and scaling a team