# S6E47 Brogan Miller | Being a Doula for Hardware Startups, Manufacturing in Asia, and How to Start Networking

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2025-11-21
- Length: 44m
- Episode: 47
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an

## Summary

Brogan Miller, founder of Doula Studios, describes his role as a 'doula for hardware startups,' helping early-stage companies navigate new product development and manufacturing. He shares insights from his career at companies like Sensel, AliveCor, and GaeaStar, including designing a 200-pound electromechanical charcoal barbecue and managing supply chains in Asia. Miller discusses the cultural nuances of sourcing in Vietnam versus China, the importance of networking for career growth, and the challenges of balancing perfection with shipping viable products.

## Chapters

- [0:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an#t=13) Introduction: Brogan Miller and Doula Studios
- [1:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an#t=69) Designing an Electromechanical Charcoal Barbecue
- [2:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an#t=144) Origins of Engineering Curiosity and Career Strategy
- [13:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an#t=803) The 'Doula for Startups' Analogy and Early-Stage Challenges
- [21:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an#t=1287) One-Off vs. High-Volume Manufacturing Tolerances
- [26:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an#t=1569) Sourcing in Asia: China vs. Vietnam and Cultural Dynamics
- [37:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an#t=2254) Networking, Mentorship, and Accelerating Engineering Speed

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Doula Studios (company)
- Sensel (company)
- AliveCor (company)
- GaeaStar (company)
- Stanford University (other)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#011 - Accelerate with an IoT accelerator, with Bay McLaughlin of Brinc, Hong Kong](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-02-01-011-accelerate-with-an-iot-accelerator-with-bay-mclaughlin-of-brinc-hong-kong) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [An Interview with Zach Hoeken Smith - Creative China Commorant](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-11-12-an-interview-with-zach-hoeken-smith-creative-china-commorant) (The Amp Hour)
- [#051 - Connecting the (hardware) dots, with Greg Fisher of BSG and Hardware Massive, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-03-28-051-connecting-the-hardware-dots-with-greg-fisher-of-bsg-and-hardware-massive-us) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [An Interview with Scott Miller - Sudden SinoAmerican Synthesis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-17-an-interview-with-scott-miller-sudden-sinoamerican-synthesis) (The Amp Hour)
- [#023 - Developing consumer products with an all-in-one manufacturer in China that is just different, with Jacob Rothman of Platform88, China](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-04-26-023-developing-consumer-products-with-an-all-in-one-manufacturer-in-china-that-i) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.