# EP 3: AI Smart Glasses | 16 Weeks to CES, 10 Months to Acquisition | Build 2 Create

- Show: [Build 2 Create: Hardware Founder Stories](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories)
- Published: 2026-02-10
- Length: 1h 36m
- Episode: 3
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-02-10-ep-3-ai-smart-glasses-16-weeks-to-ces-10-months-to-acquisition-build-2-create
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/analogy-design/episodes/EP-3-AI-Smart-Glasses--16-Weeks-to-CES--10-Months-to-Acquisition--Build-2-Create-e3esv3k

## Summary

Himanshu Verma, Co-Founder of Mustard AI Smart Glasses, explains how his company went from concept to CES in 16 weeks and secured an acquisition by Keynes in just 10 months. He details the strategic pivot from a closed consumer product to an open platform for developers, leveraging his prior experience at Boat to navigate the hardware ecosystem. Verma emphasizes the importance of using existing stabilized components to speed up time-to-market, managing relationships with Chinese factories through visual communication, and maintaining flexibility to accept market feedback.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-02-10-ep-3-ai-smart-glasses-16-weeks-to-ces-10-months-to-acquisition-build-2-create#t=0) Introduction: Himanshu Verma and Mustard AI Smart Glasses
- [5:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-02-10-ep-3-ai-smart-glasses-16-weeks-to-ces-10-months-to-acquisition-build-2-create#t=318) Industrial Design Strategy & Founder Mindset
- [22:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-02-10-ep-3-ai-smart-glasses-16-weeks-to-ces-10-months-to-acquisition-build-2-create#t=1345) Startups Aren’t Cool
- [53:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-02-10-ep-3-ai-smart-glasses-16-weeks-to-ces-10-months-to-acquisition-build-2-create#t=3219) Manufacturing, Production & Hardware Realities
- [58:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-02-10-ep-3-ai-smart-glasses-16-weeks-to-ces-10-months-to-acquisition-build-2-create#t=3503) Ecosystem, Market & Industry Strategy
- [1:06:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-02-10-ep-3-ai-smart-glasses-16-weeks-to-ces-10-months-to-acquisition-build-2-create#t=4003) 5-Item Checklist for First-Time Founders
- [1:14:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-02-10-ep-3-ai-smart-glasses-16-weeks-to-ces-10-months-to-acquisition-build-2-create#t=4486) 3 Red Flags Before Launch
- [1:25:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-02-10-ep-3-ai-smart-glasses-16-weeks-to-ces-10-months-to-acquisition-build-2-create#t=5127) Future of Eyewear

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mustard (product)
- Boat (company)
- Meta (company)
- Ray-Ban (product)
- Google (company)
- Analogy Design Studio (company)
- Keynes (company)
- Lego (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#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)
- [216: 5 Key Tips For Starting Your Product Development Journey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-03-11-216-5-key-tips-for-starting-your-product-development-journey) (Product Startup)
- [How to Execute Quickly with Miguel Hernandez of Palocam](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2021-04-27-how-to-execute-quickly-with-miguel-hernandez-of-palocam) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [#030 - Makers of the fastest production drone on Earth and beyond, with Chris Hsiao of Gossamer, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-06-14-030-makers-of-the-fastest-production-drone-on-earth-and-beyond-with-chris-hsiao) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [Concept to Market in One Year with Allen Walton of SpyGuy.com [Part 2]](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-18-concept-to-market-in-one-year-with-allen-walton-of-spyguy-com-part-2) (Predictable Designs Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/build-2-create-hardware-founder-stories/2026-02-10-ep-3-ai-smart-glasses-16-weeks-to-ces-10-months-to-acquisition-build-2-create. 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 Build 2 Create: Hardware Founder Stories.