Hardware Podcasts

Afterschool Podcast, Episode 5 - StudioNeat (9/16)

Core77 Podcast · 4 Nov 2013 · 1h 00m

What this episode covers

Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt, co-founders of Studio Neat, discuss their journey from the first Kickstarter project, Glif, to their latest hardware release, the Neat Ice Kit. They explain their minimalist Kickstarter strategy, which avoids complex pledge tiers and stretch goals to ensure focus on delivery, and share lessons learned from manufacturing delays with the Cosmonaut stylus. The conversation also covers their design philosophy, their views on the iPhone 5C and iOS 7, and their approach to remote collaboration.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Studio Neat
Products
Glif, Cosmonaut, Simple Bracket, Neat Ice Kit, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, Frameographer
Also
Kickstarter, iOS 7, Texas A&M, NYU ITP, Parsons

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 45m

    25: Q&A

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost, founders of Studio Neat, answer listener questions about their backgrounds at Frog Design and Potion, their transition from side hustle to full-time business, and their philosophy on maintaining a small, agile company. They discuss specific product challenges, such as the physics of the Neat Ice Kit, the limitations of CAD simulation for simple mechanisms, and the frustration with the AirPress packaging. The conversation also covers their marketing strategies, the tension between transparency and secrecy in product development, and their experiences managing Kickstarter backer expectations.

    Crowdfunding & preordersStarting a product company
    10 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 46m

    62: Ten Years

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat celebrate the 10th anniversary of their original Glif Kickstarter campaign, reflecting on a decade of intentional, small-scale growth. They discuss the evolution of their product line from the Glif and Cosmonaut to software like Framographer and Simple Bracket, and physical goods like pins. The founders highlight their strategy of remaining 'out of their depth' during manufacturing, using the Cosmonaut tip failure as a key example of how rigorous quality control defines their partnership. They also touch on cultural milestones, including a White House press release and appearances at MacWorld, while drawing parallels between their journey and the recent success of Widgetsmith.

    Crowdfunding & preordersDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    5 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 40m

    3: Onward

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the failure of their Obi Kickstarter campaign and how it led to a strategic pivot toward smaller, lower-risk products. They detail the development of the Apple TV Remote Stand, which they manufactured in-house using a desktop CNC router, and the iClip for Apple Watch, produced via Shapeways. The hosts analyze the financial and operational lessons learned from these contrasting approaches to product design, manufacturing, and timing.

    Crowdfunding & preordersDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    5 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 20m

    1: Introductions

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat introduce their sixth Kickstarter project, Obi, a smart laser toy for pets designed to entertain cats when owners are busy. They discuss the product's origin, their history of successful hardware campaigns, and the decision to launch on Kickstarter to secure the necessary capital for custom tooling and manufacturing. The hosts also explain their strategy for managing customer expectations regarding production timelines and shipping delays.

    Crowdfunding & preordersStarting a product company
    6 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 1h 13m

    86: Merciless Fundraising

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss their 'Merciless Fundraising' campaign for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, featuring a limited edition gold PVD-coated Mark One pen. They also detail the design evolution of their new Material Docks, explaining the decision to remove internal electronics in favor of MagSafe and the material shift from cork to clear anodized aluminum. Finally, the hosts revisit a 10-year-old XOXO talk, reflecting on how their business philosophy, product design process, and views on distribution have evolved since Studio Neat's early Kickstarter days.

    Industrial & consumer product designCrowdfunding & preorders
    10 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Core77 Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.