# #022: How Two Dads Thoughtfully Scaled Yoto Into One of the Fastest Growing Kid Tech Brands

- Show: [Coredump Sessions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions)
- Published: 2026-05-13
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 22
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/memfault/episodes/022-How-Two-Dads-Thoughtfully-Scaled-Yoto-Into-One-of-the-Fastest-Growing-Kid-Tech-Brands-e3jb2kj

## Summary

Yoto co-founders Ben Drury and Filip Denker explain how they scaled their screen-free audio player for kids from a garage prototype to a global brand, balancing hardware durability, content licensing, and regulatory compliance. They discuss the evolution from Raspberry Pi prototypes to custom ESP32 hardware, the challenges of Wi-Fi connectivity and captive portals, and how they use fleet observability to manage millions of devices in the field. The conversation also covers Yoto's developer program, which allows community members to build interactive audio experiences, and their strategic use of AI for compliance and content generation while maintaining transparency.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te#t=1) Introduction and Origin Story
- [9:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te#t=590) Prototyping with Raspberry Pi and Laser Cutters
- [11:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te#t=719) Hardware Design and Content Strategy
- [17:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te#t=1058) Scaling Challenges and Team Structure
- [24:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te#t=1449) Regulatory Compliance and Safety Standards
- [30:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te#t=1822) Connectivity Issues and Wi-Fi Troubleshooting
- [36:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te#t=2189) Fleet Observability and Debugging
- [39:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te#t=2381) Community Feedback and Developer Program
- [50:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te#t=3025) AI Policy and Future of Hardware

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Yoto (product)
- Raspberry Pi (chip)
- ESP32 (chip)
- Memfault (company)
- Harry Potter (product)
- PAW Patrol (product)
- Peppa Pig (product)
- The Beatles (product)
- Queen (product)
- Elton John (product)
- Dyson (company)
- Pebble (company)
- 11 Labs (company)
- Open AI (company)
- Claude (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [085: Scaling Your Product Up After Crowdfunding](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-21-085-scaling-your-product-up-after-crowdfunding) (Product Startup)
- [An Interview with Zach Dunham](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-07-03-an-interview-with-zach-dunham) (The Amp Hour)
- [Building a Connected Musical Instrument with Rafael Atijas of Loog Guitars](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-12-22-building-a-connected-musical-instrument-with-rafael-atijas-of-loog-guitars) (Over the Air)
- [Can AI Design IoT Hardware? | Flux's Matthias Wagner | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2026-04-14-can-ai-design-iot-hardware-fluxs-matthias-wagner-internet-of-things-podcast) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [T-24-002 : Kevin Lavelle - Performance Fabric to Pediatric Telemedicine](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2024-10-02-t-24-002-kevin-lavelle-performance-fabric-to-pediatric-telemedicine) (TRADEOFFS)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-05-13-022-how-two-dads-thoughtfully-scaled-yoto-into-one-of-the-fastest-growing-kid-te. 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 Coredump Sessions.