# 7: Lights, Camera, Electrons

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2013-06-26
- Length: 1h 06m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep7-mp3

## Summary

Josh Chan and Theron Pondicherry, founders of Light Up, explain their magnetic electronics kit designed to teach elementary and middle school students how circuits work without soldering. They detail the hardware's magnetic connections, the integrated augmented reality smartphone app that visualizes electron flow and debugs errors, and the inclusion of an Arduino-compatible microcontroller block. The founders discuss their journey through the HAXLR8R accelerator in Shenzhen, their successful Kickstarter campaign which exceeded its $50,000 goal, and their strategy for scaling production and distribution.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons#t=6) Introduction: Josh Chan and Theron Pondicherry of Light Up
- [1:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons#t=100) Light Up Hardware: Magnetic Connections and Components
- [6:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons#t=368) Pedagogy: Visualizing Circuits and Debugging with AR
- [14:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons#t=885) Augmented Reality App: Error Detection and Electron Flow
- [22:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons#t=1377) Kit Tiers: Maker Mini, Junior, Pro, and DIY Blocks
- [28:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons#t=1719) Microcontroller Block: ATtiny84 and Programming Shield
- [50:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons#t=3018) HAXLR8R Accelerator: Manufacturing in Shenzhen
- [54:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons#t=3294) Kickstarter Campaign: Funding, Stretch Goals, and Shipping

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Light Up (product)
- HAXLR8R (other)
- Kickstarter (other)
- Arduino (product)
- ATtiny84 (chip)
- SparkFun (company)
- RadioShack (company)
- MakerBot (company)

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- [When our phones are just phones with Kai Tang and Joe Hollier of Light](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-08-10-when-our-phones-are-just-phones-with-kai-tang-and-joe-hollier-of-light) (How I Built This)
- [An Interview with Marcus Schappi - Kit Ketch Kenophobia](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Andrew Seddon - Necessary Networked Novelty](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-02-05-an-interview-with-andrew-seddon-necessary-networked-novelty) (The Amp Hour)
- [429: The Fabric of Your Lungs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-02-09-429-the-fabric-of-your-lungs) (Making It)
- [Brett Walker: Advanced Manufacturing, Generative AI, Kickstarter & Austin | Hard Tech Podcast #4](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-06-07-brett-walker-advanced-manufacturing-generative-ai-kickstarter-austin-hard-tech-p) (Hard Tech Podcast)

## Citing this page

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