# 44: Light Up Strikes Back

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-03-26
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep44-2mp3

## Summary

Josh Chan and Tarun Pondicherry, founders of Lightup, discuss the journey of their electronics education kit from a Kickstarter campaign to shipping the MiniKit. They detail technical hurdles including PCB redesigns due to battery supplier changes and supply chain delays for the Mel 32 U4 microcontroller. The founders also explain their strategy for securing retail partnerships with Makershed and their plans to expand the product line with microcontroller blocks for programming education.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back#t=6) Introduction: Lightup MiniKit and Kickstarter Success
- [3:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back#t=181) MiniKit Design: Magnetic Blocks and App Integration
- [6:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back#t=363) Distribution: Makershed Partnership and Retail Strategy
- [8:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back#t=496) Supply Chain Delays: Mel 32 U4 Microcontroller Shortage
- [9:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back#t=563) Technical Hurdles: PCB Redesign and Safety Covers
- [11:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back#t=686) International Toy Fair and Packaging Design
- [13:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back#t=787) Manufacturing in China and DFM Compromises
- [18:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back#t=1124) Pedagogical Trade-offs: SMD vs Through-Hole Components
- [22:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back#t=1373) App Development: iOS/Android Support and Image Processing
- [27:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back#t=1624) Fundraising and Future Vision: Programming Blocks

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Lightup (company)
- MiniKit (product)
- Makershed (company)
- Mel 32 U4 (chip)
- Maker Fair (other)
- International Toy Fair (other)
- Tech Crunch (other)
- Snap Circuits (product)
- Lego Mindstorms (product)
- Scratch (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [Year End, 2017](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-12-18-year-end-2017) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Ken Burns](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-16-an-interview-with-ken-burns) (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)
- [069 - Canned Cheese and Onion Rings](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2024-04-17-069-canned-cheese-and-onion-rings) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back. 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 Embedded.fm.