# 55: Embedded Systems and Cricket

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-06-12
- Length: 51m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-12-55-embedded-systems-and-cricket
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-55mp3

## Summary

Radhika Thekkath, CEO of Agivox, discusses her startup's development of a dynamic, voice-based news radio service that uses machine learning to curate RSS feeds and podcasts into personalized audio streams. She details the company's strategy of targeting automotive OEMs with an API while navigating the challenges of securing NSF SBIR grants and raising funds from strategic investors like Qualcomm. Thekkath also shares insights on Silicon Valley networking, the difficulties of hiring engineers, and the importance of validating product-market fit through focus groups.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-12-55-embedded-systems-and-cricket#t=6) Introduction and Agivox Product Overview
- [5:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-12-55-embedded-systems-and-cricket#t=332) Machine Learning Topic Discovery and Voice Synthesis
- [12:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-12-55-embedded-systems-and-cricket#t=759) Automotive API Strategy and Market Timing
- [15:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-12-55-embedded-systems-and-cricket#t=933) NSF SBIR Grants: Phase 1 Research and Phase 2 Commercialization
- [27:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-12-55-embedded-systems-and-cricket#t=1625) Fundraising Strategy: Strategic Investors vs. VCs
- [30:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-12-55-embedded-systems-and-cricket#t=1828) Silicon Valley Networking and Hiring Challenges
- [38:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-12-55-embedded-systems-and-cricket#t=2336) Product Validation and Founder Resilience

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Agivox (company)
- MIPS Technologies (company)
- NSF SBIR (other)
- Qualcomm (company)
- Pandora (product)
- Stitcher (product)
- SparkFun (company)
- ShotSpotter (company)

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## 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/2014-06-12-55-embedded-systems-and-cricket. 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.