# When our phones are just phones with Kai Tang and Joe Hollier of Light

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-08-10
- Length: 32m
- Page: 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

## Summary

Kai Tang and Joe Hollier, co-founders of Light, explain how they met in a Google incubator and decided to build the Light Phone, a minimalist device designed to reduce smartphone addiction and protect user privacy. They detail their journey from a $400,000 Kickstarter for the first 2G model to a $3.5 million Indiegogo campaign for the Light Phone 2, which added utility features like music and text. The founders discuss the challenges of hardware manufacturing, including delays and supply chain issues, and how they achieved profitability through word-of-mouth marketing and direct-to-consumer sales without venture capital pressure to maximize attention.

## Chapters

- [0:00](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#t=0) Introduction: Kai Tang and Joe Hollier of Light
- [2:27](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#t=147) The Google Incubator and the Attention Economy Problem
- [8:23](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#t=503) Testing the Hypothesis with Flip Phones
- [10:11](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#t=611) Kickstarter Success and Manufacturing Challenges
- [14:44](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#t=884) The First Light Phone and User Adoption
- [17:02](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#t=1022) Light Phone 2: Adding Utility Features
- [25:31](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#t=1531) Profitability, Marketing, and Company Growth
- [31:50](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#t=1910) Gen Z Adoption and Future Vision

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Light Phone (product)
- Nokia (company)
- Blackberry (company)
- Motorola (company)
- Google (company)
- Facebook (company)
- AOL (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Alibaba (company)
- Indiegogo (other)
- Foxconn (company)
- Uber (product)
- Buxton School (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [44: Light Up Strikes Back](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back) (Embedded.fm)
- [An Interview with Christina Cyr](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-01-20-an-interview-with-christina-cyr) (The Amp Hour)
- [7: Lights, Camera, Electrons](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons) (Embedded.fm)
- [3: Onward](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-10-28-3-onward) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 14 - Pencil by FiftyThree (12/17)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-12-17-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-pencil-by-fiftythree-12-17) (Core77 Podcast)

## Citing this page

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