Hardware Podcasts

A biometric smart gun with Kai Kloepfer of Biofire

How I Built This · 5 Oct 2023 · 36m

What this episode covers

Kai Kloepfer, founder and CEO of Biofire, explains how he spent over a decade developing the world’s first biometric smart handgun to reduce accidental deaths and suicides. He details the technical pivot from unreliable mechanical inhibitors to a novel 'fire-by-wire' electronic firing system that unlocks in microseconds via fingerprint or facial recognition. Kloepfer discusses the challenges of fundraising for deep-tech hardware in a controversial industry, the company's $30 million raise, and the strategy of targeting entry-level home defense buyers who prioritize safety over enthusiast features.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Biofire, Smith and Wesson, NRA, Smart Tech Challengers Foundation, Mercury, U.S. Bank, Founders Fund, Tesla, Rivian
Products
Glock
Also
Intel International Science Fair

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