Hardware Podcasts

Taming the Dragons whilst Saving the Planet

It's Only a Prototype · 1 May 2025 · 59m

What this episode covers

Lisa Hicks, founder of SNOAP, explains how she turned a lockdown frustration with slippery, unhygienic solid soap bars into the world’s first solid soap and shampoo dispenser. She details the development of seven prototypes to achieve a durable, 25-year lifespan and the rigorous due diligence required before appearing on Dragons' Den. After the episode aired, Hicks managed a massive surge in direct-to-consumer orders and secured investment from Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones to drive global expansion.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Docken Bay
Products
SNOAP
Also
Dragons' Den, Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones, Sarah Beeny, Touker Suleyman

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • How I Built This · 1h 29m

    Scrub Daddy: Aaron Krause. How a Failed Experiment Became a Billion-Dollar Sponge

    Aaron Krause, founder of Scrub Daddy, explains how he pivoted from selling industrial buffing pads (sold to 3M) to creating a billion-dollar consumer brand after accidentally discovering the temperature-sensitive properties of a foam material originally intended for hand scrubbing. He details the struggle to gain retail traction through in-store demos, QVC appearances, and a pivotal Shark Tank pitch with Lori Greiner that generated $1 million in sales overnight. Krause also discusses his aggressive strategy for protecting intellectual property, including patenting the smiley-face design and enforcing trade dress against Chinese counterfeiters.

    Validation & product-market fitIntellectual property
    7 chapters

  • How I Built This · 54m

    Serial Entrepreneur: Marcia Kilgore (2018)

    Marcia Kilgore, founder of Bliss, Soap & Glory, FitFlop, Soaper Duper, and Beauty Pie, recounts her journey from a $300 arrival in New York to building five successful companies. She explains how a bad facial experience led to the creation of Bliss, which she sold to LVMH, and how her fitness background inspired the ergonomic shoe design of FitFlop. Kilgore discusses her strategy of launching multiple ventures simultaneously, such as Soap & Glory and FitFlop, to hedge bets, and her current focus on Beauty Pie's factory-direct cosmetics model. The episode also features a postscript on Emma Cohen and Miles Pepper, who developed The Final Straw, a collapsible metal straw, and faced rapid knockoff competition after a successful Kickstarter campaign.

    Starting a product companyValidation & product-market fit
    6 chapters

  • People of Packaging · 24m

    173 - The amazing foldable origami bottle! With Co Founder of Difold, Radina Popova

    Radina Popova, Co-Founder and CEO of Difold, explains the development of the Difold Origami Bottle, a reusable, foldable container designed to reduce shipping volume and waste. She details the transition from 3D printed prototypes to serial production using a high-end, bio-based polymer from DSM, highlighting the material's stability and recyclability compared to silicone competitors. Popova discusses the company's journey through the Climate Kick accelerator, their Kickstarter campaign, and current direct-to-consumer sales via their e-commerce site, while noting plans for a second product, the origami cup.

    Industrial & consumer product designMaterials & manufacturing processes
    6 chapters

  • How I Built This · 1h 06m

    S'well: Sarah Kauss

    Sarah Kauss, founder of S'well, explains how she launched a $100 million reusable water bottle company in 2010 by combining industrial design with a social mission to eliminate plastic waste. She details her bootstrapped journey, from designing the bottle in PowerPoint and manufacturing 3,000 units in China to securing early retail placements with Crate and Barrel and a breakthrough feature in O, The Oprah Magazine. Kauss also discusses the critical decision to remain 100% owner-controlled, the strategic use of TED conference sponsorships for influencer marketing, and the legal battles against counterfeiters who copied her logo and design.

    Industrial & consumer product designStarting a product company
    9 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 46m

    18: No Cool Cheap Screwdrivers

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the launch of their new product, The Material Dock, an adjustable charging stand for iPhones and Apple Watches made from walnut and molded cork. They detail the manufacturing challenges, including supplier failures and a lightning strike on their local woodshop, and explain design decisions such as including a screwdriver and using 3D printed internal parts. The episode also covers the creation of a viral marketing video using post-Steve Jobs keynote footage and their strategy for selling directly to consumers.

    Industrial & consumer product designPrototyping & iteration
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by It's Only a Prototype. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.