S2E41 The Hacksmith | James Hobson
James Hobson, founder of Hacksmith Industries, explains how he transitioned from a mechanical engineering student to running a YouTube channel that builds functional prototypes of fictional items like the Iron Man helmet and Tesla Cybertruck. He details the company's growth from a solo hobbyist project to a 23-person team operating out of a 13,000-square-foot facility, highlighting the role of viral hits like the Captain America shield in driving sponsorship revenue. Hobson also discusses the technical challenges of building the Alien Power Loader, the importance of in-house manufacturing tools like fiber lasers, and his philosophy on self-taught engineering.