# The Recipe For Creating a Culinary Connected Device

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2021-11-09
- Length: 23m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-11-09-the-recipe-for-creating-a-culinary-connected-device
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/The-Recipe-For-Creating-a-Culinary-Connected-Device-e2l43r2

## Summary

David Rabie, Founder & CEO of Tovala, explains how the company bridges the distinct worlds of culinary arts, hardware engineering, and software development to create a connected smart oven paired with a meal delivery service. He details the strategic decision to use Kickstarter for early validation and the subsequent struggle to acquire new customers despite strong retention, which was resolved by pivoting marketing, website design, and pricing. Rabie also discusses the operational challenges of scaling production and supply chain management after finding product-market fit just before the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Chapters

- [0:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-11-09-the-recipe-for-creating-a-culinary-connected-device#t=54) Introduction: Tovala's Mission and Product
- [2:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-11-09-the-recipe-for-creating-a-culinary-connected-device#t=126) Differentiating from Meal Kits and Bridging Disciplines
- [9:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-11-09-the-recipe-for-creating-a-culinary-connected-device#t=566) Hardware Strategy: Steam Ovens and Connectivity
- [12:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-11-09-the-recipe-for-creating-a-culinary-connected-device#t=720) Kickstarter Validation and Early Retention
- [14:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-11-09-the-recipe-for-creating-a-culinary-connected-device#t=899) Marketing Pivot and Finding Product-Market Fit
- [18:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-11-09-the-recipe-for-creating-a-culinary-connected-device#t=1081) Scaling Operations and Supply Chain Challenges

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Tovala (company)
- Blue Apron (company)
- HelloFresh (company)
- Home Chef (company)
- DoorDash (company)
- Nespresso (company)
- Keurig (company)
- Peloton (company)
- Kickstarter (company)

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- [How to Build a Successful IoT Solution | Intent's Peter Tuszynski and Przemysław Łagód | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-04-20-how-to-build-a-successful-iot-solution-intents-peter-tuszynski-and-przemys-aw-ag) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [What It Really Takes To Build a Food Business: Part 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-10-18-what-it-really-takes-to-build-a-food-business-part-1) (How I Built This)
- [S3 E7: Building Bootstrapped Hardware That Sells with Christian Reed](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2026-01-13-s3-e7-building-bootstrapped-hardware-that-sells-with-christian-reed) (The Builder Circle)
- [Maximizing ROI for IoT Prototyping and Development | Blynk's Pavel Bayborodin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-08-31-maximizing-roi-for-iot-prototyping-and-development-blynks-pavel-bayborodin) (IoT For All Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-11-09-the-recipe-for-creating-a-culinary-connected-device. 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 Over the Air.