# Hardware Development with No Prior Experience with Kris Christopher of Grow Nanny

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2020-01-07
- Length: 43m
- Episode: 3
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-07-hardware-development-with-no-prior-experience-with-kris-christopher-of-grow-nann

## Summary

Kris Christopher, founder of Grow Nanny, explains how he transitioned from a Pepsi truck driver to a hardware entrepreneur with no technical background, teaching himself software and electronics to build an indoor gardening system. He details his journey from using Arduino and Raspberry Pi prototypes to designing a custom PCB with Eagle, emphasizing the importance of customer feedback and audience building over early fundraising. Christopher discusses the challenges of validating product-market fit, the reality of investor expectations regarding traction, and his strategy for sustaining the startup through API sales and premium software features while maintaining his mental health.

## Chapters

- [0:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-07-hardware-development-with-no-prior-experience-with-kris-christopher-of-grow-nann#t=16) Introduction and Background
- [2:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-07-hardware-development-with-no-prior-experience-with-kris-christopher-of-grow-nann#t=164) Learning Hardware and Software
- [5:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-07-hardware-development-with-no-prior-experience-with-kris-christopher-of-grow-nann#t=334) Prototype Feedback and Pivot
- [14:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-07-hardware-development-with-no-prior-experience-with-kris-christopher-of-grow-nann#t=887) Investor Meetings and Reality Check
- [21:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-07-hardware-development-with-no-prior-experience-with-kris-christopher-of-grow-nann#t=1289) Funding Strategy and Crowdfunding
- [29:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-07-hardware-development-with-no-prior-experience-with-kris-christopher-of-grow-nann#t=1761) Audience Building and Mental Health
- [38:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-07-hardware-development-with-no-prior-experience-with-kris-christopher-of-grow-nann#t=2316) Manufacturing and Next Steps

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Grow Nanny (product)
- Arduino (chip)
- Raspberry Pi (chip)
- Indiegogo (other)
- Kickstarter (other)
- PCBWay (other)
- Eagle (tool)
- ESP32 (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep. 39 - Starting a Hardware Company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2025-05-15-ep-39-starting-a-hardware-company) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [108: Hardware Design Tips from Apple & Intel Leader](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-01-05-108-hardware-design-tips-from-apple-intel-leader) (Product Startup)
- [S1 E7: Level Up Your Hardware Product Pitch with Haje Kamps](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-06-27-s1-e7-level-up-your-hardware-product-pitch-with-haje-kamps) (The Builder Circle)
- [S2E51 The Hardware Academy | John Teel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-12-03-s2e51-the-hardware-academy-john-teel) (Being an Engineer)
- [An Interview with Luke Iseman of yCombinator](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-09-24-an-interview-with-luke-iseman-of-ycombinator) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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