# Hard Earned Lessons Learned with Wayne Frick of ChirpSounds – Part 2

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2020-06-22
- Length: 40m
- Episode: 22
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2

## Summary

Wayne Frick of ChirpSounds details the operational and technical hurdles of bringing his long-range Bluetooth bird call device to market, specifically focusing on supply chain complexities and component selection. He explains the challenges of sourcing a certified, weatherproof 18650 battery and selecting a UV-stable plastic that allowed for cost-effective painting rather than custom compounding. Frick also discusses the critical importance of building an audience and maintaining cash flow through strategic production scaling and manufacturer financing rather than relying on crowdfunding.

## Chapters

- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2#t=15) Introduction: Wayne Frick and ChirpSounds
- [1:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2#t=94) Organization and Business Planning with Mind Maps
- [5:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2#t=335) Crowdfunding Risks and Cash Flow Management
- [12:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2#t=735) Building and Maintaining an Audience
- [18:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2#t=1137) Timeline Estimation and Outsourcing Challenges
- [22:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2#t=1364) Battery Sourcing and Certification Hurdles
- [26:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2#t=1591) Material Selection: Plastics and Protolabs
- [29:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2#t=1785) Bluetooth Module Failures and Product Scope
- [33:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2#t=2001) Leveraging Mentorship and Community Resources
- [36:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-22-hard-earned-lessons-learned-with-wayne-frick-of-chirpsounds-part-2#t=2217) Vetting Contractors and Final Lessons

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- ChirpSounds (company)
- Wayne Frick (other)
- John Teel (other)
- Texas Instruments (company)
- Samsung (company)
- Shenzhen Power (company)
- Protolabs (company)
- 3D Hubs (company)
- Hardware Academy (other)
- Amazon Dot (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Year End, 2017](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-12-18-year-end-2017) (The Amp Hour)
- [Sipping Coulombs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-04-23-sipping-coulombs) (The Amp Hour)
- [A 2013 Recap - Year-end Yarn Yakking](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-12-31-a-2013-recap-year-end-yarn-yakking) (The Amp Hour)
- [Adafruit, Chip heist, Hackerspaces - The Kit Conniption](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-04-26-adafruit-chip-heist-hackerspaces-the-kit-conniption) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Christina Cyr](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-01-20-an-interview-with-christina-cyr) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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