# From Corporate World to Freelancing to Running a Hardware Startup with Roberto Weiser of Developpa

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2020-06-29
- Length: 53m
- Episode: 23
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-29-from-corporate-world-to-freelancing-to-running-a-hardware-startup-with-roberto-w

## Summary

Roberto Weiser, founder of Developpa and Air Develop, explains his transition from corporate engineering roles at Lear and Cambridge Audio to freelancing and launching a low-cost air purifier in Thailand. He details the decision to use off-the-shelf components to minimize costs and the challenge of manufacturing in Thailand with Western management to balance cost and communication. Weiser describes a critical supply chain failure during the coronavirus pandemic, where delayed molds forced an improvised CNC-machined enclosure solution to fulfill pre-orders. Finally, he outlines his strategy to pivot from direct retail sales to wholesale distribution in Thailand and internationally to achieve business stability.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-29-from-corporate-world-to-freelancing-to-running-a-hardware-startup-with-roberto-w#t=0) Introduction: Roberto Weiser and Developpa
- [1:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-29-from-corporate-world-to-freelancing-to-running-a-hardware-startup-with-roberto-w#t=118) Roberto's Background: Corporate to Freelancing
- [14:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-29-from-corporate-world-to-freelancing-to-running-a-hardware-startup-with-roberto-w#t=853) Product Design: Low-Cost Air Purifier Strategy
- [28:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-29-from-corporate-world-to-freelancing-to-running-a-hardware-startup-with-roberto-w#t=1730) Manufacturing in Thailand vs. China
- [39:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-29-from-corporate-world-to-freelancing-to-running-a-hardware-startup-with-roberto-w#t=2356) Coronavirus Supply Chain Crisis and Pivot
- [47:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-29-from-corporate-world-to-freelancing-to-running-a-hardware-startup-with-roberto-w#t=2874) Future Plans: Wholesale and Air Monitor

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Developpa (company)
- Air Develop (company)
- Lear (company)
- Cambridge Audio (company)
- Arduino (chip)
- Hardware Academy (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [180: Hardware Startup Tips for Non-Technical Founders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-06-15-180-hardware-startup-tips-for-non-technical-founders) (Product Startup)
- [Chris Becomes Self Employed - Quixotic Quitting Quaere](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-02-12-chris-becomes-self-employed-quixotic-quitting-quaere) (The Amp Hour)
- [#016 - Developing with a hardware engineering company, with Karoly Molnar of ProDSP Technologies, Hungary](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-03-08-016-developing-with-a-hardware-engineering-company-with-karoly-molnar-of-prodsp) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [An Interview with Ken Burns](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-16-an-interview-with-ken-burns) (The Amp Hour)
- [3: Onward](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-10-28-3-onward) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-29-from-corporate-world-to-freelancing-to-running-a-hardware-startup-with-roberto-w. 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 Predictable Designs Podcast.