Hardware Podcasts

How to Execute Quickly with Miguel Hernandez of Palocam

Predictable Designs Podcast · 27 Apr 2021 · 1h 03m · Episode 30

What this episode covers

Miguel Hernandez, founder of Palocam, explains how he reduced his remote-controlled climbing camera's part count from 18 to 3 by removing the pan-and-tilt mechanism, drastically cutting assembly time and manufacturing costs. He discusses his journey from a Lego prototype to selling 12 units, his experience with Y Combinator, and his strategy for sourcing manufacturers in China through Alibaba and TechDesigns. Hernandez highlights the importance of rapid execution and feedback, noting that his quick implementation of advice led to a significant investment offer from another Hardware Academy member.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Y Combinator, TechDesigns
Products
Palocam, Pebble, GoPro
Chips
Arduino
Tools
Fusion 360
Also
Alibaba, Kickstarter, Indiegogo

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Build 2 Create: Hardware Founder Stories · 1h 36m

    EP 3: AI Smart Glasses | 16 Weeks to CES, 10 Months to Acquisition | Build 2 Create

    Himanshu Verma, Co-Founder of Mustard AI Smart Glasses, explains how his company went from concept to CES in 16 weeks and secured an acquisition by Keynes in just 10 months. He details the strategic pivot from a closed consumer product to an open platform for developers, leveraging his prior experience at Boat to navigate the hardware ecosystem. Verma emphasizes the importance of using existing stabilized components to speed up time-to-market, managing relationships with Chinese factories through visual communication, and maintaining flexibility to accept market feedback.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIScaling production
    8 chapters

  • Product Startup · 49m

    005: Miniature Construction Materials

    Mat Hofma and Erik Polumbo, founders of Mini Materials, explain how they launched a business selling miniature cinder blocks and pallets using a budget of under $500 for prototyping. They detail their process of 3D printing, creating silicone molds, and casting real concrete, while leveraging Instagram and Reddit for organic marketing. The duo discusses their decision to keep manufacturing in the U.S. to maintain margins and quality, and their strategy for scaling production by contracting local individuals rather than using large overseas factories.

    Prototyping & iterationDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    7 chapters

  • The Hardware Entrepreneur · 40m

    #016 - Developing with a hardware engineering company, with Karoly Molnar of ProDSP Technologies, Hungary

    Karoly Molnar, co-founder and CEO of ProDSP Technologies, a hardware engineering firm in Budapest, explains how the company grew organically from university projects into a self-sustaining business serving industrial automation and hardware startups. He details their dual revenue model of engineering hours and manufacturing services, and describes the critical parallel development of 'works-like' and 'looks-like' prototypes that converge into an engineering prototype. Molnar also shares insights on bootstrapping, productivity habits like the Pomodoro technique, and the importance of detailed video documentation when managing cultural differences with Chinese manufacturing partners.

    Starting a product companyPrototyping & iteration
    7 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 40m

    3: Onward

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the failure of their Obi Kickstarter campaign and how it led to a strategic pivot toward smaller, lower-risk products. They detail the development of the Apple TV Remote Stand, which they manufactured in-house using a desktop CNC router, and the iClip for Apple Watch, produced via Shapeways. The hosts analyze the financial and operational lessons learned from these contrasting approaches to product design, manufacturing, and timing.

    Crowdfunding & preordersDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    5 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 40m

    S7E26 Paul Vizzio | From Prototype to Product: How Paul Vizzio Engineered RemieDog Into a Real Hardware Business

    Paul Vizzio, Director of Hardware Engineering at Proteus Motion and founder of the direct-to-consumer brand RemieDog, details the journey of engineering a specialized dog leash from a blocky 3D-printed prototype to a manufacturable product. He explains how he reduced costs by 80% by shifting from CNC machining to die casting and sourcing components from non-traditional hiking suppliers to ensure load ratings. Vizzio also discusses the harsh realities of unit economics, revealing that while the hardware is profitable, marketing and operational expenses have made the venture a financial loss, leading him to adopt a 'build in public' strategy to share his engineering and business learnings.

    Design for manufacturing & NPISourcing & supply chain
    6 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Predictable Designs Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.