# 192: The Importance of Building a Community for Your Hardware Startup

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2023-09-07
- Length: 19m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-07-192-the-importance-of-building-a-community-for-your-hardware-startup
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/podcast/192-building-communities-to-sell-hardware-products/

## Summary

Lloyed Lobo, co-founder of Boast.ai and author of 'From Grassroots to Greatness', explains how hardware startups can build iconic brands through community-led growth. He outlines a progression from audience to cult brand, emphasizing the 'CAMPER' framework (Connection, Autonomy, Management, Purpose, Energy, Recognition) and the importance of consistency over hard work. Lobo advises founders to define their ideal customer profile, map their circle of influence, and prioritize collecting email addresses to own their audience rather than relying on social media algorithms.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-07-192-the-importance-of-building-a-community-for-your-hardware-startup#t=0) Introduction: Lloyed Lobo and Boast.ai
- [1:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-07-192-the-importance-of-building-a-community-for-your-hardware-startup#t=111) Lloyed's Background: From Slums to Sales
- [8:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-07-192-the-importance-of-building-a-community-for-your-hardware-startup#t=490) The Four Stages of Brand Growth
- [11:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-07-192-the-importance-of-building-a-community-for-your-hardware-startup#t=668) The CAMPER Framework for Community
- [13:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-07-192-the-importance-of-building-a-community-for-your-hardware-startup#t=807) Frameworks: Ideal Customer and Circle of Influence
- [13:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-07-192-the-importance-of-building-a-community-for-your-hardware-startup#t=807) Audience Building and Owning Your Data

## Topics

- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Boast.ai (company)
- Harley Davidson (company)
- Apple (company)
- Nike (company)
- Peloton (company)
- Patagonia (company)
- Red Bull (company)
- Traction (company)
- Facebook (company)
- YouTube (company)
- Kickstarter (company)

## 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)
- [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)
- [How Online Communities Can Foster Growth](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-10-11-how-online-communities-can-foster-growth) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [For Hardware Startups by Hardware People: Building The Builder Circle with Host, Sera Evcimen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2026-01-06-for-hardware-startups-by-hardware-people-building-the-builder-circle-with-host-s) (The Builder Circle)
- [Advice Line with Randy Goldberg of Bombas](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-13-advice-line-with-randy-goldberg-of-bombas) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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