Hardware Podcasts

An Interview with Scott Miller - Sudden SinoAmerican Synthesis

The Amp Hour · 17 Sept 2012 · 1h 31m · Episode 113

What this episode covers

Scott Miller, founder of Dragon Innovation, explains how his company helps startups navigate high-volume manufacturing in China, drawing on his experience building Roombas and Scuba robots at iRobot. He details the critical importance of having a physical presence in Shenzhen, managing supply chain risks like counterfeit components, and protecting intellectual property through measures like signed ICs and bootloaders. Miller also discusses the specific challenges of crowdfunding, where entrepreneurs often fail to account for tooling and compliance costs, and outlines Dragon's retainer-based business model for guiding clients from prototype to production.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Dragon Innovation, iRobot, Hasbro, MakerBot
Products
Roomba, Scuba, Pebble
Also
Alibaba, Olin College

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