# An Interview with Zach Hoeken Smith - Creative China Commorant

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2012-11-12
- Length: 1h 27m
- Episode: 121
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-11-12-an-interview-with-zach-hoeken-smith-creative-china-commorant
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-121-creative-china-commorant/

## Summary

Zach Hoeken Smith, formerly of MakerBot and now with the HAXLR8R hardware accelerator in Shenzhen, discusses the realities of building physical products in China. He details the advantages of the local supply chain, such as the SEG market for tactile component selection and Taobao for sourcing parts, while contrasting this with the limitations of Western distributors like DigiKey. Smith also outlines the structure of the HAXLR8R program, which supports hardware startups in transitioning from prototype to mass production, citing Nomiku as a success story.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-11-12-an-interview-with-zach-hoeken-smith-creative-china-commorant#t=0) Introduction and Shenzhen Geography
- [5:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-11-12-an-interview-with-zach-hoeken-smith-creative-china-commorant#t=317) Zach's Background and MakerBot Origins
- [15:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-11-12-an-interview-with-zach-hoeken-smith-creative-china-commorant#t=903) Navigating the SEG Market and Supply Chain
- [17:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-11-12-an-interview-with-zach-hoeken-smith-creative-china-commorant#t=1036) Language Barriers and Local Tools
- [41:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-11-12-an-interview-with-zach-hoeken-smith-creative-china-commorant#t=2502) HAXLR8R Accelerator Program Details
- [1:12:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-11-12-an-interview-with-zach-hoeken-smith-creative-china-commorant#t=4352) Manufacturing Automation and Robotics
- [1:22:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-11-12-an-interview-with-zach-hoeken-smith-creative-china-commorant#t=4954) Sourcing Strategy: Taobao vs. DigiKey

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- HAXLR8R (company)
- MakerBot Industries (company)
- SEG (other)
- Taobao (other)
- Nomiku (product)
- TB6564AHQ (chip)
- DigiKey (other)
- Mouser (other)
- Alibaba (company)
- Chai Huo (other)
- Star Prototype (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [140: Physics Is the Same Everywhere](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-02-25-140-physics-is-the-same-everywhere) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Advantages and Challenges of Manufacturing in China with Case Engelen of Titoma](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-19-the-advantages-and-challenges-of-manufacturing-in-china-with-case-engelen-of-tit) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [#023 - Developing consumer products with an all-in-one manufacturer in China that is just different, with Jacob Rothman of Platform88, China](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-04-26-023-developing-consumer-products-with-an-all-in-one-manufacturer-in-china-that-i) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [S6E47 Brogan Miller | Being a Doula for Hardware Startups, Manufacturing in Asia, and How to Start Networking](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an) (Being an Engineer)
- [Supply Chains and Manufacturing with Charles Lin of TechDesign](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-06-supply-chains-and-manufacturing-with-charles-lin-of-techdesign) (Predictable Designs Podcast)

## Citing this page

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