# An Interview with Jeri Ellsworth - Intense Illusion Introduction

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2013-11-27
- Length: 1h 34m
- Episode: 173
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-11-27-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-intense-illusion-introduction
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/173-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-intense-illusion-introduction/

## Summary

Jeri Ellsworth, founder of Technical Illusions, discusses the successful Kickstarter funding of the Cast AR augmented reality glasses and the complex path to production. She details the technical challenges of transitioning from FPGA to a custom metalized gate array ASIC, the mechanical difficulties of injection molding the glasses and wand, and the logistical hurdles of manufacturing in China. Ellsworth also shares insights on managing the campaign's psychology, securing venture capital, and the intense personal toll of bringing a hardware product to market.

## Chapters

- [1:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-11-27-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-intense-illusion-introduction#t=95) Kickstarter Success and Campaign Psychology
- [7:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-11-27-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-intense-illusion-introduction#t=462) Mechanical Design and Injection Molding Challenges
- [34:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-11-27-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-intense-illusion-introduction#t=2040) Supply Chain, Vendor Negotiations, and BOM
- [40:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-11-27-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-intense-illusion-introduction#t=2424) ASIC Design: FPGA to Metalized Gate Array
- [51:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-11-27-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-intense-illusion-introduction#t=3076) Mobile Connectivity and Power Management
- [1:05:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-11-27-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-intense-illusion-introduction#t=3947) Manufacturing in China and Factory Operations
- [1:15:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-11-27-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-intense-illusion-introduction#t=4524) Company Culture, Hiring, and Founder Wellbeing

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Cast AR (product)
- Technical Illusions (company)
- Valve (company)
- Oculus (company)
- Gig Optics (company)
- eASIC (company)
- Atmel (company)
- Kickstarter (company)
- FPGA (chip)
- 6502 (chip)
- MIPI (other)
- SIRDES (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [23: Go For Everything I Want](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-16-23-go-for-everything-i-want) (Embedded.fm)
- [026 - You Can Lose in so Many Colors!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-08-31-026-you-can-lose-in-so-many-colors) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [156: Black Knight 2000](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-16-156-black-knight-2000) (Embedded.fm)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 4 - Martin Kastner (9/9)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-4-martin-kastner-9-9) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 19 - Craighton Berman, Founder of Manual (04/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-04-16-afterschool-podcast-episode-19-craighton-berman-founder-of-manual-04-16) (Core77 Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-11-27-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-intense-illusion-introduction. 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 The Amp Hour.