# An Interview with Marcus Schappi - Kit Ketch Kenophobia

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2014-03-19
- Length: 1h 23m
- Episode: 189
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/189-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia/

## Summary

Marcus Schappi, founder of Little Bird Electronics and partner at Ninja Blocks, discusses his new Kickstarter for the MicroView, an Arduino-compatible device with a built-in OLED display. He explains how Little Bird consolidated shipping for Australian hobbyists to compete with US vendors, and details the design process for the MicroView, including using SparkFun Electronics for manufacturing to ensure on-time delivery. Schappi also reflects on the challenges of his previous company, Ninja Blocks, particularly the pitfalls of 3D printing enclosures and the strategic shift toward IoT platforms like the Electronic Imp.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia#t=0) Introduction: Marcus Schappi, Little Bird Electronics, and Ninja Blocks
- [1:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia#t=115) The Origin of Little Bird Electronics and Consolidated Shipping
- [8:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia#t=517) The Low Margins of Commodity Reselling and Product Strategy
- [10:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia#t=638) Ninja Blocks: From MakerBot to BeagleBone and IoT Platforms
- [20:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia#t=1203) The MicroView: Concept, Design, and SparkFun Partnership
- [31:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia#t=1893) Lessons from Ninja Blocks: 3D Printing Enclosures and Injection Molding
- [39:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia#t=2381) MicroView Kickstarter Strategy: Limiting Units and Managing Risk
- [50:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia#t=3043) Arduino at Heart Certification and Branding Strategy
- [1:00:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia#t=3623) Career Advice: Becoming a Firmware Engineer and Building Hardware
- [1:07:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia#t=4047) Distribution Strategy: SparkFun, Adafruit, and Market Visibility

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Little Bird Electronics (company)
- Ninja Blocks (company)
- MicroView (product)
- SparkFun Electronics (company)
- Arduino (product)
- BeagleBone (product)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Makey Makey (product)
- Electronic Imp (product)
- Adafruit (company)
- Seeed Studio (company)
- DFRobot (company)
- Pololu (company)
- Freetronics (company)
- Jcar (company)
- Electrodragon (company)
- Kit Ketch Kenophobia (other)
- Geek Ammo (company)
- Startmate (other)
- ifttt.com (other)
- NinjaSphere (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [44: Light Up Strikes Back](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back) (Embedded.fm)
- [90: Stick It in a Pumpkin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-02-26-90-stick-it-in-a-pumpkin) (Embedded.fm)
- [429: The Fabric of Your Lungs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-02-09-429-the-fabric-of-your-lungs) (Making It)
- [069 - Canned Cheese and Onion Rings](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2024-04-17-069-canned-cheese-and-onion-rings) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [350: The State of the Empire Is Good](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-06-350-the-state-of-the-empire-is-good) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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