# An Interview with Omer Kilic

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2016-04-22
- Length: 1h 18m
- Episode: 295
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/295-an-interview-with-omer-kilic/

## Summary

Omer Kilic, CTO of Den Automation, explains how his company is redesigning power sockets and light switches to be reliable, manufacturable, and interoperable within the IoT ecosystem. He details the engineering challenges of integrating high-voltage safety with smart features, such as per-socket power monitoring and tactile actuation, while avoiding the 'walled garden' problem of proprietary alliances. Kilic also discusses the broader IoT landscape, criticizing the industry's focus on gimmicky 'Internet of Sh*t' products and highlighting the difficulties small startups face in accessing semiconductor support compared to large volume manufacturers.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic#t=0) Introduction: Omer Kilic and Den Automation
- [2:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic#t=128) Kilic's Background: FPGAs, Erlang, and Embedded Systems
- [15:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic#t=951) The Hardware Startup Reality: Molds, Prototypes, and Team Size
- [22:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic#t=1351) Semiconductor Access: The 250,000 Unit Barrier for Startups
- [27:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic#t=1665) IoT Critique: Interoperability, Walled Gardens, and Internet of Sh*t
- [40:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic#t=2449) Den Automation's Product: Redesigned Sockets and Switches
- [49:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic#t=2976) Regulatory Compliance, Safety, and Quality Management
- [1:01:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic#t=3709) Manufacturing Strategy: China vs. Local Partners and Supply Chain
- [1:12:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic#t=4327) Crowdfunding, Prototyping, and Future Roadmap

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Den Automation (company)
- Xilinx (company)
- Erlang (other)
- Ericsson (company)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- WhatsApp (product)
- Shenzhen (other)
- DigiKey (other)
- OSHPark (other)
- Xiaomi (company)
- DJI (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 33: The Land of IoT with Guest Stacey Higginbotham](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-09-10-episode-33-the-land-of-iot-with-guest-stacey-higginbotham) (The Circuit)
- [How to Design and Build Connected Devices | Wai Loong-Lim, Founder and CEO of Y Studios | #AskIoT E023](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-04-17-how-to-design-and-build-connected-devices-wai-loong-lim-founder-and-ceo-of-y-stu) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [IoT Energy Management with Switch Always On | Smart Charging Technologies's Nasser Kutkut](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-07-20-iot-energy-management-with-switch-always-on-smart-charging-technologiess-nasser) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Intrapreneurship, Internal Incubation, Spinoffs, and IoT Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-06-intrapreneurship-internal-incubation-spinoffs-and-iot-product-development) (Over the Air)
- [Microchip Technology's Patrick Kennedy | Designing IoT Products to Scale](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-07-13-microchip-technologys-patrick-kennedy-designing-iot-products-to-scale) (IoT For All 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/2016-04-22-an-interview-with-omer-kilic. 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.