# An Interview with Jason Huggins

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2017-11-27
- Length: 1h 41m
- Episode: 369
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-27-an-interview-with-jason-huggins
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/369-an-interview-with-jason-huggins/

## Summary

Jason Huggins, founder of Tapster Robotics, explains how he leveraged his software testing background (Selenium) to build a robotic finger for touchscreen testing, starting with laser-cut basswood and evolving to 3D-printed parallel SCARA designs. He discusses his business model of low-volume, high-margin sales to 'secret robot labs' in the automotive and telecom industries, using customer feedback to iterate on speed and mechanics. Huggins details his funding strategy through Indie.VC, focusing on profitability and cash flow rather than rapid scaling, while balancing his hardware business with his passion for kinetic art projects like motorized pin displays.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-27-an-interview-with-jason-huggins#t=0) Introduction: Jason Huggins and Tapster Robotics
- [3:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-27-an-interview-with-jason-huggins#t=185) From Software to Hardware: The Selenium Background
- [13:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-27-an-interview-with-jason-huggins#t=821) The Tapster Robot: Evolution from Basswood to 3D Printing
- [23:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-27-an-interview-with-jason-huggins#t=1417) Art, Ethics, and the Future of Automation
- [34:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-27-an-interview-with-jason-huggins#t=2089) Prototyping with Lego and Custom PCBs
- [58:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-27-an-interview-with-jason-huggins#t=3504) Funding Strategy: Indie.VC and Profitability
- [1:06:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-27-an-interview-with-jason-huggins#t=3963) Pricing, Customers, and Market Positioning
- [1:22:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-27-an-interview-with-jason-huggins#t=4933) Future Plans: Hiring and Scaling Considerations

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Tapster Robotics (company)
- Selenium (tool)
- Sauce Labs (company)
- Indie.VC (other)
- Johnny5 (tool)
- Arduino (chip)
- Fritzing (tool)
- KiCad (tool)
- Volterra (other)
- Chumby (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Accessible Robotics Solutions for Niche Applications w/ Colin Riggs and Dianne Abruzzini Riggs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-11-21-accessible-robotics-solutions-for-niche-applications-w-colin-riggs-and-dianne-ab) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Perspectives on Automation, AI, & the Future w/ Andy Lonsberry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Ep. 20 | Dr. Aaron Edsinger, CEO & Co-founder of Hello Robot and Former Head of Robotics at Google on Humanity in Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-03-18-ep-20-dr-aaron-edsinger-ceo-co-founder-of-hello-robot-and-former-head-of-robotic) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Ep 4- The Hardware Story of Ati Motors | Autonomous Robots for Material movement in Factories](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-story/2025-06-02-ep-4-the-hardware-story-of-ati-motors-autonomous-robots-for-material-movement-in) (The Hardware Story)
- [112: Designing & Commercializing Robotics Inventions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-02-112-designing-commercializing-robotics-inventions) (Product Startup)

## 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/2017-11-27-an-interview-with-jason-huggins. 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.