# Seeed in Shenzhen with Eric Pan

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2026-10-07
- Length: 1h 01m
- Episode: 736
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-10-07-seeed-in-shenzhen-with-eric-pan
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/736-seeed-in-shenzhen-with-eric-pan/

## Summary

Eric Pan, founder and CEO of Seeed Studio, discusses the evolution of the Shenzhen hardware ecosystem from 2008 to the present, highlighting the shift from open-source prototyping to scalable physical AI and robotics. He explains how Seeed acts as a portal between developers and manufacturers, leveraging local supply chains to support projects like the Micro:bit and robotics kits. Pan emphasizes the importance of repurposing consumer electronics components, such as e-paper and Rockchip processors, for open-source hardware, and outlines Seeed's strategy of helping innovators move up the value chain rather than just providing basic PCB services.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-10-07-seeed-in-shenzhen-with-eric-pan#t=0) Introduction: Eric Pan and Seeed Studio's 18-Year Journey
- [4:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-10-07-seeed-in-shenzhen-with-eric-pan#t=278) The Evolution of the Shenzhen Ecosystem and Maker Culture
- [19:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-10-07-seeed-in-shenzhen-with-eric-pan#t=1179) Repurposing Consumer Electronics and Supply Chain Dynamics
- [27:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-10-07-seeed-in-shenzhen-with-eric-pan#t=1674) Chip Vendor Support and the Rise of Open Source Silicon
- [34:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-10-07-seeed-in-shenzhen-with-eric-pan#t=2091) Vibe Coding and AI as a Development Enabler
- [42:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-10-07-seeed-in-shenzhen-with-eric-pan#t=2552) Robotics, Physical AI, and the Micro:bit Ecosystem
- [54:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-10-07-seeed-in-shenzhen-with-eric-pan#t=3254) Future Outlook: Localized AI and Seeed's Fusion Service

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Seeed Studio (company)
- Intel (company)
- Arduino (other)
- DJI (company)
- Espressif (company)
- Rockchip (chip)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Nvidia (company)
- Micro:bit (product)
- SO101 (product)

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- [372: The Motivation of Creativity](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity) (Embedded.fm)
- [293: Skateboard Tricks (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [044 - Scots Army Knife](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-01-03-044-scots-army-knife) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

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