Hardware Podcasts

#003 - From scientist to entrepreneur for holodeck technology, evaluating startups, with Bernhard Petermeier of World Economic Forum, Switzerland

The Hardware Entrepreneur · 8 Dec 2016 · 48m

What this episode covers

Bernhard Petermeier, founder of CargoSoul and community leader at the World Economic Forum, discusses his journey from scientist to entrepreneur. He details the development of an omnidirectional treadmill for virtual reality holodecks, the mistakes he made founding the company, and his current work evaluating high-potential startups. The conversation also covers funding strategies for hardware in Europe and the ethical implications of autonomous weapons.

Most relevant to

founders before launch and companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
CargoSoul, World Economic Forum, ABB, Kickstarter, Fitbit, GoPro, Google, Twitter, Dropbox
Also
The Second Machine Age

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Being an Engineer · 51m

    Russ Angold | Exoskeletons, VR Fitness, and Starting Hardware Companies

    Russ Angold, co-founder of Ethereal Matter and former co-founder of Ekso Bionics, discusses the evolution of hardware startups from DARPA-funded military exoskeletons to medical devices and immersive VR fitness. He details the technical challenges of interfacing with human variability, the importance of rapid prototyping to fail fast, and the financial terror of early-stage cash flow mismatches. Angold emphasizes the necessity of validating product-market fit with actual end-users and building psychological safety within engineering teams to solve complex problems.

    Starting a product companyPrototyping & iteration
    9 chapters

  • Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast · 1h 21m

    Ep. 39 - Starting a Hardware Company

    Stephen Hawes and Lucian Chapa, founders of Opulo, discuss the realities of starting a hardware company, emphasizing the necessity of accepting failure and overcoming imposter syndrome. They share personal anecdotes about failed projects, such as a 3D scanner and wedding cake toppers, to illustrate that iteration is key. The hosts also detail their strategy for building traction through authentic social media content, specifically YouTube, and the importance of validating product-market fit by engaging directly with early users.

    Starting a product companyValidation & product-market fit
    9 chapters

  • Tough Tech Vets · 1m

    Tough Tech Vets Trailer

    Chris Ricks, a former Navy submarine officer and founder of Starcube, introduces his podcast 'Tough Tech Vets' to highlight veteran entrepreneurs working in complex hardware and software domains. He explains that Starcube is building microreactors for critical infrastructure, a 'tough tech' endeavor requiring massive capital and specialized customers unlike typical direct-to-consumer startups. The episode serves as an educational bridge for veterans navigating the unclear landscape of deep tech entrepreneurship.

    Starting a product companyEnergy & climate tech
    1 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 36m

    An Interview with Ben Einstein

    Ben Einstein, founder of Bolt, explains how his firm supports early-stage hardware startups through deep technical involvement, including prototyping facilities in San Francisco and Boston. He details Bolt's investment strategy, which ranges from $100,000 to $1 million, focusing on helping founders navigate the transition from idea to engineering prototype (EP) while avoiding the pitfalls of over-engineering. Einstein emphasizes the importance of 'founder-market fit,' genuine networking, and building 'good enough' products quickly rather than pursuing perfection, citing the failure of Juicero as a cautionary tale of misaligned value propositions.

    Starting a product companyFundraising & investors
    11 chapters

  • EE Times Current · 22m

    CES 2019 Special: Stas Gayshan, CIC-Boston

    Stas Gayshan, Managing Director of the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), discusses the role of shared physical spaces in fostering hardware innovation and collaboration. He highlights specific companies like Travis the Translator, which successfully launched via crowdfunding, and Vesper, a maker of tiny microphones for smart speakers, as examples of successful ecosystem members. Gayshan also addresses the reality of startup failures, citing a 'Uber for Vans' concept that failed due to infrastructure scaling mismatches, emphasizing that the collaborative environment helps founders regroup and iterate.

    Starting a product companyCrowdfunding & preorders
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Hardware Entrepreneur. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.