# #012 - Feel the beat - creating the world’s first wearable device for musicians, with Florian Simmendinger of Soundbrenner, Germany - Hong Kong

- Show: [The Hardware Entrepreneur](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur)
- Published: 2017-02-08
- Length: 34m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-02-08-012-feel-the-beat-creating-the-worlds-first-wearable-device-for-musicians-with-f
- Listen: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thehardwareentrepreneur/012.mp3

## Summary

Florian Simmendinger, co-founder and CEO of Soundbrenner, explains how the company created the world’s first wearable smart metronome for musicians. He details the journey from prototyping in Berlin to moving to Hong Kong for manufacturing access, and the strategic decision to use Indiegogo to validate product-market fit and raise $250,000 in pre-orders. Simmendinger discusses the subsequent $2 million in seed funding, the importance of building an audience before launch, and the cultural differences between German skepticism and American optimism in business.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-02-08-012-feel-the-beat-creating-the-worlds-first-wearable-device-for-musicians-with-f#t=0) Introduction and Soundbrenner Origin Story
- [3:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-02-08-012-feel-the-beat-creating-the-worlds-first-wearable-device-for-musicians-with-f#t=205) The Problem with Traditional Metronomes
- [11:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-02-08-012-feel-the-beat-creating-the-worlds-first-wearable-device-for-musicians-with-f#t=699) Prototyping and Moving from Berlin to Hong Kong
- [14:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-02-08-012-feel-the-beat-creating-the-worlds-first-wearable-device-for-musicians-with-f#t=846) Funding Strategy: Accelerators and Crowdfunding
- [18:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-02-08-012-feel-the-beat-creating-the-worlds-first-wearable-device-for-musicians-with-f#t=1093) Crowdfunding Essentials: Indiegogo vs Kickstarter
- [21:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-02-08-012-feel-the-beat-creating-the-worlds-first-wearable-device-for-musicians-with-f#t=1308) Manufacturing in Shenzhen and Team Strengths
- [25:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-02-08-012-feel-the-beat-creating-the-worlds-first-wearable-device-for-musicians-with-f#t=1551) Founder Advice: Passion, Books, and Culture

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Soundbrenner (company)
- Soundbrenner Pulse (product)
- Indiegogo (other)
- Kickstarter (other)
- Brink (other)
- Ableton Live (other)
- Logic Pro (other)
- Pro Tools (other)
- Shenzhen (other)
- Hong Kong (other)
- Berlin (other)

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## Citing this page

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