#026 - Connected lab - a startup bringing IoT to R&D environments, with Alok Tayi of TetraScience, USA

The Hardware Entrepreneur · 17 May 2017 · 41m

What this episode covers

Alok Tayi, co-founder and CEO of TetraScience, explains how the startup connects scientific instruments to a cloud dashboard to modernize R&D workflows. He details the 'Eureka moment' derived from his experience as a scientist, the validation process involving 50+ interviews, and the decision to price the product for fast adoption. Tayi also discusses the transition from using commercial electronics to designing their own hardware module, the TetraScience Link, and the strategic benefits of the Y Combinator accelerator.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Over the Air · 38m

    Intrapreneurship, Internal Incubation, Spinoffs, and IoT Product Development

    Bob Marshall, Founder and CEO of Whisker Labs, and Joe McNulty, SVP of Product and Partnerships, discuss the origin of their product Ting, an IoT device that detects electrical fire hazards. Marshall explains how the company spun out of Earth Networks after a personal tragedy motivated the team to apply their lightning detection technology to home safety. They detail the engineering challenges of isolating micro-arcing signals from household noise and the strategic decision to simplify the product from a complex panel-mounted sensor to a simple plug-in device for consumer adoption.

  • IoT For All Podcast · 26m

    Maximizing ROI for IoT Prototyping and Development | Blynk's Pavel Bayborodin

    Pavel Bayborodin, Founder and CEO of Blynk, discusses the company's journey from a Kickstarter-funded prototype to a commercial IoT platform. He outlines the typical IoT development lifecycle, emphasizing that hardware design and connectivity are the primary hurdles, while software integration often requires significant organizational change. Bayborodin also details monetization strategies for connected products, including indirect data value, premium services, and automated replenishment, noting that software costs should roughly match hardware costs.

  • IoT For All Podcast · 30m

    What is IoT Democratization? | Soracom's Kenta Yasukawa, PhD

    Kenta Yasukawa, PhD, CTO and co-founder of Soracom, explains how the company’s connectivity platform democratizes IoT by providing building blocks for startups and enterprises. He details the journey from prototyping with devices like Raspberry Pi and Soracom USB Dongles to scaling with services like Soracom Harvest and Soracom Arc. Yasukawa emphasizes an ecosystem approach, advising companies to start with hardware prototypes and partner with flexible providers rather than seeking rigid turnkey solutions. He highlights specific products like the S+ Camera and features like Packet Inspection that reduce the complexity of secure, global IoT deployment.

  • Being an Engineer · 22m

    S2E51 The Hardware Academy | John Teel

    John Teel, founder of Predictable Designs and The Hardware Academy, explains his platform which bridges electronics engineering and entrepreneurship for hardware startups. He details the academy's tiered subscription model, ranging from $49 to $249 per month, offering courses on PCB design, power management, and go-to-market strategy. Teel draws on his 15 years at Texas Instruments and his experience launching a consumer lighting product to advise engineers on avoiding the common pitfall of ignoring customer validation until after development.

  • TRADEOFFS · 58m

    T-25-007 : Valentina Ratner - Mechanical Engineer to SaaS for Hardware CEO

    Valentina Ratner, co-founder and CEO of AllSpice, explains how she adapted Git workflows for hardware engineering to solve collaboration issues in electronics design. She details the transition from building Amazon delivery lockers to founding AllSpice, focusing on version control for PCBs, schematics, and BOMs. The episode covers the strategic decision to charge for the tool to ensure commitment, the shift from SMB to enterprise sales, and the challenges of integrating with ECAD tools like KiCad and Cadence.

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.