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

- Show: [The Hardware Entrepreneur](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur)
- Published: 2017-05-17
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t
- Listen: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thehardwareentrepreneur/026.mp3

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t#t=0) Introduction: Alok Tayi and TetraScience
- [3:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t#t=195) Pre-TetraScience Ventures and Background
- [6:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t#t=364) TetraScience Mission and Business Model
- [9:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t#t=557) The Eureka Moment and Founding Story
- [12:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t#t=758) Customer Validation and Pricing Strategy
- [18:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t#t=1108) Co-founder Dynamics and IoT Thesis
- [25:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t#t=1551) Hardware Development and TetraScience Link
- [29:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t#t=1783) Mistakes and Y Combinator Experience
- [34:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t#t=2089) Personal Advice, Books, and Habits

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- TetraScience (company)
- Pre-Scouter (company)
- Y Combinator (company)
- TetraScience Link (product)
- Nest (product)
- Micron Technologies (company)
- Click and Grow (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Intrapreneurship, Internal Incubation, Spinoffs, and IoT Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-06-intrapreneurship-internal-incubation-spinoffs-and-iot-product-development) (Over the Air)
- [Maximizing ROI for IoT Prototyping and Development | Blynk's Pavel Bayborodin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-08-31-maximizing-roi-for-iot-prototyping-and-development-blynks-pavel-bayborodin) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [What is IoT Democratization? | Soracom's Kenta Yasukawa, PhD](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-03-15-what-is-iot-democratization-soracoms-kenta-yasukawa-phd) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [S2E51 The Hardware Academy | John Teel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-12-03-s2e51-the-hardware-academy-john-teel) (Being an Engineer)
- [T-25-007 : Valentina Ratner - Mechanical Engineer to SaaS for Hardware CEO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2025-03-21-t-25-007-valentina-ratner-mechanical-engineer-to-saas-for-hardware-ceo) (TRADEOFFS)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-17-026-connected-lab-a-startup-bringing-iot-to-r-d-environments-with-alok-tayi-of-t. 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 Hardware Entrepreneur.