# #045 - Simplicity and what it has to do with what I learned from my guests in 2017, with your host Balint Horvath, Switzerland

- Show: [The Hardware Entrepreneur](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur)
- Published: 2018-01-03
- Length: 21m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-01-03-045-simplicity-and-what-it-has-to-do-with-what-i-learned-from-my-guests-in-2017
- Listen: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thehardwareentrepreneur/045_-_Simplicity_and_what_it_has_to_do_with_what_I_learned_from_my_guests_in_2017_with_your_host_Balint_Horvath_Switzerland.mp3

## Summary

Host Balint Horvath synthesizes key lessons from 2017 guests, emphasizing simplicity, frugality, and execution. He highlights Milton Cheng’s capital efficiency, GNA BioSolutions’ outsourcing strategy, and Tracker’s lean startup approach. Horvath advocates for strong routines, Scrum methodologies, and balanced three-person teams to ensure speed and decision-making.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-01-03-045-simplicity-and-what-it-has-to-do-with-what-i-learned-from-my-guests-in-2017#t=0) Introduction: Simplicity and Da Vinci Quote

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Patagonia (company)
- Milton Cheng (other)
- GNA BioSolutions (company)
- Optoforce (company)
- Tracker (company)
- Trello (tool)
- Scrum Inc. (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Tool of the Week Segment | Episode 31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-12-04-tool-of-the-week-segment-episode-31) (Built 2 Scale)
- [Stripe: Patrick and John Collison (2018)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-09-stripe-patrick-and-john-collison-2018) (How I Built This)
- [180: Made in Missouri, Live from the 2024 Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-04-09-180-made-in-missouri-live-from-the-2024-midwest-manufacturers-trade-show-confere) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [197: Go From Hardware Startup to Scale Up](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-10-12-197-go-from-hardware-startup-to-scale-up) (Product Startup)
- [079: How To Start Selling Your Product Then Scale](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-06-09-079-how-to-start-selling-your-product-then-scale) (Product Startup)

## 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/2018-01-03-045-simplicity-and-what-it-has-to-do-with-what-i-learned-from-my-guests-in-2017. 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.