Hardware Podcasts

#051 - Connecting the (hardware) dots, with Greg Fisher of BSG and Hardware Massive, USA

The Hardware Entrepreneur · 28 Mar 2018 · 35m

What this episode covers

Greg Fisher, founder of Berkeley Sourcing Group (BSG) and Hardware Massive, discusses the realities of launching hardware products, emphasizing that business fundamentals like margins and distribution matter more than the product itself. He outlines a typical 6-9 month timeline for getting from concept to first production run in China, highlighting the importance of pre-production prototyping and early component ordering to avoid delays. Fisher also details the Hardware Massive platform and Hardwarecon event, which aim to connect startups with investors and industry leaders, noting that 75% of global hardware investment comes from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Berkeley Sourcing Group, IBM, Google, Intel, Panasonic
Products
Clean Bottle
Also
Hardware Massive, Hardwarecon, Tour de France, CB Insights

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Being an Engineer · 44m

    S6E47 Brogan Miller | Being a Doula for Hardware Startups, Manufacturing in Asia, and How to Start Networking

    Brogan Miller, founder of Doula Studios, describes his role as a 'doula for hardware startups,' helping early-stage companies navigate new product development and manufacturing. He shares insights from his career at companies like Sensel, AliveCor, and GaeaStar, including designing a 200-pound electromechanical charcoal barbecue and managing supply chains in Asia. Miller discusses the cultural nuances of sourcing in Vietnam versus China, the importance of networking for career growth, and the challenges of balancing perfection with shipping viable products.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringCareers & education
    7 chapters

  • Build 2 Create: Hardware Founder Stories · 1h 36m

    EP 3: AI Smart Glasses | 16 Weeks to CES, 10 Months to Acquisition | Build 2 Create

    Himanshu Verma, Co-Founder of Mustard AI Smart Glasses, explains how his company went from concept to CES in 16 weeks and secured an acquisition by Keynes in just 10 months. He details the strategic pivot from a closed consumer product to an open platform for developers, leveraging his prior experience at Boat to navigate the hardware ecosystem. Verma emphasizes the importance of using existing stabilized components to speed up time-to-market, managing relationships with Chinese factories through visual communication, and maintaining flexibility to accept market feedback.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIScaling production
    8 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 50m

    S2E37 Defied the odds: A Physical Product Development Firm That Focuses on Startups & Small Businesses, Mako Design + Invent –Kevin Mako

    Kevin Mako, Founder of Mako Design + Invent, explains how his firm supports hardware startups and small manufacturers by guiding products from initial concept to first production run. He details the financial journey for inventors, emphasizing the use of crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to bridge the gap between prototyping and manufacturing, while advising on the importance of a 'Smart Minimum Viable Product' (SMVP) to manage complexity and cost. Mako also discusses his company's strict ethical policy of never taking equity in client products to avoid conflicts of interest, and highlights the role of his podcast, The Product Startup, in educating the hardware community.

    Crowdfunding & preordersValidation & product-market fit
    10 chapters

  • Product Startup · 28m

    107: Using Hardware Incubators for Product Startups

    Alex Dantas, CEO of CircuitLaunch, explains how hardware startups can leverage the 40,000-square-foot facility in Oakland to transition from garage prototyping to scaling production. He advocates for the 'co-factory' model, which supports short-run manufacturing of 100-500 units, allowing founders to build tangible products early rather than spending capital on business development. Dantas emphasizes that building a working prototype is the most critical step for securing investor confidence and validating market demand before attempting to scale.

    Prototyping & iterationStarting a product company
    7 chapters

  • Product Startup · 23m

    156: The Evolution of Sales Channels for Hardware Products

    Ben Drury, founder of Yoto, explains how his connected hardware toy company evolved through five sales channels to reach nearly 500,000 units sold. He details the strategic progression from a modest Kickstarter campaign to direct-to-consumer website sales, then to Amazon, and finally to major retailers like Target and Best Buy. Drury emphasizes that early channels like crowdfunding and direct sales are essential for ironing out bugs and building demand before approaching retailers who operate on long planning cycles. He also highlights the importance of hiring experienced supply chain and operations staff to manage the complexity of scaling production and navigating international logistics.

    Crowdfunding & preordersDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    7 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.