# Violet Su on hardware manufacturing

- Show: [The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast)
- Published: 2025-07-08
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-07-08-violet-su-on-hardware-manufacturing
- Listen: https://agileembeddedpodcast.com/episodes/violet-su-on-hardware-manufacturing-xFCbvP1z

## Summary

Violet Su, Business Development Manager at Seed Studio, discusses the realities of hardware manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of rapid prototyping and early user feedback to avoid costly mistakes. She highlights common pitfalls for startups, such as underestimating certification costs, supply chain lead times, and the gap between prototype functionality and mass production quality. The conversation covers the growing role of AI in hardware development, insights from Embedded World 2024, and the OpenUC2 microscopy project as a success story for iterative design.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-07-08-violet-su-on-hardware-manufacturing#t=1) Introduction to Seed Studio and Hardware Landscape
- [4:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-07-08-violet-su-on-hardware-manufacturing#t=243) Common Challenges: Pricing, Lead Times, and Quality
- [9:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-07-08-violet-su-on-hardware-manufacturing#t=597) Mitigating Risks: Shared Supply Chain and Certification
- [13:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-07-08-violet-su-on-hardware-manufacturing#t=817) Hardware vs. Software Development and Community
- [16:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-07-08-violet-su-on-hardware-manufacturing#t=1017) Iterative Development and Early Feedback
- [20:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-07-08-violet-su-on-hardware-manufacturing#t=1204) Success Story: OpenUC2 Microscopy Project
- [27:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-07-08-violet-su-on-hardware-manufacturing#t=1620) Indicators of Success and Product-Market Fit
- [33:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-07-08-violet-su-on-hardware-manufacturing#t=2019) Embedded World 2024 Insights and Future Trends

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Seed Studio (company)
- OpenUC2 (product)
- ESP32 S3 (chip)
- Xiao ESP32 S3 (product)
- Embedded World 2024 (other)
- Digi-Key (company)
- SAMTech (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Introducing: It's only a Prototype Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-04-09-introducing-its-only-a-prototype-podcast) (It's Only a Prototype)
- [For Hardware Startups by Hardware People: Building The Builder Circle with Host, Sera Evcimen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2026-01-06-for-hardware-startups-by-hardware-people-building-the-builder-circle-with-host-s) (The Builder Circle)
- [S1 E2: Mastering the Art of Modern Hardware Development and Innovation with Tyler Mincey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-05-15-s1-e2-mastering-the-art-of-modern-hardware-development-and-innovation-with-tyler) (The Builder Circle)
- [IDology #11 - Most common mistakes in product development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2023-03-28-idology-11-most-common-mistakes-in-product-development) (IDology)
- [186: Sleeping on the Factory Floor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-02-09-186-sleeping-on-the-factory-floor) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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