# 25: Q&A

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2017-03-30
- Length: 45m
- Episode: 25
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/25

## Summary

Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost, founders of Studio Neat, answer listener questions about their backgrounds at Frog Design and Potion, their transition from side hustle to full-time business, and their philosophy on maintaining a small, agile company. They discuss specific product challenges, such as the physics of the Neat Ice Kit, the limitations of CAD simulation for simple mechanisms, and the frustration with the AirPress packaging. The conversation also covers their marketing strategies, the tension between transparency and secrecy in product development, and their experiences managing Kickstarter backer expectations.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a#t=4) Introduction and Guest Backgrounds
- [2:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a#t=171) Work-Life Balance and Schedules
- [7:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a#t=453) Future Vision and Personal Goals
- [11:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a#t=713) Product Redesigns and Packaging Critiques
- [17:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a#t=1033) Manufacturing Constraints and Physics
- [20:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a#t=1219) Marketing Tactics and ROI
- [24:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a#t=1481) Engineering Tools and Simulation
- [26:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a#t=1604) Managing Kickstarter Backer Expectations
- [29:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a#t=1778) Transparency vs. Secrecy in Development
- [42:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a#t=2551) Studio Neat Origins and Philosophy

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Frog Design (company)
- Potion (company)
- Apple (company)
- AirPress (product)
- Neat Ice Kit (product)
- Glyph (product)
- Obi Laser Cat (product)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Fusion (tool)
- Product Hunt (company)
- Kickstarter (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 5 - StudioNeat (9/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-5-studioneat-9-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Product Design with Simone Giertz](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-06-07-product-design-with-simone-giertz) (The Amp Hour)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 19 - Craighton Berman, Founder of Manual (04/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-04-16-afterschool-podcast-episode-19-craighton-berman-founder-of-manual-04-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 4 - Martin Kastner (9/9)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-4-martin-kastner-9-9) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Samuel Feller | Product & Project management, Kickstarter, & DIY Product Launch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-10-28-samuel-feller-product-project-management-kickstarter-diy-product-launch) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a. 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 Thoroughly Considered.