Hardware Podcasts

136: Mark Four

Thoroughly Considered · 8 Oct 2026 · 52m · Episode 136

What this episode covers

Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the Kickstarter campaign for their first fountain pen, the Mark Four. They explain the design challenges of creating a sealed, magnetic cap system and balancing the pen's weight, while addressing customer education around nib selection and ink maintenance. The founders emphasize their willingness to iterate on prototypes, such as switching from a multi-start thread to a magnet, to ensure a high-quality user experience before launch.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Studio Neat, Schmidt, Platinum
Products
Mark Four, Mark One, Mark 2, Mark 3, Keene, Twisby, Cosmonaut

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