hardware startup

Standing desks and Ninjas, what do they have in common?

What do Ninja’s and desks have in common? If you’re Dan McDonley…it’s the inspiration for an easy way to work and stay in shape. You see, when he was younger he got into Martial Arts. Really into Martial Arts and this left him with a few injuries and a bad back. He found that sitting […]

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Customer experience will make or break your company

Are you creating an emotional experience for your customer? You should be. Customer experience is becoming crucial to building a successful business. Here’s the thing, complex ideas that are hard to describe NEVER create emotional experiences for your customer. EVER. Can you describe your idea in 30 seconds? How about in 2 words? Gabe Smedresman […]

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Prototyping your product using a community makerspace

Would you use a community makerspace when prototyping your product if you had a factory at your disposal? Bret Jacoby of eSystems Technology did just that when building his Grill Tender BBQ. But this is no ordinary grill, it’s a computer controlled charcoal grill that turns any user into a grill master. Learn why Bret […]

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Building Battle Bots and Rockets in New Jersey

Have you ever wanted to build your own battle robot or electronics but don’t have the tools? If so, you want to check out this interview with Rick Anderson one of the founders of FUBAR labs in New Jersey. New Jersey’s FIRST hackerspace. Rick’s main project right now is Fubarino…a ChipKit compatible pic32 board he’s going […]

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Focus on the right type of customer

Is your business serving the right customer? Ever wondered what you can do with a laser cutter? I interview Jason Cross of FabLabATX and The Peculiar Form about how he built a laser cutting service out of his garage. A few of things we discuss: Why focusing on the right customer is crucial to building […]

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Stop putting off your idea and just get started

There is no way to perfect your idea without actually launching it. Laura Bruland of Yes & Yes Designs learned this lesson when she started making laser cut jewelry at her local TechShop in San Francisco. She had seen laser cut jewelry before and wanted to create her own when she found out about TechShop. […]

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How to turn your passion into a hardware business

Following your passion can be a great way to build a sustainable business. But how do you get started? I interview Brian Burling of eMotimo about how he used an engineering degree and a passion for photography into a unique product loved by professionals and consumers alike. What does eMotimo build? Motion control devices for […]

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How to prototype a niche product on a budget

Prototyping your product used to take months (or years) and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Not anymore. Colour Cartel is perfecting a LED light panel for electric guitars which is loved by musicians (and pretty much anyone who sees it in action). Find out how they’ve rapidly built dozens of prototypes in a fraction […]

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Why being open about your product will help your company

Would you tell people about your idea before you even had a working prototype? John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen (founder of Hidden Radio) did and received great PR because of it. While most entrepreneurs hide their ideas away where no one can see them, John took a different approach. Sharing his innovative idea for a mobile […]

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How to use TechShop to launch your business

If you’ve ever wanted to build your own product, but didn’t know where to start then you need to check out TechShop. I interviewed Michael Madsen who designed and built his own 4 bay iPad charger thanks in part to the tools and skills available through TechShop. His product also doubles as a synching device, […]

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