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Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

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41–50 of 150 posts

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#41

What do you plan to do as a next step post-crowdfunding (other than delivering your product, of course)?

Most important is to deliver our product (both hardware and food). However, we'll also be able to run some testing on our website to see what content/messaging/copy converts best into additional pre-sales.

We (Tovala) will also be hiring for some software, operations and food roles :)

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#42

I have a bunch of hardware stuff lying around. Arduino kits, soldering equipment, even a pocket oscilloscope! I had good intentions with it but now it's mostly just sitting there. Any small cool project ideas to build? Also I always have this problem where I'm missing one tiny component (I live in NYC in Brooklyn) and have to run to a store in Manhattan or wait for an online order to fill it...any tips on things to k…

Check out the common part libraries released by Octopart / Seeed , and consider getting a resistor / cap library from your neighbors at Adafruit. Hackerspaces can be good resources for spare parts (and finding potential partners).

You're in luck: prototyping is mostly software:)

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#44

I have a bunch of hardware stuff lying around. Arduino kits, soldering equipment, even a pocket oscilloscope! I had good intentions with it but now it's mostly just sitting there. Any small cool project ideas to build? Also I always have this problem where I'm missing one tiny component (I live in NYC in Brooklyn) and have to run to a store in Manhattan or wait for an online order to fill it...any tips on things to k…

A hardware cofounder :D

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#45
post #40

Is it a good idea to sell your first small batch of functional prototypes as-is while still in the market research stage to get user feedback?

Depends on what you are trying to prove. If there are questions as to whether people will pay for your product, then yes, proving that that is the case with a functional prototype will go a long ways. If, however, you are trying to get feedback, build up brand evangelists and learn, then selling your prototype is not hugely important.

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#47
post #43

Great hardware has the implicit trade-off of being "built to last" and consequently not requiring the customer to upgrade the product for quite sometime. How do you think about re-engaging customers in the short to medium term?

Great question. With Tovala, our model is a little different. We anticipate most of our customers will order our meal delivery service - and be delighted by the experience and taste. That'll give us a touch point to our customers throughout the life of their smart oven.

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#48

I've lots of embedded linux experience. It's less consumerist products but more embedded systems experience. Where do I find people's problems to solve that can be addressed by HW?

I'd start with thinking about things you deal with as a consumer and have problems with. After that, start asking other people about their experience with the same problem/issue.

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#49
post #45
post #40

Is it a good idea to sell your first small batch of functional prototypes as-is while still in the market research stage to get user feedback?

Depends on what you are trying to prove. If there are questions as to whether people will pay for your product, then yes, proving that that is the case with a functional prototype will go a long ways. If, however, you are trying to get feedback, build up brand evangelists and learn, then selling your prototype is not hugely important.

Thanks!

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#50
post #38

How do you managed to get your campaign to the press? Any advice if there is no time for building up relation-ships with the journalists?

I recommend doing as much as you can to automate and scale your outreach to the press. I recommend Pitchbox.com for this - it's a sort of CRM for press outreach. It takes some time to set up, but it's worth it. Great support, too.

Thanks. Already tried pitchbox. Did you sent the whole story in the first reach-out or how much information do you recommend to send the first time?
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