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Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

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Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#391
We started in 2017 aiming to build world’s best video headset for drone pilots ("FPV goggles", for those in the know). Based in Europe, where we do all our R&D and MFG.

Surviving these last three years was, well, as hard as you can expect. Raising money was a challenge (hardware, in Europe, Central and Eastern Europe). We started scaling MFG just as the COVID started closing down China and crippling supply chains. Front row seat at the chip shortage horror show: just as we started delivering the first units of our first product, we saw our critical components go from €5 to €100 a pop, and lead times go from "shipping tomorrow" to "we may be tell you when it may be available in a few months, but not sure."

Today, we’re alive to tell the story. We expanded from headsets to pretty much every piece of tech you need in a drone; all designed and built in Europe. We do FCs, ESCs, control links, analog video links, data links (WiFi, 5G/LTE, SDR), flight computers, as well as drones, drone controllers, etc. We have a drone sim with 500k total downloads. We also do our own private mobile networking infra (5gc/epc RAN, gNB/eNB). We do HW, FW, and "normal" SW.

We’ve pretty much consistently doubled our revenues every year since inception, but it’s been a wild ride. While our US counterparts were raising tens of millions with similar traction and a fraction of tech collateral, we never got much love from VCs. Raising is still a bitch.

Last five years were blood, sweat, and tears, but I’d do it all over again, cause building physical stuff is the best job in the world.

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#392

We started in 2017 aiming to build world’s best video headset for drone pilots ("FPV goggles", for those in the know). Based in Europe, where we do all our R&D and MFG. Surviving these last three years was, well, as hard as you can expect. Raising money was a challenge (hardware, in Europe, Central and Eastern Europe). We started scaling MFG just as the COVID started closing down China and crippling supply chains. Fr…

What’s the name?

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#393
post #354

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“We don’t give years of R&D away for free” is a pretty flippant response. You make money selling car seats, and if another company can produce better seats at a lower price then consumers win and lives are saved. Which is ostensibly exactly what you want to happen? Otherwise why even be in the car seat business?

That’s a pretty naive way to look at it. A lot of patented products have a positive impact on the world, should all of these be shared? What if a small player tries to break into a market with a nee solution? They should give away their IP to the big player purely because it has a positive impact on the world? Just because their product is more safe doesn’t mean they automatically have to share this with everyone. Th…

> A lot of patented products have a positive impact on the world, should all of these be shared?

Yes. It’s bad to criminalize innovation. Most patentable innovations are not so unique but only a logical next step given prior inventions.

Also, patents favor the big players in any market because they have the money and the will to grind down any newcomers with legal action. The upstart with fewer resources should always be in favor of a level playing field.

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#394

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the brittleness like compared to glass? Is it more/less shatter resistant than other crystals?

Crystal is stronger than standard glass which is why it can be so thin. Modern production of lead-free crystal is generally pretty good now. Old leaded crystal is extremely brittle and prone to chipping and fractures which definitely soured people's perception of its durability. Our glassware uses titanium as a strengthening additive which really helps durability as well as sparkle. Most of our hospitality partners u…

How do you mix the Titanium into the crystal, and does it bond in some way, or how does it strengthen and improve the durability?

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#395
post #365
post #354

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“We don’t give years of R&D away for free” is a pretty flippant response. You make money selling car seats, and if another company can produce better seats at a lower price then consumers win and lives are saved. Which is ostensibly exactly what you want to happen? Otherwise why even be in the car seat business?

Cmon be nice to the car seat people :). Let’s say it cost $10 to develop this groundbreaking car seat technology, and $1 to make a car seat, so the company charges $1.50 to make up their investment in 20 sales. If they gave away their patent, then another company (who didn’t have to pay that initial cost) could sell the same seats for $1. This is episode 1000 in our favorite series: why and how capitalism strangles i…

Thank you for the support. You have eloquently explained the innovation conundrum.

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#396
https://qvntra.io

We're replacing old-school bed alarms and call buttons in Senior Living facilities.

The bed sensors that we manufacture are strapped to beds and monitor for out-of-bed, potential infection and medication error via algorithms on-top of real-time vital sign data.

We mount always-on iPad in high traffic area for the nurses to grab alerts. Sirens are mounted in hallways to grab audible attention. The whole system is Zigbee 3.0.

Nurses are leaving the industry in droves. The "Silver Tsunami" is approaching rapidly. We're helping nurses scale and keeping elderly safer in their homes.

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#398

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any chance you'll do a larger one? I've wanted exactly this but closer to ~13-inch to replace the "family wall calendar". It looks great, though! Any good place to follow/subscribe for updates?

So far I only have an instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invisiblecomputers/ Larger displays are not excluded as a possibility, but I like the current size for placing it on the desk. Also, larger displays are disproportionately expensive, and the display is already the main cost driver.

Totally fair. I hadn't checked the cost of larger e-ink, and you're right, I probably wouldn't pay $500 for the same thing you're making but 13".

Still going to keep an eye on it, though. I may end up talking myself (more accurately, my wife) into a smaller display.

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#399
We are making the world's lightest and easiest DIY bicycle caravan.

Right now, the first test trips are happening and the results look promising. Cycling on urban roads and in the forest works really well with the bicycle caravan behind. Camping mode with the tent setup needs to be tested thoroughly before going to market.

Eventually we want to provide kits in various stages of readiness, from barebones fully DIY to pre-cut fabric and plates.

For photos and more information, please visit https://www.theredpanther.org

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#400

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GP's asking a legitimate question about chemical outgassing etc. Parents have concerns like this, and some parents more than others. let me go pedantic and teach: "The customer is always right" does not mean that no matter what a customer says, you give them a false smile, and pretend you agree with them. "The customer is always right" means "you are hearing actual feedback from your target audience; somebody giving…

>>GP's asking a legitimate question about chemical outgassing etc. Parents have concerns like this, and some parents more than others. Obviously, and outgassing happens a lot in any car especially if it's brand new. So I'll ask again - why drive kids in a car at all if this concerns them this much?

> why drive kids in a car at all if this concerns them this much?

do you want to be right and nyah nyah nyah the guy, or do you want to sell him a carseat that you worked hard on that's safer than any other car seat you know? If your car seat is made of the same materials as every other car seat, or if by chance your car seat is actually safer than other car seats, why wouldn't you want to let them know rather than you telling the guy "you're an idiot for putting your kid in a car!"

all car seats go in cars. Wouldn't it be nice to have a car seat that did not add to the danger?

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