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Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#141

Post by louprado »

dalanmiller wrote: post #138
louprado wrote: post #117

Last month my hardware start-up was almost shut down because our power supplies are CEC efficiency level 5 and not 6. Customs would have seized our entire last shipment. Prior to that I got a cease and desist from the Bluetooth SIG unless I immediately paid $2500 to $10000. I paid immediately. I have no problem following regulations and paying for licenses. The problem is getting blind-sided by it. I still don't even…

Does your device use bluetooth in a special way or just general purpose Bluetooth usage? Did you have to pay that much just to put the "Bluetooth certified" logo somewhere?

You could owe licensing fees just by putting the word Bluetooth on your website. We didn't have the Bluetooth Certified Logo anywhere and still don't.

If your App uses Bluetooth the fee is around $100 per platform, but since it is a hardware product (my product, GarageMate, is a garage door opener App), the payment due is much higher. It doesn't matter if you are pre-release. And if you change the chipset you have to pay again. Note, you could save a few thousand by using a pre-certified module.

FYI, the Bluetooth SIG's enforcement lawyer called right after I signed up for their free membership using my company e-mail address.

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#142

Post by franciscop »

I won a worldwide NASA contest with a friend designing and building a Space Helmet in a weekend [1] and my friends won two of the Hyperloop categories [2]. We have created a community of students [3] in our University in Spain and now we are launching a robot competition [4].

Would you consider sponsoring our community or the contest? We are operating with a budget under 1000$. Both money and products would be awesome :D

[1] https://2014.spaceappschallenge.org/awards/#globalwin Next Vision (Space Helmet)

[2] http://hyperloopupv.com/

[3] http://makersupv.com/

[4] http://orchallenge.es/

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#143

Post by dsl »

I'm currently considering a startup that is 90% cloud software, and 10% on site hardware (think a small custom designed sensor).

Having no experience or expertise in custom hardware design, how would you recommend finding someone who could handle design and production?

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#144

Post by FUSAR_rs »

joshavant wrote: post #101

Hi folks! I graduated from a moderately-ranked undergrad program with a 3.0 in Computer Engineering (the HW-centric flavor of CS), going on 6 years ago. After graduation, I wanted to get into the embedded field, but was discouraged by the employment options (hardware hadn't yet made the comeback it has been making over the last 3-5 years... 'old' players like Intel still dominated, which wasn't particularly attractiv…

Where are you based? We're currently looking for someone with iOS experience and a desire to get into embedded HW.

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#145

Post by Undertow10 »

louprado wrote: post #117

Last month my hardware start-up was almost shut down because our power supplies are CEC efficiency level 5 and not 6. Customs would have seized our entire last shipment. Prior to that I got a cease and desist from the Bluetooth SIG unless I immediately paid $2500 to $10000. I paid immediately. I have no problem following regulations and paying for licenses. The problem is getting blind-sided by it. I still don't even…

Can you elaborate more on the events that led up to customs potentially seizing your power supplies? We have heard shipments for other companies have gone through with no problem.

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#146

Post by Undertow10 »

louprado wrote: post #117

Last month my hardware start-up was almost shut down because our power supplies are CEC efficiency level 5 and not 6. Customs would have seized our entire last shipment. Prior to that I got a cease and desist from the Bluetooth SIG unless I immediately paid $2500 to $10000. I paid immediately. I have no problem following regulations and paying for licenses. The problem is getting blind-sided by it. I still don't even…

For what it's worth, here is an excerpt from the Bluetooth SIG agreement that you probably accepted when signing up on their site:

"BLUETOOTH TRADEMARK LICENSE AGREEMENT

This Bluetooth Trademark License Agreement (the “License”) is made as of the date of acceptance by you as a member of Bluetooth SIG, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Bluetooth SIG”), as evidenced by you entering into the Bluetooth SIG Membership Agreement by clicking the “I Accept” button at the bottom of the Bluetooth SIG Membership Application and Commitment Agreement.

Effective upon such date, Bluetooth SIG, having ownership of the Bluetooth Trademarks (as defined below) hereby grants you the following rights related to such Bluetooth Trademarks in consideration for your acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Bluetooth SIG Membership Agreement."

....

"2 LICENSE GRANT. 2.1 Scope. Subject to the Member complying with the terms and conditions of the Membership Agreement, this License and the Instructions, Bluetooth SIG hereby grants Member a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, nontransferable (with no right to sublicense), personal right to use the Bluetooth Trademark(s) in relation to production, manufacture, supply, promotion, marketing, sale, lease or other distribution and advertisement of Bluetooth Services and/or Bluetooth Products that include Compliant Portions (the “Trademark License”)."

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#147

Post by joshavant »

FUSAR_rs wrote: post #144
joshavant wrote: post #101

Hi folks! I graduated from a moderately-ranked undergrad program with a 3.0 in Computer Engineering (the HW-centric flavor of CS), going on 6 years ago. After graduation, I wanted to get into the embedded field, but was discouraged by the employment options (hardware hadn't yet made the comeback it has been making over the last 3-5 years... 'old' players like Intel still dominated, which wasn't particularly attractiv…

Where are you based? We're currently looking for someone with iOS experience and a desire to get into embedded HW.

Los Angeles, and curious to hear about the opportunity regardless of where it's located! Contact information is in my HN profile. Please get in touch!

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#149

Post by beambot »

liseman wrote: post #11
jmcmahon443 wrote: post #5

What do I do if I need to use another company's patent in my product? How do I approach the situation/negotiation?

Don't copy people's products. Other than that, companies spend too much time too early worrying about (and spending money on) IP. Prove demand for your product by launching; you've got a year post-disclosure to file a provisional patent.

I think you're wrong. You have a year after disclosure to file a FULL UTILITY PATENT. Provisionals give you a 1-year priority date.

Re: Ask Us Anything: Y Combinator Hardware Companies Crowdfunding

#150

Post by RoyTyrell »

Hykso wrote: post #105
joshavant wrote: post #101

Hi folks! I graduated from a moderately-ranked undergrad program with a 3.0 in Computer Engineering (the HW-centric flavor of CS), going on 6 years ago. After graduation, I wanted to get into the embedded field, but was discouraged by the employment options (hardware hadn't yet made the comeback it has been making over the last 3-5 years... 'old' players like Intel still dominated, which wasn't particularly attractiv…

The best candidate we had just asked us to work for free for a month to see if we would like him. We could not say no. And today he's a co-founder :D

I guess your candidate was ok with volunteering, but it seems like that would very likely violate tax and/or labor laws or IRS regulations.
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