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Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

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Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#21

Post by DDickson »

StephenSmith wrote: post #8

We make a camera system for construction sites. Using computer vision, we can identify when and for how long subcontractors show up as well as notify our customers of unwanted behavior on site. https://bedrockwireless.com/ Fun fact, we probably have the best port-o-potty detector in the world.

If this were a camera that identified when and for how long a software engineer showed up to the office and notified their employer of "unwanted behavior", how long would it take for that story to end up on the front page of this site and torn apart as invasive and infantilizing?

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#22

Post by kokanee »

I work on software at a hardware startup that is designing and manufacturing a next-generation electrolysis plant for the production of green hydrogen. My personal experience has led me to believe that opportunities to participate meaningfully in climate tech are exclusively available at hardware companies. Anyone attempting to solve climate change with software is at best skimming value off of the work being done by others in the physical world, and at worst creating markets for corporate greenwashing.

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#23

Post by aquaphile »

We make the world's best baby car seats. https://www.kioma.us Fatherly Magazine calls it "The Car Seat of the Future". It's been crash tested, flight inversion tested, flammability tested and mom tested. It is full of patented innovations to make kids safer and parenting more enjoyable.

It required lots of material science, production techniques, supply chain adjustments, and a surprising amount of software (to model dynamic stress, and to run the robot and CNC trim paths). Once you get to the point you can clearly articulate your BOM and Specs to a manufacturer for MOQ=50, things get a lot easier. At the prototype stage we built everything ourselves, but now we use OEM manufacturers.

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#24

Post by MPlus88 »

StephenSmith wrote: post #8

We make a camera system for construction sites. Using computer vision, we can identify when and for how long subcontractors show up as well as notify our customers of unwanted behavior on site. https://bedrockwireless.com/ Fun fact, we probably have the best port-o-potty detector in the world.

[dead]

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#25

Post by konschubert »

greesil wrote: post #6

As someone who used to work at an IoT company the consumer space is brutal. Unless you've got something you can sell for 10x BOM, or there's naturally a subscription based model then it's not worth the blood, sweat, and tears.

10x BOM? Why is the bar so high for profitably?

There are manufacturing costs, marketing and inventory risk. But still… what am I missing?

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#26

Post by gouthamve »

konschubert wrote: post #20

I am making and selling an eink smart screen. It can display a google calendar. You can also point it to any url that serves an image. Is it okay to post a link? https://shop.invisible-computers.com/products/invisible-cale... I am planning to release more applications for it and I am opening the platform for 3rd party applications.

I see that shipping to Europe is not yet supported. Do you have plans soon?

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#27

Post by newhouseb »

StephenSmith wrote: post #8

We make a camera system for construction sites. Using computer vision, we can identify when and for how long subcontractors show up as well as notify our customers of unwanted behavior on site. https://bedrockwireless.com/ Fun fact, we probably have the best port-o-potty detector in the world.

This is great! I built a house and DIY'ed this because our site was 2 hours away from where we were living at the time.

It was clear (our) GC was not used to this because they were constantly telling us that things were happening when they very clearly weren't (thanks to the live video we had from to the site).

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#28

Post by xenospn »

I had one! Spent four years depleting my savings and burning through investor money before calling it quits. Most important lesson I've learned is to not build another Hardware startup with my own money.

Leftover investment memo: https://www.notion.so/gethuan/Huan-Memo-1e6ee1d17d72440cb981...

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#29

Post by the_svd_doctor »

aquaphile wrote: post #23

We make the world's best baby car seats. https://www.kioma.us Fatherly Magazine calls it "The Car Seat of the Future". It's been crash tested, flight inversion tested, flammability tested and mom tested. It is full of patented innovations to make kids safer and parenting more enjoyable. It required lots of material science, production techniques, supply chain adjustments, and a surprising amount of software (to model…

Looks nice and easy to clean. I don't know why the regular "Target car seats" have so many creases and folded layers, it's a major PITA to clean :)

Re: Ask HN: Any hardware startups here?

#30

Post by Rafuino »

konschubert wrote: post #20

I am making and selling an eink smart screen. It can display a google calendar. You can also point it to any url that serves an image. Is it okay to post a link? https://shop.invisible-computers.com/products/invisible-cale... I am planning to release more applications for it and I am opening the platform for 3rd party applications.

I'd love to get this but for iCal display. Any chance that's in the cards in the future?
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