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PODCAST

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success Podcast

The premier podcast for hardware entrepreneurs and builders to build a successful hardware product/system and company. Think of the episodes as a curriculum for anyone wanting to build a hardware startup!Being a hardware founder or team can be a daunting task with long lead times, low budgets, high risks and many unknown unknowns. The podcast aims to demystify the methods and processes to follow to tackle the difficulties in the hardware startup world with digestible and practical conversations with

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

18:19

For Hardware Startups by Hardware People: Building...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2026/01/06

Stay updated on hardware startup strategy packages (The Building Blocks by The Builder Circle) coming soon: https://forms.gle/8vQycwzeMvm43kPc6In this special episode, host Sera reflects on the journey of The Builder Circle podcast, revisiting its origins, purpose, and evolution. Sera shares personal experiences as a mechanical engineer and startup mentor, and discusses how the show has grown to serve hardware founders, engineers, and enthusiasts.Key Topics Covered:The "why" behind The Builder

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66:27

S3 E6: Building Innovation Moats with Open Hardware...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2025/12/09

We want to hear from you! Leave your feedback on the show: https://forms.gle/z5JS5t8dWG26jx5k7Why Listen? This episode dives deep into the realities of hardware hacking, open-source innovation, and the global landscape of electronics manufacturing. Whether you’re a hardware builder, engineer, or maker, the insights shared here are crucial for understanding the challenges and opportunities in designing, building, and securing physical devices. We explore not just the technical side, but also the

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71:44

S3 E5: AI in Hardware: The Future of Design,...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2025/11/25

Host Sera Evcimen welcomes Kristen Edwards, CTO and co-founder of Pensa Technologies and PhD candidate at MIT, for a deep dive into the intersection of artificial intelligence and hardware engineering. Kristen shares her expertise on AI-driven solutions for manufacturing, the challenges of integrating AI into engineering workflows, and the future of design and manufacturing.Key Topics Covered:Kristen’s background: AI, engineering, and manufacturing research at MIT and Pensa Technologies.The evolving

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39:33

S3 E4: An Impact Hardware VC's Playbook with Carlota...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2025/11/11

Carlota Ochoa is a Principal at Extantia Capital, leading UK operations for the fund. With a background in commodities at Merrill Lynch, operational experience in startups, and a senior management role at Amazon’s consumer electronics division, Carlota brings a wealth of expertise in climate tech investing. She now focuses on supporting pioneering hardware and software solutions that address major climate challenges.The Episode will answer:What do investors look for in hardware startup founders

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60:31

S3 E3: Accelerators, Incubators and How to Leverage...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2025/10/28

This episode digs into incubators vs. accelerators for hardware founders, featuring Raphaele Leyendecker, Managing Director at Techstars Sustainability Paris, climate-tech entrepreneur, and investor in 75+ startups.If you’ve wondered when to join which program—and how to actually get value without wrecking your cap table—this one’s for you. In this episode, you’ll discover:🐣 Incubator vs. accelerator—what’s the difference, and when to choose each (incl. TRL ≥ 4 guidance for hardware).📈 Traction

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65:57

S3 E2: Export, Import, Tariffs, and Trade Compliance...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2025/10/14

This episode is all about navigating the complex world of tariffs and global trade compliance for hardware startups, featuring Gabrielle Griffith, Director at BPE Global, a leading trade compliance consulting firm. Gabrielle brings 20+ years of experience helping companies of all sizes manage the risks, costs, and surprises of international trade. If you’ve ever wondered how tariffs, HTS codes, and country of origin rules really impact your hardware business, this is the episode for you. In this

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76:59

S3 E1: Mastering Tech Adoption and The Hardware...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2025/09/30

This episode is all about hardware, with none other than Jon Hirschtick, the mind behind SolidWorks and Onshape (onshape.pro/thebuildercircle). Jon has spent his career building the tools that engineers use to design, prototype, and ship world-changing products. We dug into the ethos of hardware development, what it takes to earn your seat in the engineering workflow, and how software can unlock (or block) real innovation in hardware. In this episode, you'll discover: ⚙️ How to turn a product idea

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77:51

S2 E9: Global Supply Chain Strategy with Ying Liu

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2024/03/19

This podcast episode features an in-depth conversation with Ying Liu CEO of BlueLake Packaging, a seasoned expert in hardware product development and the sustainable packaging industry. Drawing from her extensive experience, including building Apple's supply chain infrastructure in China, Ying shares valuable insights onoutsourcing vs. insourcing,establishing strong supplier relationships,the importance of quality in product development,the challenges of scaling production andthe critical role of

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61:04

S2 E8: Quality Engineering and Strategy for Hardware...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2024/03/05

Quality or sustaining engineering sound like big initiatives that only exist in big companies like GE or P&G but this is a common misconception in the startup world. Having a quality mindset and culture should come into play the first day of product development.I am excited to have Matthew Lipsitz, Head of Quality at Formlabs on to discuss exactly this. Formlabs started as a startup and scaled right in front of our eyes but quality was always front-in-mind. We talk about;defining

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70:40

S2 E7: Intellectual Property Strategy for Hardware...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2024/02/20

In this podcast, TBC host and Pratik founder Sera Evcimen has a discussion with patent attorney Troy Grabow about the importance of intellectual property (IP) strategy for hardware startups. They explore the differences between patents and trade secrets, the complex process of filing and maintaining patents, and the potential costs involved,the strategic decisions startups need to make regarding patenting their inventions or keeping them as trade secrets,underline the significance of clear

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73:28

S2 E6: Complex System Development with Kristine Barnes

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2024/02/06

In this episode, Kristine Barnes shares her extensive experience in the world of complex systems, straddling the fields of nuclear power and automotive engineering. She hails from General Motors and an executive member of Society of Women Engineers. At the end of the episode you will walk away with knowing:how to proactively start writing requirements for your complex system,how to effectively conduct a DFMEA (design failure modes effects analysis),risk managing,strategizing product focus

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66:58

S2 E5: Rapid Prototyping Deep Dive with Greg Paulsen

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2024/01/23

In this deep-dive episode, Greg Paulsen, Director of Applications, Engineering and Marketing at Xometry, discusses the complexities and intricacies of physical product development. He highlights the importance of understanding different manufacturing methods and the potential biases they can introduce in the design process. The episode delves into the pros and cons of various 3D printing technologies such as filament-based, powder bed fusion, and resin-based methods. Greg also points out the

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55:53

S2 E4: Scaling up Manufacturing with Scott Miller

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2024/01/09

Scott Miller is back again on the Builder Circle! A true hardware veteran, in this episode we will be privileged enough to talk with him within the realm of his professional sweet spot: how to properly scale your manufacturing with a focus on injection molding! The episode will dive into:When should a product team know to convert to injection molding? From a technological readiness level, unit economics and supply chain strategy perspective.More specifically, how many units should companies be

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63:10

S2 E3: Strategic Planning for Hardware Success with...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2023/12/25

From leveraging your ecosystem to building your product roadmap and from managing your board to determining who to hire and why, this episode has it all. Pete Blake from Sapphire Steel is a fellow All-Star Mentor at Techstars. In this episode we dive deep into:How to strategically incorporate your ecosystem in hardware development and launchThe mindset shift between research and productizationFinding your unique value in the value chainEffective ways to set up your board and board meetingsAnd many

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71:31

S2 E2: Demystifying Medical Device and System...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2023/12/12

This episode features a conversation between host, Sera Evcimen, and Alan Cohen, author of 'Prototype to Product: A Practical Guide for Getting to Market'. They delve into the complexities, misconceptions and opportunities in medical device development. The discussion includes the importance of generating good requirements, handling regulatory requirements, and conducting risk analysis. They also highlight the value of hiring experts conversant in both engineering and regulatory matters to guide a

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65:06

S2 E1: From Code to Creation: The Building Blocks of...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2023/11/28

Elecia White has worked on DNA scanners, inertial measurement units for airplanes and race cars, toys for preschoolers, a gunshot location system for catching criminals, and assorted other medical and consumer devices. She is the founder of Logical Elegance, an embedded systems consulting company based in San Jose and the host of the Embedded FM podcast. Elecia has strong skills in signal processing, hardware integration, complex system design, and performance. Having been through FAA and FDA

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75:43

S1 E9: Building a Strong Capital Stack for a Hardware...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2023/07/25

Orin Hoffman is a seasoned hardware veteran and VC investor passionate about enabling hardware through capital. In this episode we dive into two main questions:How does a hardware entrepreneur strategically source capital to have a successful hardware product?What are the common pitfalls and failures hardware teams do when building their capital stack?Don't have time to listen to the full episode? Totally understandable, scroll to the end to get the key takeaways and summary during the TL;DL (too

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58:03

S1 E8: Tackling Industrial Design and Regenerative...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2023/07/10

PROWL is design and strategy studio helping companies reach their product design and climate goals. Lauryn Menard and Bailie Mischler (Davis) bring a wealth of experience and intuition around industrial design and utilizing regenerative materials in physical product design. In this episode, PROWL and I will talk through the following 2 big questions:Why is industrial design important and when should industrial designers be included in the product development cycle?What are regenerative materials and

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64:24

S1 E7: Level Up Your Hardware Product Pitch with Haje...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2023/06/27

Haje Kamps is an entrepreneur, pitch coach, hardware enthusiast and former VC. He brings a wealth of experience and intuition around the art of pitching hardware products for a successful fundraise and wide-spread adoption. In this specialty episode, Haje and I will talk through the following questions:Why should builders care about their pitch, shouldn't the technology stand for itself?What are the common pitfalls founders fall into when putting together their pitch?What do investors care about in

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65:04

S1 E6: Pivots, Trials, Errors, and Validation in...

The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success... ·

2023/06/13

In this Hardware Case Study episode we talk to Madhavi Gavini, CEO of Droplette. If you are a founder, engineer, product team or builder who has the following questions, this episode is for you!Sunk Cost Fallacy: How can we avoid the sunken cost fallacy and prevent over-engineering and unnecessary features from hindering the minimal viability of our products?Pivots: How do you feel confident in the decision to pivot? How do you execute on a pivot successfully?Insource vs Outsource Perspective: How

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