Shows
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS3 E9 Scaling Mission-Critical Hardware: Ops Lessons from Space & Fusion with Darby DunnDarby Dunn, embodying excellence in #manufacturing and #operations, she joins the show drawing from her tenure at SpaceX building the Dragon spacecraft, and now at Commonwealth Fusion Systems where she’s helping develop a full fusion machine alongside the production systems to support it.She brings a wealth of insight to this episode as we tackle the central question:“How do you scale hardware operations and manufacturing capabilities?”Tune in and learn how to build systematically, skillfully and strategically.Connect & Learn More:Follow the show’s Substack for hardware tools, framewor...
2026-02-101h 24
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS3 E8: Navigating and Managing Contract Manufacturers with Peter RussoPeter Russo, entrepreneur and hardware mentor who has founded and sold multiple companies, shares decades of hard-won wisdom on working with contract manufacturers. With 15+ brands created, 2,000+ SKUs launched, and $250M in retail sales under his belt, Peter reveals the strategies, pitfalls, and creative approaches that separate successful hardware partnerships from costly disasters.What You'll Learn:• How to structure contracts that protect your IP while enabling collaboration • The cultural fit factors that make or break CM relationships • Why startups are "crappy customers" and how to overcome it with storytelling • Exclusivity negotiat...
2026-01-271h 14
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS3 E7: Building Bootstrapped Hardware That Sells with Christian ReedChristian Reed, CEO of Reekon Tools, shares how he bootstrapped a hardware company from a side project to a multi-million dollar (8 figure) business without any VC funding. Learn how a $1.2M Kickstarter campaign validated his digital tape measure, the manufacturing lessons from his time at Formlabs, and how 30 minutes of daily social media posting built a 3 million-follower audience.Key Topics:Turning a side project into a viable business through Kickstarter validationWhy bootstrapping forces better discipline than VC fundingFinding and vetting contract manufacturers as a startupBuilding 3M+ social media followers with consistency and raw contentOvercoming user adoption...
2026-01-1355 min
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastFor Hardware Startups by Hardware People: Building The Builder Circle with Host, Sera EvcimenStay 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 Circle and its mission to support the hardware community.Sera’s background: education, startup experience, and mentorship roles.Common ch...
2026-01-0618 min
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS3 E6: Building Innovation Moats with Open Hardware with Andrew "Bunnie" HuangWe 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 ethical, legal, and economic factors that shape the hardware ecosystem today.What’s Inside:The...
2025-12-091h 06
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS3 E5: AI in Hardware: The Future of Design, Manufacturing, and Innovation with Kristen EdwardsHost 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.Actionable Takeaways:Track not just engineering decisions, but the reasoning behind them, this is key for effective AI integration.Data management is foundational: Know where your data lives, how it’s labeled, and how it can be used to train or inform AI...
2025-11-251h 13
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS3 E4: An Impact Hardware VC's Playbook with Carlota Ochoa from Extentia 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 beyond technical innovation?Why are step-change innovations more attractive to investors than incremental improvements?How important is it for “green” solutions to als...
2025-11-1139 min
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS3 E3: Accelerators, Incubators and How to Leverage Them with Raphaele LeyendeckerThis 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 over fundraising: LOIs, paid pilots, and revenue beat pitch-only decks.🧱 Build vs. outsource: how to avoid outsourcing your core know-how and pr...
2025-10-281h 00
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS3 E2: Export, Import, Tariffs, and Trade Compliance for Hardware Startups with Gabrielle GriffithThis 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 episode, you’ll discover: 🛃 The fundamentals of tariffs, HTS codes, and why getting your classifications right is critical. 🌍 How countr...
2025-10-141h 05
TRADEOFFST-25-009 : Sera Evcimen - Mechanical Engineer to Host of The Builder Circle™ PodcastOn this episode, we sat down with Sera Evcimen, mechanical engineer, hardware startup strategist, and host of The Builder Circle™ Podcast where she interviews hardware founders, investors and other professionals in the hardware startup ecosystem to provide practical takeaways for anyone building hardware. Sera shares her journey from watching "How It's Made" with her hardware-savvy father to working on cutting-edge fusion energy systems at Commonwealth Fusion Systems.Today, Sera brings that deep technical and operational expertise to hardware startups through her firm Pratik, where she helps founders navigate everything from supply chain challenges to system architecture de...
2025-10-0859 min
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS3 E1: Mastering Tech Adoption and The Hardware Development Workflow with Jon HirshtickThis 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 into a real-world innovation. ⚙️ Jon Hirschtick’s untold parts of the journey (SolidWorks & Onshape) + lessons from build...
2025-09-301h 16
WHY DESIGN?Why 97% of Hardware Startups Fail (and How to Avoid It) with Sera Evcimen"97% of hardware startups fail. And a lot of the time, it’s the same mistakes repeated over and over again."In this episode of Why Design, I’m joined by Sera Evcimen, Founder of Pratik Development, Innovation Advisor at FORGE and Techstars Paris, and host of the hardware startup podcast The Builder Circle.Sera has built a career around one goal — helping hardware startups avoid the common pitfalls that so often derail promising ideas. She’s worked hands-on across cleantech, space, consumer tech, and robotics before launching Pratik to support deep tech founders with everything from sys...
2025-04-3057 min
The BOM: Engineering a Path ForwardPractical Advice for an Imperfect World With Sera EvcimenIn this episode of The Bom: Engineering a Path Forward, we welcome Sera Evcimen, Founder of the startup consulting firm Pratik. Pratik focuses on finding practical solutions to finish hardware stacks and help get their product to market. Sera’s unique insight into the process of fleshing out a product’s design and manufacturing explains why she chooses to only work with companies that are designing meaningful and impactful hardware. If you’re curious about the best path forward for an engineer in the startup space, Sera has some advice, so tune in.PratikThe views and op...
2024-04-3037 minThe BOM: Engineering a Path ForwardPractical Advice for an Imperfect World With Sera EvcimenIn this episode of The Bom: Engineering a Path Forward, we welcome Sera Evcimen, Founder of the startup consulting firm Pratik. Pratik focuses on finding practical solutions to finish hardware stacks and help get their product to market. Sera’s unique insight into the process of fleshing out a product’s design and manufacturing explains why she chooses to only work with companies that are designing meaningful and impactful hardware. If you’re curious about the best path forward for an engineer in the startup space, Sera has some advice, so tune in.PratikThe views and op...
2024-04-3037 min
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS2 E9: Global Supply Chain Strategy with Ying LiuThis 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 sustainability in manufacturing.Ying emphasizes the need for financial prudence, leveraging community support, and the importance of assembling a competent team. Through practical advice and personal anecdotes, this episode offers...
2024-03-191h 17
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS2 E8: Quality Engineering and Strategy for Hardware with Matt LipsitzQuality 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 #quality,applying quality from day 1, how to create a low-touch and non-burdensome quality infrstructure...
2024-03-051h 01
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS2 E7: Intellectual Property Strategy for Hardware Startups with Troy GrabowIn 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 agreements on IP ownership in co-development and supplier relationships. Troy emphasizes the value of IP as a startup's principal asset in the early stages...
2024-02-201h 10
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS2 E6: Complex System Development with Kristine BarnesIn 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 and,executing development for a successful complex system launch.Hey! If you liked this episode you should...
2024-02-061h 13
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS2 E5: Rapid Prototyping Deep Dive with Greg PaulsenIn 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 potential pitfalls of not considering scalability when developing prototypes. He underscores the need for clear communication regarding design requirements and having in-depth discussions about the design and manufacturing...
2024-01-231h 06
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS2 E4: Scaling up Manufacturing with Scott Miller 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 aiming to produce for injection molding to make sense?What are some other manufacturing techniques that work...
2024-01-0955 min
The Masters of Engineering PodcastSera Evcimen: Coaching Hardware Startups to Success | Masters of Engineering PodcastIn the world of hardware startups, building cutting-edge products comes with a unique set of challenges. Founders sometimes lose sight of their goals by falling in love with their first solution, and not fully focusing on the problem itself. Enter Sera Evcimen, mechanical engineer and founder of Pratik https://www.pratikdev.com, a product development consulting firm devoted to keeping startups away from the “Valley of Death.” In this episode, Jon chats with Sera about her approach to engaging with startups – whether it's optimizing their operations, aiding in manufacturing processes, or nurturing innovation. Sera also shares insights on how...
2024-01-0224 min
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS2 E3: Strategic Planning for Hardware Success with Pete BlakeFrom 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 many more! Some resources that were mentioned in the episode:Book recommendation: Pasteur's Quadrant: Basic Science...
2023-12-251h 03
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS2 E2: Demystifying Medical Device and System Development with Alan CohenThis 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 startup through navigating the FDA and EU approval processes.You can find his consultancy at www.alancohen.com.Rundown of Episode for easy navigation to...
2023-12-121h 11
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS2 E1: From Code to Creation: The Building Blocks of Firmware with Elecia WhiteElecia 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 certification processes, she understands the importance of producing quality designs and how they lead to quality implementations.In this episode we...
2023-11-281h 05
Diverse: a SWE podcastEp 225: Empowering Innovators in Hardware Development With Pratik Founder Sera EvcimenDive into the dynamic world of hardware development with Sera Evcimen, Founder and Technical Director of Pratik Development! As a mechanical engineer, startup mentor, and hardware enthusiast, Sera has amassed a wealth of experience in industries from space exploration to robotics.
In this episode, she highlights the future of hardware development, shares exciting advancements in climate tech, and reflects on how to close the gender gap in hardware engineering.
2023-09-0533 min
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS1 E9: Building a Strong Capital Stack for a Hardware Product with Orin HoffmanOrin 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 long didn't listen) segment!Music by: Joel Caffey and Tom Stoke (in addition to royalty-free music...
2023-07-251h 15
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS1 E8: Tackling Industrial Design and Regenerative Materials with PROWL 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 why is it important to shift our design culture to incorporate them in the material selection process?Don't have time to listen to...
2023-07-1058 min
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS1 E7: Level Up Your Hardware Product Pitch with Haje KampsHaje 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 a pitch?What metrics are important to put in place so that the hardware product pitch writes itself?What...
2023-06-271h 04
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS1 E6: Pivots, Trials, Errors, and Validation in Product Development with Madhavi GaviniIn 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 can we make informed decisions about insourcing and outsourcing in product development, considering core competencies...
2023-06-131h 05
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS1 E5: The Path of Product Design for Successful Development with William BurkeWilliam Burke is a seasoned mechanical engineer and hardware enthusiast. He is passionately building tools for the next generation of hardware engineers through his company Five Flute. In this episode we explore key questions related to engineering design and product development:How can we strike the right balance between extremes in engineering design requirements?What is the importance of understanding use cases and generating a Product Requirements Document (PRD) with minimal prescribed numbers?Why should we prioritize a core subset of non-negotiable or known values in our designs?How can we effectively update and maintain requirements as we...
2023-05-301h 26
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS1 E2: Mastering the Art of Modern Hardware Development and Innovation with Tyler Mincey In this episode, we delve into the world of modern hardware development and uncover its intricacies. Tyler Mincey, shares invaluable experiences from his time at Apple during the launch of the first iPhone, as well as his insights as a General Partner interacting with hardware entrepreneurs daily. Gain exclusive perspectives from industry giants like Apple and be inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit that drives innovation forward. Get ready for a deep dive into the remarkable journey of bringing revolutionary hardware products to life.The Episode centers around:Tailoring Program ManagementThe Power of Demos and PrototypesIterative Testing for SuccessBalancing...
2023-05-1549 minThe Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS1 E3: Navigating the Full Product Development Lifecycle with Bridget Hunter-JonesIn our first hardware case study episode, we talk to Bridget Hunter-Jones from Impact Biosystems, a startup developing an adaptive muscle scanner hardware and software solution, about the following topics;Market Research and ValidationCommunicating Complex Systems to a Mass AudienceInsourcing vs. Outsourcing Functions at an Early Stage (i.e. engineering, industrial design, manufacturing..etc.)Product Design Strategy and Requirements GenerationFinding, Choosing and Managing Overseas VendorsDetermining Target Cost of GoodsDesign ConsiderationsNote: This episode provides insights into market research, effective communication, engineering decisions, supplier relationships, cost determination, yield optimization, and design considerations in the hardware manufacturing industry.Music...
2023-05-151h 09The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastS1 E4: Cracking the Code of Hardware Manufacturing with Scott MillerScott Miller is a seasoned entrepreneur, engineer and supply chain/manufacturing expert. He has been involved in many teams that were focused on getting concept to product including the first ever Roomba! He brings a wealth of knowledge, rules of thumb and kindness to entrepreneurs all around. What you can expect from this episode is discussions around:Outsourcing vs. insourcing: metrics to make an informative decision that works best with your business and innovation productWorking with manufacturers, factories and suppliers from a low leverage standpointTiming and Design StabilityLifecycle TestingDual-SourcingApproaching and finding the right fit with Contract ManufacturersQuality AssuranceSetting...
2023-05-151h 14
The Builder Circle™: The Hardware Startup Success PodcastThe Pilot: Unveiling the Blueprint of "The Builder Circle"Introducing The Builder Circle, a podcast dedicated to helping individuals transform their ideas into physical systems and products. Created out of a passion for mentoring and assisting entrepreneurs, this podcast aims to bridge the gap between aspiring founders and the expertise they need. The episodes are designed to be easily consumable, with TL;DL (Too Long; Didn't Listen) summaries at the end, allowing listeners to grasp key takeaways in a shorter time frame. The podcast offers actionable advice, expert insights, and discusses real-world case studies to empower and inspire entrepreneurs.Join us on this exciting journey as we delve...
2023-05-1411 min