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Why 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 importance of transparency and openness in hardware development
• How reverse engineering drives innovation and problem-solving
• Navigating manufacturing challenges and supply chain complexities
• The right to repair and why it matters for creators and consumers alike

About Andrew "Bunnie" Huang:

• Hardware hacker, author, and entrepreneur
• Known for his pioneering work on Xbox hacking and open-source hardware projects
• Advocate for the right to repair and open innovation

Books by our guest:

• The Hardware Hacker: Adventures in Making and Breaking Hardware — Bunnie's acclaimed book on hardware hacking, manufacturing, and the global electronics ecosystem.
• Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering — The classic book that started it all, now available for free from No Starch Press.

Music by: Tom Stoke

DISCLAIMER "The Builder Circle” and “Pratik Development LLC” are independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by any other company. All views expressed are solely those of the guests. Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or any professional advice. Listeners are responsible for their own decisions and should consult qualified professionals. By listening, you agree we are not liable for any outcomes.

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 role of AI in engineering: from automating tedious tasks to enabling new forms of design iteration and optimization.
• Trust and explainability in AI: When to trust AI outputs, the importance of data governance, and the need for human oversight.
• Data privacy and security: Foundation models, federated learning, and inference-time techniques for protecting intellectual property.
• The gap between academic research and industry application: Real-world constraints, manufacturing realities, and the importance of context.
• Organizational and social challenges: Why successful AI adoption requires both technical and cultural change.
• Exciting AI tools and companies: From generative CAD to defect detection in manufacturing, including shoutouts to Onshape, 1000 Kelvin, and Bucket Robotics.
• White spaces and future opportunities: Design-manufacturing interfaces, spatial reasoning, and capturing engineering intuition.
• Lightning round: The future of engineering jobs, the irreplaceable value of human creativity and empathy, and the importance of adapting to new technologies.

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.
• Embrace AI as a “co-pilot” to augment, not replace, human expertise, especially for creative and high-consequence tasks.
• Be proactive about upskilling and adapting to new tools; engineers who leverage AI will have a competitive edge.
• The hardware world is full of opportunities for software talent, collaboration is needed to drive the next wave of innovation.

Sponsors & Resources:

• Onshape: Cloud-native product development platform. Apply for the Onshape Startup Program at onshape.pro/thebuildercircle.
• Jiga: Direct access to vetted manufacturers for reliable hardware sourcing. Learn more at jiga.io.
• Companies mentioned: 1000 Kelvin (AI for metal additive manufacturing), Bucket Robotics (AI for defect detection), Auto PCB (automated PCB design), Monolith (AI for test data analysis).

Connect & Learn More:

• Follow the show’s Substack for hardware tools, frameworks, and tips.
• Reach out to thebuildercircle@pratikdev.com if you have problems or ideas there are innovators ready to help!

Music by: Tom Stoke

DISCLAIMER "The Builder Circle” and “Pratik Development LLC” are independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by any other company. All views expressed are solely those of the guests. Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or any professional advice. Listeners are responsible for their own decisions and should consult qualified professionals. By listening, you agree we are not liable for any outcomes.

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 also be cost-competitive and better than existing options?
• Why should founders engage with customers early, and what kind of proof do investors want to see?
• How can startups avoid losing focus by targeting too many customer segments or product variations?
• What supply chain and manufacturing risks matter most to investors, and how should founders address them?
• How should founders set expectations and build productive relationships with their lead investors?
• What’s the best way to tailor your pitch to different types of investors?
• Why is it risky to rely solely on the “green” angle or crowdfunding when seeking VC funding?

Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Onshape, the only cloud-native product development platform. Eligible hardware startups can apply for a free year of Onshape Professional through the Onshape Startup Program. Apply now at onshape.pro/thebuildercircle

Thanks for listening! For more insights and resources, check out the full episode and subscribe for future conversations with hardware innovators.

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Music by: Tom Stoke

#hardwarestartups #hardwaredevelopment #supplychain #supplychainmanagement

DISCLAIMER "The Builder Circle” and “Pratik Development LLC” are independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by any other company. All views expressed are solely those of the guests. Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or any professional advice. Listeners are responsible for their own decisions and should consult qualified professionals. By listening, you agree we are not liable for any outcomes.