This is awesome. Picwing, any chance of an article on your journey to manufacturing? Engineering the frame, developing the software, finding manufacturers that will work with startups...
Definitely, we'll use our blog for just that. There are a lot of experiences that we've already had that we can write about, and there are lots of experiences that I'm sure we'll have in the future. We'll write about them as much as we can.
I second that, I really would like to see the experience of a startup getting into manufacturing (especially finding the manufacturers and how you work with them)
I third that. I admire that these guys went after a difficult idea (hardware/software combined product) and didn't just settle for yet another web app. Karma will reward them, because their revenue model is simple and it will be much harder for copy-cats to steal their market.
Also, it looks bad-ass (if a little unresponsive).
Ah, that will be for another blog post. For now, all I'll say is that it involved a hand drill, with a (very hot) metal drill bit, and ended with a few stitches and a recommendation from the doctor not do hardware anymore =)
Plenty of manufacturing firms will work with startups. They just have a strict "show me the money" policy.
Once your hardware design is worked out[1], you can order a production run[2] of a few hundred units a month[3].
[1] They will be glad to help you design your product too. The last quote I got for an "idea to device" service was $500k and six months from zero-to-production quality.
[2] As long as most of your components are tape and reel.
[3] Some firms have complete facilities in the US and China. Low volume orders can be done in the US while everything else is sent to China.
