Pioneers

Manufacturing processes are a constant area of innovation. Companies are always looking for ways to make production more efficient, more cost-effective, and more quality-driven. But there’s one really important process that is often overlooked when it comes to innovation in manufacturing. 

The inspection phase has kind of been stuck in the dark ages. As production methods continue to modernize, isn’t it time we turn our eyes to more cutting-edge methods of inspection? Current approaches involve physically destructive processes that rely heavily on statistics. But inaccuracies due to statistical faults can be costly. There’s also the environmental aspects, like the safe disposal of contaminated magnetized water, for example.

My guest today is Ibon Iribarren, Managing Director at LINQcase, a startup based in San Sebastian, Spain. As someone who has always placed a high value on the customer side of the manufacturing industry, he employed his astute listening skills to guide him towards a business venture that ultimately solves problems that, while relatively rare, are nearly always costly. 

Today we’ll learn about their unique non-destructive manufacturing inspection process. We’ll explore the path that led Ibon in this direction, and we’ll talk about the current applications of the technology, as well as the potential to reshape the inspection process on a larger scale. 

Some Questions I Ask:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Connect with Ibon Iribarren:

• LinkedIn

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Resources:

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Startup entrepreneurs share a lot in common. Sure, there’s a general road map for starting a business, but then there are the countless other factors that decide to show up along the way. Figuring out how and whom to hire, determining the best way to raise capital, managing a growing team, the list goes on. 

Today’s guest is no exception to the entrepreneurial learning curve. He got his first patent back in 2007 for making silicon using microwave heating. When the company he was working with at the time offered him a more serious job, he recognized that what he was doing was important enough to go out on his own.

Today I’m talking with JP Mai, Founder, and CEO of JPM Silicon. His company has the admirable goal of producing carbon-neutral silicon used to power up solar cells. We’ll hear about how he first got interested in the technology, why carbon neutrality is important, and we’ll hear some sage advice based on his experiences of starting his company. 

Some Questions I Ask:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Connect with JP Mai:

• LinkedIn

Connect with John Fox: 

Resources:

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A lot of people dream about “one day” starting a business, but many of these dreamers find it hard to carve out the time to actually get the wheels turning. Whether it’s a demanding job, family obligations, a lack of capital, often all of the above, taking that first step isn’t easy. Making the decision to finally move on your startup plan requires drive and dedication, and it imposes a certain amount of risk. When do you know the time has finally come to take the leap?

A common origin story theme for many startups is that the definitive decision to go for it is often made during times of transition. My guest today made the call to take his big leap after the company he was working for relocated overseas. He knew it was finally time to do something about that long-held dream. 

Today, we’re talking to James Crook, the Founder and Managing Director at Forty1 Kitesurfing. Crook comes from a mechanical engineering background and spent most of his free time on the water. He was a kitesurfer based in the UK who was looking for a way to make a lighter board that allowed the rider to surf out into shallow waters, which would decrease the learning curve for those who were giving it a try for the first time. By employing his engineering background, he was able to look at the particular mechanics of kite board design and come up with something completely new and innovative. 

In this episode, we’ll talk about how kitesurfing works and how Forty1 Kitesurfing got its start. We’ll also learn about the challenges that Crook faced in the early days of the business, and what he’s learned since its inception. Today’s episode will inspire anyone currently on their startup journey, and it’ll probably make you want to catch a few waves too! 

Some Questions I Ask:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Connect with James Crook:

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The formula for a successful business revolves around the problems it’s able to solve. Recognizing pain points for potential customers is key, but the formula for how those issues are addressed is what differentiates an average product from a great one. When it came to mountain bikes, there were a lot of brands in the world, building good bikes, but none of them were providing the highly specialized components that some avid riders were looking for. 

To really make a dent in an industry requires more than a passive interest in the product. You have to have an obsession, something that really drives you towards evolution. You have to want it even if you’re only creating for yourself. It takes vision to solve a problem, but it takes a visionary to solve it well. And if you build it, they will come. 

My guest today is P.J. Tolentino, Founder and Head Engineer at Rurok Industries. Tolentino is the textbook example of someone who transformed their passion into a career. He and his team have built a successful company by dreaming up all the ways to make mountain bikes better, and then actually doing it. Their hyper-focused attention to detail has made their bikes stand out from the crowd.

In this episode, we talk about how Rurok Industries got their start and the team’s unparalleled passion for the sport. Their dedication to constant innovation continues to pedal this specialized brand of mountain bikes forward as they swiftly gain global brand recognition. 

Some Questions I Ask:

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

Connect with P.J. Tolentino:

Connect with John Fox: 

Resources:

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Crises give birth to opportunities and there’s a handful of smart people around the world who don’t get discouraged in the face of challenges, but instead see an empty space in the market and come up with ways to fill it up - and Siemens is always there to help them achieve their goals.

As the current pandemic spread globally, one obvious issue that came up was the shortage of protection equipment, especially the worldwide need for efficient masks that could ensure the safety of all individuals. The demand rapidly outpaced the supply of N95 masks so solutions needed to be found.

Luckily, as a part of the Siemens Hardware Startup Program, Sabrina and the ‘Fix the Mask’ team have been tirelessly working to supply better masks in the fight against COVID-19. She and her business partner, Megan, came up with a way to adjust the regular surgical masks to fit the safety requirements an N95 mask did, and they ended up creating an even better product that ensures greater protection against aerosolized viruses. The best part of all of this is that their solution is so simple that can be replicated by anyone around the globe.

Listen to the first episode of The Hardware Startups: Digitalization to Realization podcast to learn more about this innovative concept, its impact on the health industry, and the role Siemens played in helping Sabrina and the Fix the Mask team to design and develop the product.

Some questions I ask:

In this episode, you will learn:

Connect with Sabrina

Resources

• Siemens Startups Program: from idea to market leader with the right tools

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