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Eric Migicovsky at Startup School SV 2014
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Eric Migicovsky at Startup School Silicon Valley 2014 View the annotated transcript, and add annotations of your own, on Genius: http://tech.genius.com/Eric-migicovsky-eric-migicovsky-at-startup-school-sv-2014-annotated
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The Birth of Pebble
Eric Migicovsky shares the origins of Pebble, starting from his engineering days at the University of Waterloo. He discusses his initial idea for a bicycle computer that would connect to a phone, leading to the evolution of the concept into a smartwatch. This segment highlights the importance of problem-solving and innovation in the early stages of product development.
"hi guys um it's an honor to be here I really appreciate you guys taking it taking time out of your day to come listen to me um I know that many of you may have heard about us when we launched on Kicks..."
From Concept to Prototype
Migicovsky recounts the transition from a bicycle computer to a smartwatch, detailing how he repurposed a Nokia phone and collaborated with friends to create the first prototype. He emphasizes the iterative process of prototyping and the significance of feedback in refining the product, showcasing the hands-on approach of early-stage startups.
"new phone in my pocket and I wanted to see what was happening when my phone was was vibrating who was calling me who was texting me who was emailing me um and while I technically could have just tried..."
Pitching for Success
In this segment, Eric discusses the challenges of funding and the importance of pitching ideas effectively. He shares anecdotes about winning pitch competitions that helped finance the early stages of Pebble, illustrating the role of storytelling and presentation skills in securing investment and support for startups.
"I would win these gigantic checks um comically large checks which are very difficult to cash at ATMs you have to like fold them up um and the first uh the first prototypes that we built were actually ..."
Designing the First Watch
Migicovsky explains the design evolution of Pebble, highlighting the collaboration with industrial designers to create a more appealing product. He discusses the significance of aesthetics in technology and how the design process transformed the initial prototype into a product that consumers could envision wearing.
"you wanted so I um the first step was trying to make it look a little bit better than what a couple Engineers hack together in their spare time worked with an industrial designer who again remember th..."
The Power of Leaks
Eric shares a strategic move to generate buzz for Pebble by leaking information to tech blogs before the official launch. He describes how this tactic created excitement and speculation around the product, demonstrating the effectiveness of marketing strategies in building anticipation and community engagement.
"software company in the world you know you have to launch early and often and I think we took that took that lesson to Heart from a hardware perspective as well so in two in the end of 2009 we decided..."
Building Community Interest
In this segment, Migicovsky discusses the response from the tech community after the initial leak. He explains how they leveraged the interest generated to build a mailing list and validate the product concept, emphasizing the importance of community feedback and engagement in the product development process.
"he's like I don't care I don't care I still want to I still want to share this with the world and I said sure if you want to do that let's do it and so on October 19th 2009 crackberry ran this and you..."
Early Prototyping and Y Combinator
Eric recounts the early days of building the first functional prototypes of Pebble and the decision to apply to Y Combinator. He reflects on the challenges of hardware startups and the significance of mentorship and resources provided by accelerator programs in scaling a tech startup.
"wanted so we continued building prototypes this is our first uh metal um CNC mil prototype there was another little fun press thing at CES um uh instead of signing up for media briefings or getting a ..."
Customer Feedback Loop
Migicovsky emphasizes the importance of customer feedback in refining Pebble's features. He shares anecdotes about direct communication with early users and how their insights shaped the product's development, highlighting the value of maintaining close relationships with customers.
"out it was around this time that we um that we applied to ycombinator uh up until this point YC had only accepted I think three Hardware companies in the entire lifespan of YC so it was a bit of a it'..."
Launching the SDK
In this segment, Eric discusses the launch of Pebble's software development kit (SDK) and the unexpected enthusiasm from developers. He highlights the significance of community-driven innovation and how the SDK allowed users to create apps, enhancing the smartwatch's functionality and appeal.
"naturally the bug reports came fast and furious our first customer my dad emailed me and said Eric you got to be able to show that time on this Smartwatch um so so we launched a firmware upgrade the w..."
The Kickstarter Journey
Migicovsky shares the pivotal moment of launching Pebble on Kickstarter, detailing the campaign's rapid success. He reflects on the strategies that contributed to raising over $10 million and the lessons learned about market validation and community support in crowdfunding.
"us the capability to run an application in the background when it was talking with a Bluetooth access so we designed Pebble we took all the feedback from impulse and we funneled it into this new produ..."
Manufacturing Challenges
In this segment, Eric discusses the challenges faced during the manufacturing process of Pebble watches. He shares insights into the complexities of hardware production and the importance of perseverance and adaptability in overcoming obstacles to deliver a quality product.
"predict what happens we were trying to raise $100,000 to be able to sell 1,000 Pebble watches we blew through that milestone in 2 hours we got to our first million in 28 hours and after 30 days we had..."
The First Pebble Watch
Migicovsky describes the moment of receiving the first production Pebble watch, reflecting on the journey from concept to reality. He shares the emotional significance of this milestone and the growth of the team as they transitioned from a startup to a recognized brand in the wearable tech space.
"running this is uh probably around like 700 p.m. on a Friday night figuring out how to get the the glue working so that the top of the lens would actually be glued into the bottom and still be waterpr..."
The Future of Wearables
In the concluding segment, Eric discusses the evolving landscape of wearable technology and Pebble's unique position within it. He emphasizes the importance of community and innovation in shaping the future of wearables, expressing excitement for ongoing developments and user engagement.
"to that you know I started working on wearables now about six and a half years ago the at at the beginning you know I I I saw the other watches that were on the market there was there were actually ot..."