How we built an open-source hardware product from India
summary
An open-source e-paper development board built around an ESP32 microcontroller and off-the-shelf e-paper modules becomes a shippable product after prototype, supply-chain troubleshooting, and a manufacturing run in China. Crowdfunding on Indiegogo reaches 128 backers of a 300-unit goal, then a FOSSUnited grant funds the first batch; 200 GitHub stars, 600-person waitlist, and a sold-out launch in 10 days with customers across 19+ countries prove demand.
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chapters (10)
- 0:00Open-source hardware journey
- 3:34Prototype to product vision
- 5:39Minimum viable product
- 7:05Funding challenges
- 9:55Grant securing
- 11:59Manufacturing logistics
- 13:23Product launch and sales
- 15:50First batch success
- 16:33Three product generations
- 17:38Finding market niche
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