Shaun Springer, Astro // The Future of the Connected Home

A Fresh Perspectiveon the Smart Home

NEW YORK CITY Renting population: 69%

BOSTONRenting population: 67%

CHICAGORenting population: 55%

DALLASRenting population: 57%

SAN FRANCISCORenting population: 64%

LOS ANGELESRenting population: 61%

Over 100 Million peoplerent their homesin the U.S.

The smart homeindustry has mostlyignored this growingdemographic.

RentersSmall spacesMove often

We make products for thisunderserved demographic.

Lessons learnedwhile starting a

hardware company.

3

Hardware is not thehardest part.

LESSON #1:

Hardware alone does not makea great company.

It’s just one piece of the equation.

Sales

Marketing

Software

Industrial Design

Graphic Design

BrandingUser Experience

Public Relations

Accounting

Fundraising

Hardware

Your team must have adiverse set of skills.

LESSON #2:

Marketing

Design

Software

Hardware

UX

Do all the things.

SOFTWARE MARKETING ADMIN CREATIVE SOFTWAREHARDWARE

Patience is a virtue.This is a marathon, not a sprint.

LESSON #3:

First Hardware Co. Aug. 2006

Begin at Crestron Aug. 2009

Begin at Lot18 Apr. 2012

Begin at Chartbeat Feb. 2013

Founded Astro Apr. 2014

Raised Money for Astro Jun. 2014

First Hires Jun. 2014

Joined TechStars Oct. 2014

First Prototypes Dec. 2014

I spent 8 yearslearning, saving,and networkingbefore Astro.










Learned aboutmanagement,hardware andthe smart homeindustry.










Grew my networkand saw howseveral startupsscaled.










Raised $1MMwithout a teamor a product.










Hired all-starteam fromexisting network.










Made looks-likeworks-likeprototypes injust 4 months.

Hardware is only one componentof building a successful startup.

Your teams skills should be diverse.

Take your time, patience is a virtue.

TAKEAWAYS

@shaun_springer

Shaun Springer, Astro // The Future of the Connected Home

Technology

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