Veeraj Chugh was fed up with webcams. A head of product operations at Uber with a flair for design, Chugh couldn't stand the quality of the images produced by his computer's built-in camera. So in 2020, he set out to build a better one.
Within a matter of months, he'd quit his job and co-founded San Franciscobased Opal Camera, just as millions of workers were getting used to daily Zoom meetings. Opal's first product, the C1, was a sleek webcam that delivered 4K video and cut out background noise.
Chugh landed early investors such as Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley.
The thinking behind Opal's $300 camera was that people would be willing to pay a premium for a well-designed product they'd use every day. Still, launching a startup in the consumer electronics industry was a risky proposition.
"When you're doing hardware, you have to be pretty good at predicting the future, because you're building products that won't come out for nine months at the earliest," says Chugh, 28. "One wrong decision can lead you astray." Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, also an Opal investor, shares Chugh's passion for thoughtful design. The former chief product officer of Airbnb and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) graduate is quick to point out that, whether you're working in hardware or software, the principles of industrial design are the same.
"You start with a problem that you're solving," says Gebbia, 42, "and you work backward from that to create an ideal customer experience." To help address another problem-the U.S. housing shortage-Gebbia recently co-founded the Airbnb spinout Samara, which builds small, prefabricated houses known as accessory dwelling units.
Esta historia es de la edición March 2024 de Inc..
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición March 2024 de Inc..
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
A Bankable Pet Project - How Moonshots Capital helped eTailPet scale up and attract a buyer in just three years.
Berenice Giannini's startup, eTailPet, wasn't a natural fit for Moonshots Capital. The Austin-based venture firm, launched in 2014 by Kelly Perdew and Craig Cummings, both of whom had previously served in the U.S. Army, frequently backs companies founded by military veterans.
Backers Should Have Your Back - The best capital provider for your business will offer a helping hand, not just deep pockets.
Three years ago, U.S. entrepreneurs were enjoying one of the best funding environments in decades. Venture capital and private equity hit all-time highs as banks loaned at historically low interest rates. All you needed to get a term sheet, it seemed, was a smile and a pitch deck.
Lift Off - Would you pay $50,000 to touch the edge of space?
Would you pay $50,000 to touch the edge of space? Meet the entrepreneurs providing a rarified clientele with a luxurious, once-in-a-lifetime journey.So you want to go to space. To take in the expansive curvature of the Earth glowing miles above the atmosphere, surrounded by pure darkness. To experience the mind-altering overview effect described by astronauts as a transcendent state of awe, staring back at the planet on which you've inhaled your every living breath.
There Will Always be Those Who Doubt You and Your Vision. Here's How to Tune Them Out. - Recently, I invited an experienced luxury hotelier to visit the new campus we were building near Santa Fe for Modern Elder Academy,
Recently, I invited an experienced luxury hotelier to visit the new campus we were building near Santa Fe for Modern Elder Academy, the midlife wisdom school I co-founded in 2018.
A Scientific Discovery that Unlocks Your Body's Healing Power
The founder of Stemregen, a company that creates powerful supplements that stimulate the body's natural repair system, explains how a \"fringe idea\" opened up a new world of stem cell therapy.
Transformative Growth: Agency Masters the Art of Evolution
As a destination marketer, Awestruck has mapped out a journey to success by constantly developing its services and its staff.
For the Love of the Restaurant Experience
The founder and CEO of DJB Hospitality shares his passion for the challenging and uniquely rewarding hospitality industry.
Custom PEO Solutions for Blue-Collar Industries
COMPEO is an HR management solutions provider with a jaw-dropping five-figure growth rate.
Homebuying Was BrokenMeet the Founders Here to Fix It
Cecilian Partners is a fast-growing technology firm providing end-to-end solutions for production homebuilders and land developers.
A Focus on Complete Solutions for Regulatory Environments
The Northcross Group develops sustainable processes for clients with compliance needs.