In today's Coredump Session, François Baldassari and Chris Coleman sit down with Ultrahuman co-founder Vatsal Singhal to unpack what it takes to build and scale a hardware startup in the fiercely competitive health wearable market. From transitioning from software to hardware to building responsibly with AI and machine learning, Vatsal shares what it means to blend deep engineering rigor with a mission to improve human performance. This conversation explores the challenges, surprises, and future of health-tech innovation at the edge.
Key Takeaways
How Ultrahuman transitioned from a software-first mindset to mastering complex hardware development.
Lessons learned moving from large-scale software systems to building precision-focused health wearables.
Why building hardware for health requires a fundamentally different level of accountability and rigor.
The role of machine learning at the edge and how it enables better, faster insights while managing battery and compute tradeoffs.
How responsible use of AI in health applications shapes product design and user trust.
The importance of rapid iteration cycles and adopting software methodologies in hardware innovation.
Insights into how Ultrahuman’s internal teams use AI not just in engineering, but across all business functions.
A look at what’s next for health-tech — and where innovation is heading in wearables and bio-sensing.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Teasers03:43 From Software to Hardware: The Leap of Faith07:49 The Harsh Realities of Hardware10:40 Iterating Fast Without Breaking People15:17 Redefining A/B Testing in Hardware21:40 Why Ultrahuman Built Its Own Factory26:56 Scaling Production Across Continents29:48 Managing Complexity: 20 Hardware Revisions in a Year35:08 Firmware Velocity & Observability with Memfault43:42 Health Tech Meets Regulation47:55 Shared Codebases & Fast Iteration Across Products50:39 Building the Machines That Build the Rings54:34 Responsible AI & The Future of Health Wearables56:35 Closing Reflections & Key Takeaways
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In today’s Coredump Session, we sit down with Nico Comier, CTO of reMarkable, to explore the journey from early-stage startup to global brand. Nico shares insights on scaling engineering teams, balancing technical credibility with leadership responsibilities, and what it really takes to bring a hardware product to market. From the pressures of product launches to the importance of customer connection, this conversation dives into the realities of building impactful technology.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to reMarkable and Nico's Journey
04:21 The Path to CTO: Insights and Experiences
07:21 Technical Leadership and Staying Relevant
10:03 Understanding Customer Needs in Tech Leadership
13:00 The Launch of Paper Pro Move: A Major Achievement
15:17 Preparing for Product Launch: Challenges and Strategies
18:07 Balancing Agile and Waterfall in Product Development
21:04 Product Decision-Making: Insights from the Paper Pro Move
23:39 Navigating Challenges in Hardware Development
26:30 Final Thoughts on Product Launch and Future Directions
29:30 The Importance of Hypercare Post-Launch
35:44 Scaling a Startup: Lessons Learned
39:41 Building Cross-Functional Teams
47:13 The Role of Firmware in Product Development
50:48 Integrating Accessibility and Customer Feedback
57:02 Leadership and Team Dynamics
01:00:00 Outro
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In today’s Coredump Session, we explore the rise of kids safe tech with leaders from the GABB team, creators of connected devices designed specifically for children. From designing products that prioritize child safety to integrating AI in ways that support families, this conversation unpacks the complexities of building secure, intuitive technology for the next generation. The team also shares real-world lessons on hardware partnerships, customer trust, and what it takes to innovate responsibly in the IoT space.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Teasers & Intro
04:46 Understanding Kids Safe Tech
10:25 The Role of Partnerships in Product Development
14:59 Navigating AI in Product Design
20:20 Balancing Needs of Kids and Parents
28:14 Ensuring Security in Kids Tech
32:31 Celebrating Advocacy and Security Solutions
33:45 Navigating Privacy in Child Analytics
37:30 Product Development Cycle and Timelines
41:31 Balancing Current and Future Product Development
45:53 Sustaining Products Amid New Launches
48:37 Customer-Centric Approach in Product Maintenance
52:42 Firmware Versioning Challenges and Strategies
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In today’s Coredump Session, the team takes a hard look at why some IoT projects stall before they ever hit scale. From organizational missteps to product-market fit challenges, they explore the hidden forces that derail even technically sound products. You’ll hear candid insights on why being “connected” isn’t enough—and what it really takes to succeed in IoT today.
Key Takeaways
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to IoT Challenges
01:54 Afzal’s Journey in IoT & Early Expectations
04:11 The 500K SIM Card Mirage
08:10 Why IoT Projects Stall: Internal Resistance & Misaligned Incentives
14:25 Rethinking the “IoT” Label: Lessons from Pebble
17:28 When Good Tech Still Fails: The Organizational Blindspot
20:43 Field Reality Check: Why Real-World Feedback is Critical
26:00 Who Owns It? Accountability After Launch
29:07 Designing for Fault Tolerance in Connected Devices
32:52 Fragmentation in IoT: Meeting Diverse Customer Needs
37:27 Niche Focus as a Winning Strategy
39:57 What IoT Can Learn from AI’s Go-to-Market Playbook
44:42 Drivers for Success in the IoT Space
47:14 The Future of IoT: Regulation, Trust & E-Waste
50:32 Final Reflections on Long-Term Ownership & Customer Impact
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In today's Coredump Session, we dive into the fascinating world of building Edge AI models that truly work in real-world environments. Joined by David Tischler, Developer Program Manager, and Alessandro Grande, Head of Product at Edge Impulse (A Qualcomm Company), we unpack what it takes to deploy AI on tiny devices, explore practical applications from wearables to industrial use cases, and discuss why customization, hardware choices, and continuous monitoring are critical for success. Tune in to explore how Edge AI is transforming device development and enabling smarter solutions.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Teasers: Edge AI's Real-World Promise01:57 Meet Our Guests: David Tischler & Alessandro Grande from Edge Impulse05:19 How Edge AI Took Off: From Hyped to Essential09:21 Beyond Voice Commands: Emerging AI Use Cases12:02 Defining the Edge: Wearables to Factories19:09 AI's Hidden Superpower: Customization and Fine-Tuning26:15 Why AI Belongs at the Edge: Latency, Privacy, and Power28:38 Building the Software Stack: Edge AI for Embedded Engineers34:17 Choosing Your Hardware: Constraints and AI Accelerators45:42 Observability and OTA Updates: Essential for Edge AI52:28 Audience Q&A: Fine-Tuning, TinyML, and the Future
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In today's Coredump Session, we delve into the evolving landscape of cellular connectivity, particularly focusing on eSIM technology and its implications for IoT devices. The discussion features insights from industry experts on the challenges and opportunities presented by cellular connectivity, the cost considerations for device makers, and the technological advancements that are shaping the future of connectivity. Key themes include the vision behind Kigen, the role of SIM technology, emerging business models, and best practices for managing device connectivity and profiles.
Key Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Teasers
03:54 The Vision Behind Kigen
06:36 Challenges and Opportunities in Connectivity
09:09 Cost Considerations in Cellular Technology
12:01 Innovative Business Models for Device Makers
14:46 Understanding SIM Technology
17:22 The Future of iSIM and SoftSIM20:19 Global Considerations for Cellular Products
30:25 Navigating IoT Network Choices
33:41 Choosing the Right Cellular Technology
36:56 Understanding eSIM and Network Management
42:05 Optimizing Device Connectivity and Provisioning
47:43 Key Considerations for New Device Makers
54:42 Outro
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In today's Coredump Session, François and Chris share a major milestone in Memfault’s journey: Memfault is joining forces with Nordic Semiconductor. They’re joined by Kjetil Holstad from Nordic to explore Nordic’s history, how the acquisition came to be, and the exciting future they envision together. Along the way, they dive into the evolution of Bluetooth, the challenges of building complex embedded systems, and why developer experience is at the heart of it all.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Teasers & Intro
02:59 The Origin Story of Nordic Semiconductor
06:11 The Evolution of Bluetooth Technology at Nordic
09:40 Bold Decisions and Learning from the Market
14:24 Nordic's Commitment to Developers and Software
17:32 The Shift Towards Software in IoT
20:04 Embracing Complexity: The Future of Nordic's SDKs
20:55 Understanding Trust Zone and Embedded Systems
21:46 The Importance of Strategic Partnerships
22:30 Building Relationships in the Tech Industry
25:09 The Value of Collaboration and Integration
27:38 Enhancing Developer Experience through Integration
32:24 Announcing the Partnership and Future Vision
33:07 Creating a Chip to Cloud Platform
36:05 Supporting Non-Nordic Devices and Ecosystem Expansion
39:10 Reactions to the Acquisition Announcement
44:58 Q&A
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In today's Coredump Session, we explore the wild early days of Pebble and what it takes to scale a hardware startup against industry giants. From scrappy hackathons to 100+ person engineering teams, Kean Wong, former VP of Software at Pebble and now CTO at Igor, joins Memfault’s François and Chris to unpack how startups can outpace Big Tech by staying nimble, hiring wisely, and embracing constant change.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Today’s Topic
06:00 Lessons from Scaling Teams at Pebble
12:00 Chaos, Structure, and Growing as a Startup
18:00 Building Process Without Killing Agility
24:00 Hiring Smart in Fast-Growth Environments
30:00 From Product Complexity to Organizational Change
36:00 Staying Productive Through Engineering Transitions
42:00 Applying Startup Lessons in Larger Organizations
48:00 What Kean’s Building Now at Eagor
54:00 Live Q&A and Closing Thoughts
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In today’s Coredump Session, we dive into the origins and evolution of Zephyr RTOS with Kate Stewart, VP of Dependable Embedded Systems at the Linux Foundation. From Intel’s early ambitions to a thriving global community, Kate unpacks how Zephyr grew into a leading open-source RTOS and what makes it uniquely resilient and developer-friendly. This conversation also explores the technical shifts shaping embedded development and how governance, safety, and collaboration continue to steer Zephyr’s trajectory.
Speakers:
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
04:12 Building Zephyr: Intel’s Open RTOS Bet
06:39 Governance That Guards Against Capture
08:10 Borrowing From Linux, Avoiding Its Baggage
09:41 What Makes Zephyr Different
13:55 Zephyr in Production: LTS and Real-World Adoption
16:15 Scaling with Twister and QEMU
18:15 Taming Complexity Without Losing Performance
35:45 SBOMs and the Future of Compliance
38:20 A Head Start on Security Standards
43:02 Inside Zephyr's Safety Certification Journey
46:44 Real-World Use Cases and Industry Uptake
50:25 What's Next for Zephyr and the RTOS Landscape
53:12 Final Reflections and Closing Thoughts
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In today's Coredump Session, we dive into the evolving landscape of IoT security regulations with Giovanni Alberto Falcione, CTO at Exine. From the impact of the EU's CRA to the complexities of OTA updates, Giovanni, François, and Thomas unpack what these new requirements mean for product engineers and how to navigate the increasingly stringent security landscape.
Speakers:
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction02:30 The Unseen Costs of Cybersecurity Regulation04:40 OTA Updates: Security Savior or Hidden Risk07:21 CRA vs. Other Regulations: What Matters Most10:30 The Rise of Runtime Security Monitoring12:23 Why Manufacturers Are Freaking Out About CRA15:09 The Hidden Cost of Legacy Firmware17:30 Inside the Automotive Cybersecurity Playbook21:22 eBPF: The Next Frontier in IoT Security55:38 Coffee Machines, Coffee Attacks, and Unexpected Entry Points
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In today's Coredump Session, we dive into a wide-ranging conversation about the intersection of AI, open source, and embedded systems with the teams from Memfault and Goliath. From the evolution of AI at the edge to the emerging role of large language models (LLMs) in firmware development, the panel explores where innovation is happening today — and where expectations still outpace reality. Listen in as they untangle the practical, the possible, and the hype shaping the future of IoT devices.
Speakers:
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Teasers & Welcome
01:10 Meet the Panel: Memfault x Golioth
02:56 Why AI at the Edge Isn’t Actually New
05:33 The Real Use Cases for AI in Embedded Devices
08:07 How Much Chaos Are You Willing to Introduce?
11:19 Edge AI vs. Cloud AI: Where It’s Working Today
13:50 LLMs in Embedded: Promise vs. Reality
17:16 Why Hardware Can’t Keep Up with AI’s Pace
20:15 Building Unique Models When Public Datasets Fail
36:14 Open Source’s Big Moment (and What Comes Next)
42:49 Will AI Kill Open Source Contributions?
49:30 How AI Could Change Software Supply Chains
52:24 How to Stay Relevant as an Engineer in the AI Era
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In today’s Coredump Session, the team reunites to unpack the behind-the-scenes lessons from their time building firmware at Pebble. This episode dives into the risks, decisions, and sheer grit behind a near-disastrous OTA update—and the ingenious hack that saved a million smartwatches. It’s a candid look at the intersection of rapid development, firmware stability, and real-world consequences.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Teasers & Welcome
01:22 Why Pebble’s Firmware Was Open (and Unsigned)
05:01 The Security Tradeoffs That Enabled Speed
11:00 The OTA Bug That Could Have Bricked Everything
15:26 Hacking Our Way Out with BLE Stack Overflow
17:47 Lessons Learned: Test Automation & Static Analysis
26:30 How Pebble Built a Developer Ecosystem
29:56 CloudPebble, Watchface Generator & Developer Tools
42:55 Backporting Pebble 3.0 to Legacy Hardware
49:02 The Bootloader Rewrite & Other Wild Optimizations
53:31 Simulators, Robot Arms & Debugging in CI56:40 Firmware Signing, Anti-Rollback & Secure Update
1:06:10 Coding in Rust? What We’d Do Differently Today
1:08:28 Where to Start with Open Source Pebble Development
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In today’s Coredump Session, we zoom in on the rapidly evolving world of cellular IoT—what’s working, what’s changing, and what developers should know. With expert insight from Fabien Korheim of ONES, the conversation breaks down MVNOs vs MNOs, dives into certification hurdles, explores connectivity trade-offs like NB-IoT vs LTE-M, and unpacks why cellular is quietly powering more devices than you think. Whether you're building metering devices or baby monitors, this one hits the full stack—from tech to business models.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Teasers & Intro02:34 MVNO vs MNO: What’s the Difference?06:28 Certifications, SIMs & Simplifying Deployment12:31 NB-IoT, LTE-M, LoRaWAN & Satellite—Explained23:43 5G for IoT: Hype or Here?27:14 Top Use Cases: Meters, Trackers & Wildlife33:28 The Big Opportunity: Cellular in Consumer Devices36:33 Business Models: Who Pays for Cellular?37:49 Getting Started: Kits, SIMs & Copy-Paste Firmware41:59 Common Mistakes & What to Watch in the Field47:15 What to Measure: Observability That Scales49:13 Q&A: Prioritization, Firmware Updates, RedCap & More
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In today’s Coredump Session, we dive into the fast-evolving world of Edge AI and its real implications for device makers. From robots that detect humans to welding machines that hear errors, we explore the rise of intelligent features at the hardware level. The conversation spans practical tools, common developer traps, and why on-device AI might be the most underrated revolution in embedded systems today.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Teasers & Intro02:57 What Is Edge AI Anyway?06:42 Tiny Models, Tiny Devices, Big Impact10:15 The Hardware Leap: From M4 to M55 + U5515:21 Real-World Use Cases: From ECGs to Welding Bots17:47 Spec’ing Your Hardware for AI24:15 Firmware + Inference Frameworks: How It Actually Works26:07 Why Data Is the Hard Part34:21 Where Edge AI Will—and Won’t—Take Off First37:40 Hybrid Edge + Cloud Models40:38 Business Model Shifts: AI as a Service44:20 Live Q&A: Compatibility, Labeling, On-Device Training56:48 Final Advice: Think of AI as Part of the Product
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REGISTER FOR PART 2 OF THE PEBBLE CONVERSATION ON APRIL 15TH
In this episode of Coredump, three former Pebble engineers reunite to dive deep into the technical quirks, philosophies, and brilliant hacks behind Pebble OS. From crashing on purpose to building a single codebase that powered every watch, they share war stories, bugs, and what made Pebble’s firmware both rare and remarkable. If you love embedded systems, software-forward thinking, or startup grit— this one’s for you.
Key topics:
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Teasers & Intro01:10 Meet the Team: Pebble Engineers Reunite01:13 Meet the Hosts + Why Pebble Still Matters03:47 Why Open-Sourcing Pebble OS Is a Big Deal06:20 The Startup Firmware Mentality08:44 One OS, All Devices: Pebble’s Platform Bet12:30 App Compatibility and the KEMU Emulator14:51 Sandboxing, Syscalls, and Crashing with Grace20:25 Pebble File System: Built from Scratch (and Why)23:32 From Dumb to Smart: The Iterative Codebase Ethos26:09 Core Dumps: Crashing Is a Feature30:45 How Firmware Shaped Hardware Decisions33:56 Rust, Easter Eggs, and Favorite Bugs36:09 Wear-Level Failures, Security Exploits & Font Hacks39:42 Why We Chose WAF (and Regret Nothing?)42:41 What We’d Do Differently Next Time47:00 Final Q&A: Open Hardware, Protocols, and Part Two?
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In today’s Coredump Session, the team dives deep into the world of over-the-air (OTA) updates—why they matter, how they break, and what it takes to get them right. From horror stories involving IR updates in a snowstorm to best practices for deploying secure firmware across medical devices, this conversation covers the full stack of OTA: device, cloud, process, and people. It's equal parts cautionary tale and technical masterclass.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Teasers & Intro
03:29 Meet the Guests + OTA Gut Reactions
05:33 Why OTA Is Non-Negotiable
03:29 The OTA Wake-Up Call: Why You Need It
09:31 Building OTA into Hardware from Day One
16:49 Cloud-Side OTA: Cohorts, Load, and Timing
21:53 OTA in Regulated Industries
30:10 When OTA Breaks Itself
34:44 Minimizing OTA Risk: The Defensive Playbook
41:18 OTA and the Matter Standard
47:17 Networking Stacks, Constraints, and Reliability
51:11 Security, Scale, and the OTA Future
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In today’s Coredump Session, we unpack the full story of Bluetooth—from its PDA-era beginnings to its rising role in cloud-connected devices. With insights from Memfault’s Chris Coleman and François Baldassari, along with Blecon’s Simon Ford, this wide-ranging conversation explores how Bluetooth Low Energy has evolved, where it thrives (and doesn’t), and why it’s often the right tool, even if it’s not a perfect one. Expect history, hot takes, and practical guidance for building better Bluetooth-powered products.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Teasers & Intro
01:10 Meet the Guests: Bluetooth Roots at Pebble, Fitbit, and Blecon
06:51 BLE’s Breakthrough: The iPhone 4S Moment
10:22 BLE vs Classic: Why It Took Off
14:39 Specs That Shifted Everything: Packet Length, Coded PHY & LE Audio
21:41 Is BLE Still Interoperable? And Does It Matter?
28:22 The BLE Cloud Puzzle: Gateways, Phones & Golden Gate
38:40 BLE’s Sweet Spot: Power, Latency & When It Just Works
47:12 Operating BLE Devices in the Wild: What to Track & Why
57:40 Mesh Ambitions vs Reality
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In today's Coredump Session, Memfault’s François Baldassari and Chris Coleman unpack the sweeping impact of new IoT security regulations like the CRA and the Cyber Trust Mark. From shocking real-world exploits to smart compliance strategies, they explore what these changes mean for hardware teams and the future of connected devices. If you ship firmware or build IoT products, this one’s essential listening.
Key takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Episode Teasers & Intro
01:03 Meet the Hosts: François and Chris from Memfault
03:40 Why IoT Security Is Still So Behind
07:15 Vulnerabilities, Legacy Chips, and Who’s to Blame
10:12 Wireless Protocols: Still a Huge Attack Surface
13:28 If You Ship Without OTA, You're Asking for Trouble
20:50 Introducing the CRA and Cyber Trust Mark
23:38 What the CRA Actually Requires
31:45 Reconciling Security Monitoring with GDPR
34:07 Cyber Trust Mark vs CRA: US vs EU Approaches
41:05 What You Can Do Today to Prepare
46:33 How Long Do You Have to Support a Device?
52:19 Attack Surfaces: Even a Projector Isn't Safe
56:06 Lifecycle Support and Product Lifespan Realities
58:51 Observability in Low-Resource Devices
1:00:34 Connected Architectures & Multichip Compliance
1:01:43 IoT Devices with Limited Bandwidth & OTA Constraints
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