The Art of Manufacturing
$9 billion and a million miles away: we get a special behind-the-scenes tour of NASA’s most ambitious and risky project ever.
info_outline Hydroswarm: Preeti BattacharyyaThe Art of Manufacturing
An underwater roboticist is determined to map the 70% of our globe covered in water. But exploring our oceans is much harder than you think.
info_outline Knock Knock: Jen BilikThe Art of Manufacturing
Comedy isn’t always easy: one entrepreneur has learned some tough lessons manufacturing irreverent gifts that don’t meet everyone’s tastes.
info_outline Lumi: Jesse Genet [encore]The Art of Manufacturing
Packaging should be your secret weapon, and this episode will show you how.
info_outline Desktop Metal: Ric Fulop, Jonah Myerberg & Andy RobertsThe Art of Manufacturing
Meet the 3D printing company that might totally change how we manufacture, design, and even develop products.
info_outline SmartyPants Vitamins: Courtney Nichols Gould [encore]The Art of Manufacturing
Amazon is eating the world! A wellness entrepreneur shares her secrets to launching a consumer product in today’s complex retail environment in this rebroadcast episode.
info_outline Tulip Interfaces: Rony Kubat & Erik MirandetteThe Art of Manufacturing
Digitizing the factory isn’t always easy. A former counter-intelligence officer and former reality TV star, both manufacturing nerds, talk about how they hope to bring modern data tools, the Internet of Things, and Lean Manufacturing to every factory floor.
info_outline David Charlot: Charlot BiosciencesThe Art of Manufacturing
We meet a bioengineering startup with a groundbreaking new tool that might change the way we identify and treat disease.
info_outline Wiivv: Shamil Hargovan and Chris BellamyThe Art of Manufacturing
A startup builds custom, on-demand 3D printed shoes and gives a glimpse of what innovation might look like in the future.
info_outline Micki Krimmel: Superfit HeroThe Art of Manufacturing
Roller derby inspires a body-positive athletic fashion brand that’s just hitting a tipping point. Though finding a factory that will take her business has gotten easier, the real challenges have just begun!
info_outlineComedy isn’t always easy: this entrepreneur has learned some tough lessons manufacturing irreverent gifts that don’t meet everyone’s tastes.
This week we’re speaking with Jen Bilik, the founder and CEO of Knock Knock. With a name like that, you might guess there is some humor involved—and you’d be right. Knock Knock is known for their funny and often blue gifts and books.
But she has to deal with risk-averse retailers and easily offended consumers. Not to mention the pot-smoking hippie manufacturing broker that bilked them out of millions of dollars in their early years. And crying employees. Jen started out as a “reluctant businesswoman” and she’s very candid about her mistakes. She shares some useful lessons about growing a company and bringing a little humor into your business.
Links and social handles:
Website for all three companies (Who’s There Group): http://thewhostheregroup.com/
This is [NOT] L.A. book: http://ThisIsNotLA.com/
Knock Knock on Instagram and Twitter: @knockknock
Also, follow Jen on Instagram @jenbilik (mostly pictures of her dog, Paco), on Twitter @JenBilik (to which she never posts), and on Facebook.
For more information, bios, and links, check out the show notes at http://makeitinla.org/knockknock