How community is the backbone of a hardware-services business model
Christina Perla, CEO of Makelab and Nate Padgett, Cofounder & Partner of Informal sit down at Makelab HQ in Brooklyn to share insights and experiences in building a successful freelance collective that focuses on hardware and product development for startups and companies.
How treating employees as a part of the community create more committed environments;
How Informal seeks to solve the problem of complex hardware and product development;
The journey of building a freelance collective.
Watch some of the best and most insightful moments below!
Nate Padgett is a hardware community enthusiast and co-founder of informal. He brings over a decade of experience in community building, marketing, and strategy. With a passion for hardware, startups, and manufacturing, Nate has played key roles at Keen Home Inc., Quirky, and TechShop, demonstrating his commitment to fostering innovation and building meaningful connections within the industry.
In today's episode of Talking Design Engineering, Nate Pedgett, co-founder and partner of Informal, joins as a guest. Nate shares his insights and experiences in building a successful freelance collective that focuses on hardware and product development for startups and companies.
Nate emphasizes the importance of thinking about a business and its employees as a community. By treating employees as part of a community, the dynamics and interactions change, resulting in a more personal and committed environment. This commitment extends beyond just making money; it includes a greater purpose and a commitment to the community.
The conversation then shifts to the challenges of hardware and product development, which are traditionally resource-heavy and complex processes. Nate explains that Informal addresses these challenges by providing a variety of services, from engineering and manufacturing to industrial design and performance marketing. The freelance collective model allows clients to access the expertise they need without the hassle of managing contractors, while Informal takes care of the back-end HR processes.
Nate also shares his journey as a founder, starting with his transition from freelancing to building Informal. He highlights the importance of building a brand and entity, which enhances credibility and positions Informal as more than just individuals working with companies. Nate reflects on the evolution of Informal, from smaller projects in the beginning to larger, more comprehensive teams and clients today.
The conversation delves into the significance of community in Nate's career. He recounts his early experiences in community management at SoundCloud and Quirky, which fueled his passion for community building. Nate also discusses the role of community in Informal, emphasizing the importance of building a high-functioning hardware team and fostering a sense of commitment and purpose.
The discussion takes a turn as Nate shares his experiences with TechShop, a national network of maker spaces. He describes the challenges and lessons learned from his time at TechShop, which ultimately shaped his approach to community building and entrepreneurship.
In conclusion, Nate offers three main takeaways for the audience. First, he highlights the exciting opportunities in hardware and the importance of starting a hardware business to tackle the world's challenges. Second, he emphasizes the value of building a community, as it makes the journey easier and more fulfilling. Finally, he encourages freelancing as an on-ramp to entrepreneurship, offering valuable lessons and skill development.
Overall, Nate's insights provide valuable guidance for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and anyone interested in the world of hardware and community building. With a focus on commitment, community, and continuous learning, Nate's journey exemplifies the power of collaboration and the potential for success in the hardware industry.
