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Episode 11: Cuby is creating the Factory that builds the Homes. These factories can generate 1 home per day, but instead of building the homes themselves, Cuby works with local operators who produce and sell the pre-fabricated homes.

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(00:00) - Intro

(00:28) - Cuby is Building the Factory That Builds Homes

(02:11) - Cuby Builds Better Tools for Home Builders

(04:39) - How Cuby's Mobile Micro Factories Enable Home Building with Less Skilled Labor

(07:06) - The Performance and Cost Advantages of Cuby's Approach

(09:54) - Who Normally Builds Homes - Developers, General Contractors, Subcontractors

(13:02) - How Cuby Replaces Skilled Labor with Unskilled Labor

(16:19) - Cuby's 3-Tiered Master Plan - From White Label Factories to an Iconic Brand

(19:56) - The Challenges of Explaining Cuby's Full Stack Approach

(21:14) - People - Who Works at Cuby's Job Sites vs. Traditional Construction

(25:48) - Process - Enabling Home Customization Within a Standardized System

(29:07) - How Software Guides Workers Through Simple, Repeatable Operations

(32:15) - Dynamically Generating Instructions and Tasks Based on the Home Design

(35:44) - Push vs. Pull and Just-in-Time Manufacturing Across Many Simultaneous Homes

(38:39) - The Advantages of Localized Manufacturing and Familiar Materials

(40:52) - Designing the Ideal Factory Process and Iterating Based on Real World Learnings

(44:28) - Using Data and Metrics to Constantly Improve Efficiency

(46:11) - Technology - Building Proprietary Machines and Tooling for Key Processes

(49:36) - Making vs. Buying Components Based on Customization, Cost and Warranty Factors

(52:17) - Why Cuby Believes 3D Printing is Not Yet the Solution for Home Building

(54:59) - Cuby's Technical Readiness Level and Roadmap

(57:06) - Expanding from Single Family Homes to Other Building Types

(59:13) - Strong Traction and Demand from the Housing Ecosystem

(01:02:19) - Scaling Production with a Mass Manufacturing "Papa Factory"

(01:04:10) - The Independent Nature of Each Factory Enables Efficient Scaling

(01:05:53) - Fundraising to Fuel Expansion and Transition to Debt Financing

(01:08:34) - The Climate Tech Angle and Economics as Sustainability Driver

(01:09:50) - Key Milestones for the Next Fundraise

(01:10:37) - Conclusion - Revolutionizing Home Building from the Ground Up

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Links:

• Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
• Aleh Kandrashou - https://x.com/AKandrashou
• Aleksandr Gampel - https://x.com/agampel1
• Cuby - https://www.cubytechnologies.com/

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Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm

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Episode 10: Impulse Labs has a master plan to revolutionize the grid by building the world’s highest-performance home appliances. They started with a stove. Here’s how it works.

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(00:00) - Introduction

(00:40) - What Impulse is Building - High Performance Home Appliances

(01:40) - The Performance Difference Between Impulse's Stoves and Gas/Normal Induction

(03:24) - How Impulse Enables High Power Without Electrical Upgrades Using Batteries

(06:17) - Volts, Amps, Watts and How They Relate to Home Electrical Systems

(12:23) - Why Impulse Chose the Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Chemistry

(16:40) - The Safety Testing and Certification Process for New Appliances

(18:28) - The Potential of Sodium Ion Batteries

(20:02) - How Batteries in Appliances Can Help Balance Renewable Energy on the Grid
(27:18) - The Physics of How Induction Stoves Heat Pans Without Getting Hot Themselves
(32:33) - How Gallium Nitride Enables Smaller, More Efficient Electronics
(34:18) - Precise Temperature Control Via Induction Current Regulation and Sensors
(37:28) - The Potential for Automated Cooking Routines and Regulatory Limitations
(39:07) - The Process of Finding and Working With a Consumer Electronics Manufacturer
(44:10) - Sending Prototypes Back and Forth and Leveraging the Manufacturer's Expertise
(47:22) - The Huge Potential for Battery-Powered Appliances to Transform the Grid
(50:12) - Taking a Measured, Market-Driven Approach to Electrification vs Gas Stoves
(52:30) - Performance Over Politics in Driving Electrification
(54:15) - Tech Architecture Enabling Rapid New Product Development
(56:40) - Massive Market Opportunity for Home Batteries
(58:50) - Regulatory Standards for Bidirectional Power
(01:00:30) - Cultural Shift to Accelerate Electric Appliance Adoption
(01:02:45) - Building an Iconic High Performance Brand
(01:04:50) - Conclusion and Where to Learn More

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Links:

• Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
• Sam D’Amico - https://twitter.com/sdamico
• Impulse - https://www.impulselabs.com/

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Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm

======

Checkout the video version here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9

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Episode 9: Justin worked at SpaceX and Anduril before starting Base Power, which is aiming to build a modern power company — and an energy trading business on top of it.

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(00:00) - Intro

(00:41) - What Base Power is Building

(03:26) - How Texas' Energy Grid and Market Works

(08:42) - Sponsor Break

(09:28) - Why Batteries are Needed to Support the Grid

(14:09) - Base Power's Unique Battery Deployment Model

(19:35) - Optimizing the Battery System Design

(24:14) - Streamlining the Deployment Process

(29:03) - Build vs Buy Decisions Across the Value Chain

(32:18) - Software Strategy Across Device, Cloud, and Customer

(36:00) - Balancing Customer Needs with Grid Services

(39:06) - Potential for DC Power Distribution in Homes

(40:31) - The Vision for Long-Duration Storage

(43:51) - Scaling Base Power and Driving Costs Down

(48:18) - Defining the Interfaces and Controlling the Value Chain

(52:04) - Advice for Startup Founders and Closing Thoughts

(56:11) - Conclusion

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Links:

• Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
• Justin Lopas – https://twitter.com/JLopas
• Base Power - https://www.basepowercompany.com/

======

Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm

======

Checkout the video version here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9

🔔 Follow to stay updated with new uploads