From Engineer to Entrepreneur: Bartek Kling’s IoT Journey | The IoT Podcast with needCode's CEO

Apr 17, 2025

Bartek Kling, CEO and founder of NeedCode, shares his fascinating journey from embedded engineer in the automotive industry to tech entrepreneur. He discusses the critical role of client relationships and the importance of sales and marketing in building his startup. Bartek highlights strategies for team growth through networking and addresses common customer pain points. Additionally, he delves into the future of IoT, emphasizing the need for quality, security, and innovative edge computing solutions.

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ANECDOTE

Engineer to CEO Journey

Bartek transitioned from embedded engineer to CEO by helping startups build IoT prototypes on Upwork.
His network and opportunities allowed him to grow NeedCode from one person to 30 in six years.

ADVICE

Master Sales and Context Switching

Focus on learning marketing and sales skills to succeed as a tech founder.
Balance context switching between engineering, administration, sales, and marketing to maintain quality and enjoyment.

INSIGHT

Boutique Firm Advantage

Smaller companies like NeedCode can offer deeper client and engineer engagement than large consultancies.
Building long-term relationships and asking tough questions differentiate NeedCode from project-focused firms.

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What does it really take to go from writing code to running a company in the fast-moving world of IoT? What happens when a seasoned embedded engineer decides to build a company from scratch?

In this episode of The IoT Podcast Show, host Tom White sits down with Bartek Kling, CEO and founder of NeedCode, a company specialising in embedded software services for connected devices.

Bartek shares his journey from being a hands-on embedded engineer in the automotive sector to launching and scaling his own successful tech startup.

He opens up about the reality of stepping into a leadership role, the unexpected importance of sales and marketing, the art of building long-term client relationships and how NeedCode has carved out a space in a competitive market by focusing on Bluetooth Low Energy and full-cycle product development.

Whether you're building the next big IoT product or just want a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to lead in this space, this episode delivers real insights, lessons learned, and a forward-looking view of the industry.

Chapters...

00:00 Introduction to Bartek Kling and needCode
03:43 Bartek's Journey from Engineer to CEO
09:19 Transitioning from Freelancing to Founding NeedCode
12:24 Challenges of Being a Founder and CEO
14:39 Differentiating NeedCode in the Market
16:36 Plans for Scaling NeedCode
19:09 Capabilities and Offerings of NeedCode
23:35 Common Customer Pain Points
26:44 Building a Talent Network for Growth
30:03 Future Trends in IoT
34:24 Security and Privacy in IoT Devices
37:09 Conclusion and Where to Find NeedCode

The episode is live on all major listening platforms now! Listen here: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast

Connect with our guest… https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartek-kling/

About needCode

needCode is a European IoT development company that specialises in creating smart product solutions, embedded software, and AI-powered IoT systems. They help businesses design, secure, and optimise connected products while offering strategic support and staff augmentation to bring innovative ideas to market.

Find out more: https://needcode.io/

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Connect with host Tom White: / tom5values