This Week in Startups E1129: Ring Founder Jamie Siminoff on launching the Always Home Cam – an autonomous indoor drone, taking his company from bad reviews to a billion-dollar acquisition by Amazon & more
Oct 23, 2020
Jamie Siminoff, the visionary founder of Ring, discusses his incredible journey from startup struggles to a billion-dollar Amazon acquisition. He reveals how the Always Home Cam, an innovative indoor drone, overcame initial criticism through transformative strategies. The conversation dives into the emotional challenges of entrepreneurship, navigating privacy in surveillance technology, and the exciting implications of LiDAR for future innovations. Siminoff’s insights on balancing tech advancements with ethical considerations shine a light on the evolving landscape of home security.
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Early Ventures
- Jamie Siminoff's early ventures included Phone Tag, a voicemail transcription service.
- He also created Unsubscribe.com, a tool to automate unsubscribing from unwanted emails.
Pop Charger Rejection
- Jason Calacanis initially rejected Siminoff's Pop Charger idea, a charging station with retractable cords.
- Calacanis deemed it unoriginal and unnecessary, telling Siminoff to go "back to the drawing board."
DoorBot's Initial Failure
- DoorBot, the precursor to Ring, received initially brutal Amazon reviews, criticizing its setup and reliability.
- Siminoff was devastated by the negative feedback but persisted due to his commitment to the product.