What is your name, title, and role at your company?
Wouter Potman, COO, Head of Business Development USA
What does your company do?
Sento is a startup created by hardware entrepreneurs for hardware entrepreneurs. We create agile and flexible electronic design and assembly solutions focused on startups. We understand the reality of startups, which is accelerated and constantly changing. That’s why we have positioned ourselves to produce small and medium batch sizes, with maximum support from our team to the startups. We do this out of a duty-free zone next to the Medellín International Airport in Colombia, which allows us to compete competitively.
What are some neat projects that your company is currently working on?
Currently we are working on Kiwibot, a robot revolutionizing last-mile delivery on campuses in the United States. It is a device that integrates Artificial Intelligence, IoT, analytics, autonomy and state-of-the-art mechanics to achieve a unique experience in the interaction of people with these adorable robots.
Next to that we are enjoying a collaboration with Intake health, a former RAP (RIoT Accelerator Program) alumni, from North Carolina, which have developed a small medical device to monitor athletes’ hydration levels via noninvasive urine checking. They have actually got some really cool customers in the NFL!
My home country and Europe is represented currently by Orbisk. Orbisk helps professional kitchens to get a grip on their food waste. With the help of image recognition, Orbisk automatically recognizes what kind of food is thrown away, in what quantity, and at what time of the day. You can see this data in a clear dashboard, which you can use to prevent food waste in a way that suits your kitchen and process!
How would you describe your company’s culture?
I would say we have a typical startup culture with open communication and a very flat hierarchy. This is benefitting autonomy, creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills. We think our team members and their well-being are extremely important to perform as a team and therefore we share responsibilities and we offer opportunities. Our whole assembly line team has been in English classes since the beginning of 2022.
How does your company differentiate itself from your competitors?
As a result of the hardware development movement, it has never been easier to build your hardware. However, the industry that is needed to scale your product from one, to a few hundred, to many has been standing still and is characterized as being slow and complex. The traditional contract manufacturers don’t think like startups and won’t offer them the flexibility, simplicity, speed, and agility they need in their early stages.
If you could see anyone in concert, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
I would opt for Van Morrison. One of the fines singer-songwriters of all time. Although people say he can be grumpy at concerts, I saw him once in Amsterdam where he was definitely in a good mood and left a sold-out house in awe with his 18-piece band. I have never seen any performance like that, would love to sense that feeling once more!
Is there anything additional you would like to share about your company?
Do you experience cashflow challenges? Is your product not 100% ready, but you need to put in the market right now? Are you concerned about the IP risks in doing business with China? Are you worried about international logistics in general and the far east in particular? If you face any of these common hardware startup problems or similar, don’t hesitate to contact me for a (virtual) cup of Coffee!
Connect with Sento
Connect with Wouter Potman