“Launching & Scaling the Anti-Smartphone: A Founder’s Journey with Kaiwei Tang”

Join us for an exclusive workshop featuring Kaiwei Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Light, as he shares his entrepreneurial journey in launching and scaling the Light Phone — a minimalist device designed to combat smartphone addiction. With a background in designing for industry giants like Motorola, BlackBerry, and Nokia, Kaiwei ventured into the startup world to create a product that challenges the status quo of constant connectivity.

Workshop Highlights:

• Bootstrapping a Hard-tech Startup: Learn how Kaiwei navigated the challenges of self-funding and resource management in the early stages of Light.

• Designing for Disconnection: Understand the philosophy behind creating a device that encourages users to disconnect and live in the moment.

• Scaling Strategies: Gain insights into how Light transitioned from a niche product to gaining mainstream attention, including their successful crowdfunding campaigns and media coverage.

• Lessons in Venture Building: Explore the unique aspects of building a consumer hardtech startup, from product development to market fit, and how these lessons can be applied to your own ventures.

About the Speaker:

Kaiwei Tang’s career spans over a decade in the mobile phone industry, having contributed to the design and development of numerous devices for leading brands. His desire to create meaningful products led him to co-found Light, where he focuses on designing technology that respects user attention and promotes a healthier digital lifestyle. Kaiwei holds an MBA and a Master of Design, blending business acumen with design thinking to drive innovation.

Background links:
https://id.iit.edu/story/kaiwei-tang-wants-to-free-you-from-your-smartphone-habit/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OctdxMxSYU
https://www.thelightphone.com

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The NYU Entrepreneurial Institute provides reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Requests for accommodations for events and services should be submitted at least two weeks before the date of the accommodation need. Please email [email protected] for assistance.
NOTE: THIS EVENT IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT NYU STUDENTS, FACULTY, & STAFF. EACH ATTENDEE WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN IN WITH THEIR NYU ID CARD