[whoisjuan]

I don't think this validates this space at all. If your only exit strategy is to get acquired by a big 5 you're already in trouble.

Hardware is pretty freaking hard. Just look at recent examples of public hardware companies: FitBit / GoPro. Both doing like crap, struggling to maintain their grab on the market and looking for acquirers.

Honestly, I think this is a very unattractive sector, at least in this side of the world. Most serious hardware contenders are and will keep coming from China (DJI, Xiaomi, Yi, etc).

[brlewis]

Business is hard, whether it's hardware or software. I think a lot of software-based companies wish they were "doing like crap" the way Fitbit is -- navigating through a couple years of unprofitability using a large pile of cash gained through years of profit.

Disclaimer: I work for Fitbit but speak only for myself.

[tostitos1979]

I've generally been impressed of FitBit's business savvy. They get hw well (keep BOM/per-unit costs under control). It was particularly instructive to see the fate that befell Pebble (glad that fitbit hired a lot of those folks, etc.).