Sam Holland (Co-Founder, Informal)

Sam Holland, co-founder of Informal, joins Jim to talk about how a hands-on approach to building led him from early 3D printing and MakerBot to helping companies bring real products to life. What started as curiosity turned into a career built on experimenting and learning directly from the manufacturing process.

They get into the messy reality of hardware, from the gap between prototype and production to the importance of communication, proximity, and experience when working with suppliers. Sam breaks down why most projects fail in execution, not ideas, and how Informal helps teams move faster by connecting them with the right people at the right time.

Sam talks about what it takes to get started today and why building real things early matters more than credentials, and how accessible tools have changed the landscape for hardware founders.