Building a Smart Kitchen Product With Ome Kitchen's Akshita Iyer

This week we are joined by Akshita Iyer, CEO and co-founder of Ome, a smart kitchen startup that’s revolutionizing home safety with its second-generation smart stove knob. Originally launched under the name Inirv, the company’s journey began with a simple idea born from a personal experience—retrofitting stoves to prevent kitchen fires and help those aging in place. From a 3D-printed prototype in 2016 to delivering their first product through Kickstarter, Iyer shares the highs and challenges of bringing a hardware product to life, including turning down a Shark Tank deal and navigating complex safety standards.

Here's what we discuss in this week's podcast:

• Iyer shares how her mother’s experience with Parkinson’s and a kitchen fire inspired her to start the company.
• The challenges of developing the product, from idea to fully functional smart knob.
• Iyer's Shark Tank experience, including an offer from Robert Herjavec that they chose to decline.
• How Ome Smart Knob prevents fires by automatically shutting off burners, with a focus on helping older adults and those with cognitive decline.
• The UL 858 safety certification and the company’s role in updating industry standards.
• How insurance companies may someday incentivize the adoption of smart safety devices.
• How Ome is working with senior living communities to gather data on reducing cooking-related risks.

You can find out more at Ome Kitchen (www.omekitchen.com).

Join The Spoon this week for a live conversation with two scientists from NotCo on how they are using AI to create new flavors and fragrances.

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