How a $200 Doorbell Became a $4B Business
The hosts interview Ring founder Jamie Sibanoff about building the smart doorbell company, navigating a near-fatal lawsuit with ADT during acquisition negotiations, and ultimately selling to Amazon for $1.15 billion. Jamie explains his problem-first invention philosophy, hiring and leadership approach, and why he sees Ring as a mission-driven company focused on making neighborhoods safer. He also describes his 'snowball' method for developing ideas, his obsession with solving the global bug problem, and his long-term project revitalizing the small town of LaBelle, Missouri.
Advice Line with Chet Pipkin of Belkin International
This Advice Line episode of How I Built This Lab features Belkin founder Chet Pipkin helping three early-stage entrepreneurs work through practical business challenges. They discuss adoption and positioning for dissolvable shampoo tablets, inventory and cash-flow planning for a fast-selling sports accessory, and how a massage tool company can expand into B2B and corporate wellness markets. Throughout, Chet shares lessons from building Belkin around solving real problems, managing capital constraints, and relying on grassroots demand instead of top-down sales pushes.