EPISODE 17
Water‑tech pioneer Ravi Kurani explains how a floating pool‑chemistry robot became the ultimate hardware moat, why proprietary water data unlocks service marketplaces, and where trillion‑dollar opportunities lie at the water‑energy nexus. He recounts two years on Shenzhen factory floors perfecting Sutro, selling the startup before mass production, and now plotting to buy it back to tackle agriculture, cooling towers, and AI data centers. Hosts Jason Shafton and Kevin Henrikson unpack story‑driven design, founder persistence, and the future of “smart” water.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – From Pools to Robotics: Ravi’s origin story
03:44 – Hardware Moats & Proprietary Water Data
07:11 – Sutro as the “Nest Cam” for Your Pool
09:01 – Water as Tech’s Next Trillion‑Dollar Frontier
16:36 – Founder Mode in China: Two Years on the Factory Floor
LINKS
Connect with Ravi
Sutro • Liquid Assets Podcast • LinkedIn • X/Twitter
Stay Connected with Founder Mode
Subscribe to our newsletter: foundermode.kit.com
Connect with Kevin
Connect with Jason
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