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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices