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Mar 31, 2017 · 24m · top-founders

EP 615: $75M Raised, This $15K Machine Folds Your Laundry, $35M 2016 Revenue with Seven Dreamers CEO Shin Sakane

Shin Sakane · 10m spoken Nathan Latka · 10m spoken
0:00 / 0:00

gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

Host Nathan Latka interviews Shin Sakane, CEO of Seven Dreamers Laboratories, discussing how the company reached $35 million in 2016 revenue across custom carbon golf shafts and medical airway stents while raising $75 million to launch Laundroid, a $15,000 laundry-folding robot.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Nathan holds 48.4% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Nathan as informed peer 4.2 Guest teaching 2.7 Guest disagreement 1.0 Nathan pushing back 3.7
05100:0010:0020:002:06–4:45 · Nathan as informed peer 3/10 Seven Dreamers Company History, Vision, and Products Nathan questions the lack of synergy between golf shafts and sleep apnea stents, interrupting Shin briefly to lock down foundational company history and funding figures.4:45–9:20 · Nathan as informed peer 6/10 Carbon Golf Shaft Manufacturing and Unit Economics Nathan calculates gross revenue from unit volume and benchmarks COGS, while Shin explains their automated proprietary carbon manufacturing technology.9:20–13:23 · Nathan as informed peer 5/10 Seven Dreamers 2016 Revenue and Laundroid Development Nathan pushes Shin to disclose the unreleased pricing for the Laundroid robot, offering to keep it off the record until after the scheduled release month.13:23–16:41 · Nathan as informed peer 5/10 Ideation Process, $60M Series B, and Valuation Nathan investigates how physical hardware businesses are valued during funding rounds, prompting Shin to explain their discounted cash flow analysis and margin evaluations.16:41–20:01 · Nathan as informed peer 5/10 2017 Revenue Targets, Marketing Strategy, and Pricing Nathan breaks down monthly revenue across products and presses Shin for exact marketing expenditures and high-end unit sales figures.20:01–22:56 · Nathan as informed peer 1/10 Mid-Roll Sponsor Acuity Scheduling Extended Free Trial Nathan reads a sponsor mid-roll ad and transitions smoothly through the standard Famous Five rapid-fire questions.2:06–4:45 · Guest teaching 3/10 Seven Dreamers Company History, Vision, and Products Nathan questions the lack of synergy between golf shafts and sleep apnea stents, interrupting Shin briefly to lock down foundational company history and funding figures.4:45–9:20 · Guest teaching 4/10 Carbon Golf Shaft Manufacturing and Unit Economics Nathan calculates gross revenue from unit volume and benchmarks COGS, while Shin explains their automated proprietary carbon manufacturing technology.9:20–13:23 · Guest teaching 2/10 Seven Dreamers 2016 Revenue and Laundroid Development Nathan pushes Shin to disclose the unreleased pricing for the Laundroid robot, offering to keep it off the record until after the scheduled release month.13:23–16:41 · Guest teaching 3/10 Ideation Process, $60M Series B, and Valuation Nathan investigates how physical hardware businesses are valued during funding rounds, prompting Shin to explain their discounted cash flow analysis and margin evaluations.16:41–20:01 · Guest teaching 3/10 2017 Revenue Targets, Marketing Strategy, and Pricing Nathan breaks down monthly revenue across products and presses Shin for exact marketing expenditures and high-end unit sales figures.20:01–22:56 · Guest teaching 1/10 Mid-Roll Sponsor Acuity Scheduling Extended Free Trial Nathan reads a sponsor mid-roll ad and transitions smoothly through the standard Famous Five rapid-fire questions.2:06–4:45 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Seven Dreamers Company History, Vision, and Products Nathan questions the lack of synergy between golf shafts and sleep apnea stents, interrupting Shin briefly to lock down foundational company history and funding figures.4:45–9:20 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Carbon Golf Shaft Manufacturing and Unit Economics Nathan calculates gross revenue from unit volume and benchmarks COGS, while Shin explains their automated proprietary carbon manufacturing technology.9:20–13:23 · Guest disagreement 2/10 Seven Dreamers 2016 Revenue and Laundroid Development Nathan pushes Shin to disclose the unreleased pricing for the Laundroid robot, offering to keep it off the record until after the scheduled release month.13:23–16:41 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Ideation Process, $60M Series B, and Valuation Nathan investigates how physical hardware businesses are valued during funding rounds, prompting Shin to explain their discounted cash flow analysis and margin evaluations.16:41–20:01 · Guest disagreement 1/10 2017 Revenue Targets, Marketing Strategy, and Pricing Nathan breaks down monthly revenue across products and presses Shin for exact marketing expenditures and high-end unit sales figures.20:01–22:56 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Mid-Roll Sponsor Acuity Scheduling Extended Free Trial Nathan reads a sponsor mid-roll ad and transitions smoothly through the standard Famous Five rapid-fire questions.2:06–4:45 · Nathan pushing back 3/10 Seven Dreamers Company History, Vision, and Products Nathan questions the lack of synergy between golf shafts and sleep apnea stents, interrupting Shin briefly to lock down foundational company history and funding figures.4:45–9:20 · Nathan pushing back 4/10 Carbon Golf Shaft Manufacturing and Unit Economics Nathan calculates gross revenue from unit volume and benchmarks COGS, while Shin explains their automated proprietary carbon manufacturing technology.9:20–13:23 · Nathan pushing back 6/10 Seven Dreamers 2016 Revenue and Laundroid Development Nathan pushes Shin to disclose the unreleased pricing for the Laundroid robot, offering to keep it off the record until after the scheduled release month.13:23–16:41 · Nathan pushing back 4/10 Ideation Process, $60M Series B, and Valuation Nathan investigates how physical hardware businesses are valued during funding rounds, prompting Shin to explain their discounted cash flow analysis and margin evaluations.16:41–20:01 · Nathan pushing back 4/10 2017 Revenue Targets, Marketing Strategy, and Pricing Nathan breaks down monthly revenue across products and presses Shin for exact marketing expenditures and high-end unit sales figures.20:01–22:56 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Mid-Roll Sponsor Acuity Scheduling Extended Free Trial Nathan reads a sponsor mid-roll ad and transitions smoothly through the standard Famous Five rapid-fire questions.

speaking balance: gold is Nathan, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Nathan 80.1% · guest 19.9%0:00 · Nathan 80.1% · guest 19.9%3:00 · Nathan 35.1% · guest 64.9%3:00 · Nathan 35.1% · guest 64.9%6:00 · Nathan 32.6% · guest 67.4%6:00 · Nathan 32.6% · guest 67.4%9:00 · Nathan 41% · guest 59%9:00 · Nathan 41% · guest 59%12:00 · Nathan 40.2% · guest 59.8%12:00 · Nathan 40.2% · guest 59.8%15:00 · Nathan 26.3% · guest 73.7%15:00 · Nathan 26.3% · guest 73.7%18:00 · Nathan 48% · guest 52%18:00 · Nathan 48% · guest 52%21:00 · Nathan 70.7% · guest 29.3%21:00 · Nathan 70.7% · guest 29.3%24:00 · Nathan 99.4% · guest 0.6%24:00 · Nathan 99.4% · guest 0.6%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 7:34 COGS kept confidential

Shin politely but firmly declines to disclose the exact manufacturing costs for their golf shafts, keeping unit economics confidential.

 Hardest push from Nathan ▶ 12:13 Extracting embargoed launch price

When Shin hesitates to reveal the unreleased Laundroid retail price before March, Nathan insists the recording will air later to extract the $15,000 figure.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 6:48 Correcting retail vs wholesale revenue math

Shin corrects Nathan's simplified unit revenue calculation by clarifying that retail list prices do not equal net sales due to their wholesale distribution channels.

 Nathan holds their own ▶ 6:38 Instant unit run-rate calculation

Nathan rapidly calculates the implied monthly top-line revenue ($720,000) using Shin's volume of 400 monthly units at the $1,800 average selling price.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicNathan as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementNathan pushing backWhy
Seven Dreamers Company History, Vision, and Products 3313 Nathan questions the lack of synergy between golf shafts and sleep apnea stents, interrupting Shin briefly to lock down foundational company history and funding figures.
Carbon Golf Shaft Manufacturing and Unit Economics 6414 Nathan calculates gross revenue from unit volume and benchmarks COGS, while Shin explains their automated proprietary carbon manufacturing technology.
Seven Dreamers 2016 Revenue and Laundroid Development 5226 Nathan pushes Shin to disclose the unreleased pricing for the Laundroid robot, offering to keep it off the record until after the scheduled release month.
Ideation Process, $60M Series B, and Valuation 5314 Nathan investigates how physical hardware businesses are valued during funding rounds, prompting Shin to explain their discounted cash flow analysis and margin evaluations.
2017 Revenue Targets, Marketing Strategy, and Pricing 5314 Nathan breaks down monthly revenue across products and presses Shin for exact marketing expenditures and high-end unit sales figures.
Mid-Roll Sponsor Acuity Scheduling Extended Free Trial 1101 Nathan reads a sponsor mid-roll ad and transitions smoothly through the standard Famous Five rapid-fire questions.

Statements from this episode (10)

Assertion Partly supported
Seven Dreamers has raised over $75 million to date
“Oh yeah, we already raised over seventy five million dollars so far.”
Shin Sakane Mar 31, 2017 ▶ 4:18
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Nasal stent sales surpass golf shafts despite 170% shaft growth
“Initially it was a golf shaft and then golf shaft business is growing like 170% every year. But currently nascent nasal airway stand sales is so much more than golf shaft right now.”
Shin Sakane Mar 31, 2017 ▶ 5:05
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Seven Dreamers sells over 400 custom golf shafts per month
“Right now, monthly we sell over 400 shafts per month.”
Shin Sakane Mar 31, 2017 ▶ 6:22
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Seven Dreamers generated approximately $35M consolidated revenue in 2016
“Oh, 2016 our, like, you know, Japan fiscal year is a little bit different from the US, but our sales consolidated. Sales is about 30 five million dollars.”
Shin Sakane Mar 31, 2017 ▶ 9:45
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Seven Dreamers spent over $15M developing the Laundroid robot
“So far we've spent over fifteen million dollars purely for the product development.”
Shin Sakane Mar 31, 2017 ▶ 11:13
Disclosure
Initial limited-edition Laundroid robot will cost over $15,000
“Initially, our product is very, very limited version. We don't produce many, and we want to make it, this is really the world's first, you know, special version, so this is going to be really, really expensive, and the pricing is about 15,000 dollars plus, so …”
Shin Sakane Mar 31, 2017 ▶ 12:31
Disclosure
Seven Dreamers' three product lines share zero operational synergies
“No, actually there's no synergies between three businesses. It's completely different supply chain different technologies.”
Shin Sakane Mar 31, 2017 ▶ 13:39
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Seven Dreamers generates over $1M monthly from medical airway stents
“Currently the, you know, biggest moneymaker is nasal airway stand, which is very soft too. Too for sleep apnea and snoring. That, that's the really expanding business. So that sales is over one million dollars. Per month, yes.”
Shin Sakane Mar 31, 2017 ▶ 16:08
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Seven Dreamers has sold fewer than ten $120,000 golf shafts
“Still single. Single digit. Less than 10.”
Shin Sakane Mar 31, 2017 ▶ 19:06
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Seven Dreamers has sold around 100 $15,000 space model golf shafts
“Ah, yeah, I think, well, around a hundred, I think.”
Shin Sakane Mar 31, 2017 ▶ 19:56
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