Another rule I have is listen to the customer, but don't listen too much.

You'll talk to a lot of people in marketing that will say, yeah, we're going to do customer

surveys and understand what customers want and then go build that.

And what I find there is, you know, the classic example, nobody knew they wanted an iPhone and now everybody has an iPhone.

It takes a little understanding of people's traits, the problems, the challenges they have, their desires.

But then it takes a little bit of innovative product development from the company's side to really come up with breakthrough technology.

My name's Andrew Smith, the founder and CEO of Outrider.

This is Code Story, a podcast bringing you interviews with tech visionaries who share in the critical moments of what

it takes to change in industry and build and lead a team that has your back.

I'm your host, Noah Labhart, and today how Andrew Smith set out to create not only sustainable

transport, but an autonomous yard vehicle system.

All this and more on Code Story.

Andrew Smith grew up playing in the woods of Northern New England. In sixth grade,

he was given a car and driver's magazine and fell in love with Ferraris,

Lamborghinis, and Porsches.

I mean, who didn't?

In seventh grade, his science teacher told him that they got bad fuel economy, so he was

inspired to change that.

He currently lives in Oregon, though Outrider is based in Colorado, and he's passionate

about mountaineering, climbing, skiing, with whom he does

with his friends, colleagues, and family any chance he can.

He's always thought the largest business opportunity and moral obligation is the commercialization

...