Dear backers,

Over the last few months, I’ve been working full-time on getting your Pipo(s) ready and delivered to you as soon as possible. A lot has moved forward steadily since the end of the campaign, but a few unexpected challenges also arose along the way. Here are some insights on what happened and how things are going.

Progress & Improvements

Pipos have gone through extensive testing and final design revisions for production. I also took some time to squeeze in some final improvements to make them more robust, reliable, and pleasant to use.

Each of the three Pipo case variants have been improved: better closing systems, a lighter case for Pipo Motion, a tripod thread for Pipo Range, etc…

On the board side, they have been upgraded with extensive ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection. Just like how people dislike getting shocked, electronics dislike it even more—so I added multiple layers of protection to ensure long-term reliability.

Also, beta tester feedback has been incredibly valuable. I improved many parts of the UI to make it more intuitive and convenient, with a variety of usability improvements that came directly from testing in the field.

Sourcing Challenges

Unfortunately, two late-stage issues created some delays—one with the batteries and one with an accelerometer component.

Batteries:
Pipo uses LiPo batteries, which come with very strict certification requirements—both for safety and for the ability to ship them by air.
I initially selected a European supplier who, during the design phase, claimed to have all required regulatory documentation.
However, when placing the larger production order, it turned out they could not actually provide those documents.
This forced me to urgently search for an alternative supplier with proper certifications and available stock—something much easier said than done. After weeks of back-and-forth, the issue is now solved.
Batteries are ordered and expected to arrive in the coming days.

Chip shortage:
There was also an unexpected shortage of one of the chips used for Pipo Motion (the accelerometer). A mix-up with the PCBA manufacturer resulted in the part being out of stock exactly when production was supposed to start.
This added a few extra weeks of delay while sourcing alternatives.

Still on track

Most roadblocks are now resolved or nearly resolved, and I am very close to having all Pipo parts at my workshop.

Despite the delays so far, we are still within reach of the initial delivery target of early 2026.
Of course, hardware production is always full of surprises until the moment packages go out the door, but I remain fully committed to moving through the remaining steps as fast and safely as possible.

Thank you again for your patience and support. I’m pushing hard to deliver you Pipo modules that are reliable and truly enjoyable to use. Looking forward what you’ll create with them!

Best,
Rupert