Ring: Jamie Siminoff

Jamie Siminoff invented the video doorbell in his garage. Five years later, Amazon acquired his company, Ring, for approximately $1 billion. In between, he appeared on Shark Tank, turned down Kevin O'Leary's offer, and went on to build what became one of the show's most successful businesses. The story behind Ring is far more complicated than a doorbell. Jamie spent years building companies, learning telecom infrastructure, and figuring out which ideas could grow into something meaningful. When DoorBot appeared on Shark Tank in 2013, the business was still operating under serious financial pressure. The exposure helped drive a surge in sales, giving Jamie the opportunity to rebuild the product and scale the company.
We talk about the fear that someone else would build the billion-dollar business he envisioned, the decision to expand Ring from a video doorbell into a broader home security platform, and the pressure of delivering on the $1.15 billion in trust Amazon placed in him. Jamie also shares why he returned to Ring after stepping away, how AI is opening new possibilities in home security, and the potential of Firewatch, which uses Ring cameras to help create more accurate wildfire maps for emergency response.
Make sure to check out Ring at: https://ring.com

Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX
Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO

Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/
Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup

Follow Starting Small:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

This episode is brought to you by Behr. I'm right in the middle of a full exterior and trim refresh on my property, and I'm using two of their top lines to get it done — Behr Marquee and Behr Premium Plus. Marquee is one of Behr’s most advanced paint and primer lines, offering one-coat coverage in hundreds of colors and exceptional fade resistance, and it holds up beautifully on siding, trim, doors, you name it. I'm pairing that with Behr Premium Plus for the interior and exterior trim work, giving everything a clean, durable, long-lasting finish. Behr's been trusted for decades, and once you see these two products side by side on a property, you understand why. Whether you’re planning a room refresh or a full home transformation, head to Behr.com to find the right products for your next project. And when you're ready to get started, stop by your local Home Depot or shop online at HomeDepot.com.