StationDisplay

"A dedicated hardware departure board for Swiss public transportation that brings real-time schedule information into homes and businesses."

no rev. info provided

stationdisplay.com

Maker: sschueller

no rev. info provided

Marketing Channels

Primary

Hacker News

Posted in Show HN / Who is hiring thread to gain developer and tech-enthusiast visibility

Secondary

Personal blog

Creator documented the journey from hobby project to product in blog posts, building credibility and SEO

Planned

B2B outreach to transit agencies

Commenter suggested marketing to public transport companies still running Windows-based schedule displays

Growth Levers

Expand to other European countries with strong public transit systems (Germany, Netherlands, Austria)
Target B2B sales to transit companies replacing legacy Windows-based display systems
Position with digital sovereignty and sustainability messaging for government/enterprise procurement
Create a software-only subscription tier for people who want to use their own monitors or tablets
Build an outdoor-rated version for commercial and municipal use cases
Leverage the attractive hardware design as a differentiator for home decor and gift market

First Customer Strategy

The product originated from a personal hobby project (a DIY transit departure display) that the creator decided to productize. By sharing the journey publicly via blog posts and Hacker News, early adopters in the Swiss tech community were likely the first customers.

Pricing Insight

No pricing details mentioned in the thread. The hardware form factor implies a higher upfront cost compared to software-only alternatives, but the creator noted that hardware involves additional complexity like CE certification.

New Market Opportunities

Public transit companies in Europe Many transit companies still use Windows-based devices to display schedules; an outdoor-visible, sustainable alternative could win contracts
International home users Expressed desire to own one despite living in an unrelated country, indicating demand beyond Switzerland

Key Takeaways

• A personal hobby project can be a strong foundation for a hardware product if it solves a tangible daily problem
• Hardware products face unique challenges (CE certification, low-quantity manufacturing) that software-only products avoid
• Attractive physical design generates emotional appeal and can expand addressable market beyond the core use case
• Niche geographic products can find international interest if the concept resonates broadly
• B2B opportunities (transit agencies) can emerge from B2C hardware products when positioned with the right messaging (sustainability, digital sovereignty)

Sentiment Analysis

3 Pos / 1 Neu

Notable Quotes

"Very attractive hardware. I'd like to own one and I live in an unrelated country. Great work. — alsetmusic"