Limor Fried, Founder & CEO, Adafruit Industries | MAKERS

makers.com/techmakers Electronics. Companies. Movements. Limor Fried can build anything. In fact, the MIT graduate loves sharing her ideas and the tools for creating them so much she created Adafruit Industries, a top-20 U.S. manufacturing firm and a global online community that follows her every machine.

[@bryanwhatley]

You are truly an inspiration. As an engineering father, I show my son and daughter your videos and talk to them about projects all the time. This past weekend, they pimped out their bunk beds with led lights all on their own. What kids light up today, will light up the world tomorrow.

[@petermoore4313]

I'm 61 an engineer and engineering hacker (electronic/mechanical) most of my life but your videos and products inspire and educate me.

[@saftigesfruchtchen456]

Wow I think this is my first engineering crush. Really cool. I dig adafruit.

[@MB-yo7ig]

Hardware Hacking is an art of it’s own. We appreciate your contribution.

[@pittsville21850]

Of all the cool things Limor Fried does, one of the best things is that she makes people aware of who Lady Ada was, and what she accomplished.

[@CraigMansfield]

I know who she was. The world's first recognised computer programmer

[@ModestMaker]

Tools, problem solving, art, and sharing all beautifully captured in five minutes - truly inspirational; thank you!

[@peterbenjamins]

Fried: You are amazing! Not only for having created such a wonderful company, but even the fact that you did it in such a hostile manufacturing environment in the middle of New York is even more inspiring. Great job, kudos to you! We will always support Adafuit first! Thanks again!

[@kevinpezzi6777]

Limor Fried is an extraordinary role model so brilliant she makes hard stuff seem easy. Every time I hear that women can't do what men can do, I think of Limor Fried. If 10 men did what she's done, I'd be very impressed.

[@damny0utoobe]

I love the fact that you release/share both the software and hardware of your designs. That's very important to me. I will buy direct from you for that reason.

[@linuxman0]

I love that Limor Fried started designing and selling electronics kits AND that the effort led to such success. Many prior attempts have been made to do this which have not been as successful (HeathKit). Good work and I wish you much continued success in the future.

[@dalgonacovfefe]

so cool, she's amazing

[@jennoscura2381]

Mr.Wizards World is the shit. It was my favorite show as a kid. RIP Don Herbert.

[@ted_van_loon]

sadly things like that are now formally illegal on television, especially on childrens tv since a lot of lazy parents think it dangerous, and also making shows with no actual content is concidered much more easy now.

[@marklowe7431]

There's an Aussie guy named Dick Smith that did this in the 70's on. Kits for kids through to adults and he boomed. It good to see she has revived this but so much bigger and better. Now a global icon for sure. Also good to see women getting into electronics more. I wish my daughters had interest.

[@imho2278]

I have Dick's books on electronics...showed them to my TAFE electrical lecturer last year and he said, 'They are gold! Don't lose them.' Did a semester of electronic engineering at uni this year, but it was mostly theory. Hooray for Lady Ada and her build skills!

[@dakotamaynor3852]

Try to blend electronics with feminine hobbies or bring them around some FIRST robotics clubs.

[@firstidontknow8478]

"Setting up Explosive as long as you call the fire department ahead of time"

[@bobsscienceshack8694]

Yes, now if you call the fire department ahead of time, you have a great chance to get your explosives confiscated (I talk of experience...)

[@Skyprince27]

Hypothetically, yeah 😉...

[@mahoneytechnologies657]

You come out with so many Amazing Products!

[@BillyGates1721]

It touched me deep in my heart in a very positive way - this video touched me to tears rolling down my cheeks - YES - this is great - especially the girl asking "can BOYS be engineers too?"

[@breebw]

No. they aren't permitted after 2021. They must either affirm to be a woman or trans.

[@robthepenguinmaster]

I have learned so much from you and you have inspired me to learn EE. The project that pulled me in was the MP3 player in an Altoids can. AN MP3 PLAYER?! IN ALTOIDS?? It was mind blowing, epically considering Altoids were the cool thing, and MP3 Players were also a thing. Your article had everything I wanted to know. How to program, how to etch, how to solder. It was perfect for inquiring minds. What the real inspiration is, is that knowledge should be shared, and we can all work better together sharing knowledge (and still make money too!). I have learned a lot from your site, and as a result, would rather buy from you. There are few who can build and share in the way that you do. Thank you. Even now,

[@garybutler3442]

We've never met before but I'm so proud of you. This is a terrific "American Dream" story. I look forward to purchasing more and more from AdaFruit. When can we discuss stock options?

[@mathieusan]

I'm a mechanical engineer as I've learned a lot with Adafruit. electronic was this dark world for me but now I can design circuit boards that uses sensors, displays, and servos. It's really fun. Thank you!

[@AtomkeySinclair]

The show and tell every week is pure entertainment and a blast to watch. Some of the things people come up with are just a testament to all the things we as creators don't come up with on our own. We get that 'why didn't I think of that' moment and then you wander off into creation land. Very cool.

[@jamesnike7127]

You are truly a gem. your effort and contribution has been extraordinary. projects are much more simplified and quicker to do with your products. well done, Limor Fried..

[@thegreatest3402]

Just got my PyGamer the first Adafruit handheld game system Thanks guys it looks amazing

[@gracehuth863]

It is beautiful to see young people creating a new world. A wold full of promise for the creative mind that I am sure will bring about a better society enjoying peace and understanding among all humanity. Best wishes from an old woman to the new generations that bring so much hope for everybody! A busy mind is a wonderful blossom in the creation garden!

[@friday13thfan97]

This company has been a great opportunity for many people

[@alanjrobertson]

Great vid - really interesting hearing the background and story of Adafruit, love your products and more importantly all the brilliant content you produce and make freely available. I hope you go from strength to strength!

[@gregorydahlen2103]

Simply put, Limor is a phenom and I do prefer to call her Lady Ada. I've been in love with her mind ever since (years ago) I learned that her master's project was a localized cell phone jammer. Sadly, the FCC does not allow her to carry that kit!

[@Cdn.SufiReacts]

How can you possibly dislike this video, and give it a "thumbs down"??? How?

[@ZenMondo]

What an inspiring video. I recently moved and found the local Makerspace. I have a 25-year-old degree in Electronics Technology, but finding maker culture has rekindled my love for electronics and I use Adafruit products in some of my projects. I am just a hobbyist but I love making things, even if I am just a boy.

[@myCloudWatcher]

You are also a Maker

[@robertsissco2439]

I remember when your site launched, and your SIM cloner kit that came with a comic book that was featured on the Cult of the Dead Cow forums way back in the day. I am sorry to say that I lost both long ago, but that was kinda what got me into it.

[@solotron7390]

It's satisfying to see innovators like you with imagination and drive, pushing the envelope. Yes, I'm a customer, too!

[@rotorcraft68]

Limor Fried is an inspiration for all generations--past, present and future.

[@johngrannan]

Utterly inspirational !!!

[@iNT0XiC8D]

That pic with Bunnie is awesome

[@josemanuelbellosotalavera5152]

I bought some stuff from adafruit and I am very happy with the performance of the devices you make.

[@aprilk141]

I never Limor is who I loved for Adafruit and its offerings. Thank you Limor! Truly.

[@heaven-is-real]

Thank you for fighting for electronics open source freedom and hardware open source and also fighting for EVERYONE being engineers-way cool ladyada-I LOVE THAT (from hardware-hacker-john) all hail to your crew of the new engineers you have created, we are working on the exciting edge of new discoveries every day. You make creativity and discovery fun and motivational and inspiring ladyada

[@liza2005levin]

Adafruit is the best, I love all their open source projects and accessible kits

[@habibmughal8938]

hi every one... iam from Pakistan having same kind of skill ,intentions,interest,hobby as of creator like lady ada...but stuck in a regular job... lets see where time will lead me to..

[@wizzbitgxs]

AdaFruit'ers are hero's! Keep up the amazing work!

[@jillom6648]

I am in awe, Limor/LadyAda❣️

[@mybean1096]

Reminds me of Jody Foster a little from the movie contact explaining her plan for her satellites for space.

[@LindaBrandtmph]

Inspiring and powerful. Thank you for this incredible series.

[@zinhaboussi]

Beautiful story

[@Fine_i_set_the_handle]

wow i never knew adafruit came from such humble origins

[@4647540]

Ladyada you are doing amazing work..big fan of your channel... You are inspiration for young kids to get interested in electronics..not to just consume technology..buy to understand it and create some of it...and also very helpful for prof. Engineers and hobbyist...by creating open source HW community...thnx and god bless u all.....👌👍

[@mikeandrews7156]

You are a awsome person and inspiration to us all, I support adafruit I bought pi3b and just ordered pi4 ,thinking about buying m4 grand central

[@hiankun]

It's good to know the "Ada" part of Adafruit. :-)

[@Graham1904]

Eye opening. What a nice lady. Changed my thoughts on Adafruit

[@thegreatest3402]

Keep doing great things

[@rafacruva4596]

You are an inspiration. It's a fantastic company I am happy using your library for GSM

[@pramitchaudhury1821]

Thanks for taking the maker movement forward it's really a nice time to live

[@CraigMansfield]

♥️ How I wish I had somebody like her in my life. Just to talk.

[@JT-iw2cw]

I've developed a huge LadyAda crush over the past couple of years. She rocks.

[@jjhack3r]

She is so adorable... I love her mind too. She's the best woman I've ever encoundered.

[@fouzanmuhammed4904]

MIT: If you're creating new technology, you have to give it. Otherwise, you're being selfish. Apple: Pardon

[@serverguy2]

I watched Mr. Wizard (Don Herbert) when he was Black and White! I'm OLD!

[@mloik1]

me, three

[@mikeandrews7156]

I loved that show!!!

[@Mikey8567]

I have always been impressed by you and your company. I'm a designer of 3D objects and then print them on my 3D printer, so I love to see what I can design and what others can design also. One of my designs on Thingiverse was Liked an shared on your AdaFruit last year (blog.adafruit.com/?s=Phantom+4+Bat+Cooler) and I was quite happy that one of my designs was not only acknowledged but also shared with others on the AdaFruit website. Please keep up the great work and also Thank You for allowing others to find and explore the world of electronics!

[@sarbog1]

Guess you are the next Heathkit keep going. Very cool........

[@stevenwhite3.1415]

Every time I watch this I think, god she is f*ing beautiful. Then she talks and she is intelligent and interesting too. Wow. What a woman!

[@mundocabrera7007]

That's awesome always wanted to do electronics but I'm in a different feild wanting to learn. You are very inspiring.

[@anilchauisms]

Great job

[@pahvalrehljkov]

she is so cute... good job on popularizing and creating big part of os mcu community...

[@christopherscafidi4264]

Aww man, I remember watching Mr. Wizard with my dad too! I loved that show, and Don Herbert (much like you, I'm sure) is responsible for so many kids getting a love for science at a young age in the 80s. Dude, you rock! (And so does your namesake, Lady Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer! Also, fuck cancer.)

[@DivyanshMMMUT]

4:29 that got me there

[@pauleshelman5862]

My earthly hero!

[@Jerseylance1]

Great video way to go, and I love your videos sis.

[@johnstonlildb8157]

I just found you this morning and watched all your Bot videos and 🤓I know that I’ve found something that basically simplify all the questions that I’ve been having a circus because I have a really O I’m told it’s a bad habit but I consider kind of a passion for taking things apart and just kind of staring at stuff like I’ve had like three or 4 xbox 360 that have kind of come apart and I would just stare at the Circuit boards and I follow the little trails and just wonder what each thing was and finally figure out what a diode and a capacitor and well just simply Ohm’s Law But even more so The fact I understood and I’m not a child I’ll be 39 few months. Literally half inch here is just even trying to word this but I’m even more mesmerized by the fact that A female a woman however you wanna put it is the one that made all this possible because well 🤔 I’ll have to explain myself And I’ll do my best to make this as short of the story as I can. And please excuse me because I use talk to text for writing. So here’s how it goes you already know my age but (off and on from) when I was 14-22 I traveled across the (USA) country doing door-to-door sales, selling magazines. (And I wanna make it very clear that I was a special case because nobody ever really did this particular job at my age so young & i’ve done basic home school courses throughout that time which was not really a credit for the state that I live in so I end up having to repeat some courses and then in the end getting my GED which I was the fourth highest in my state when I did recieve my GED but unfortantly recent TBI and abusive Narcissistic individuals/situation 🤨Absoultly off the subject and not with in That area of my life so NeWays) One of the few areas that I had gone to I remember going to like brown and white MIT and Durham New Hampshire but I remember specifically going to an engineering school well it wasn’t all school it was like the apartments off campus blah blah blah and I remember talking to some men weight that were staying in these apartments and There’s a fraternity that I was canvassing at bat I remember specifically one day Telling some guy about how that’s what I wanted to go to school for and he said girls are not allowed to be engineers girls are not engineers that’s why I did not see any girls recently and all I kept talking to Were men and I remember telling him I must’ve been about like 15 but I always remember Best buy motor entire life is this guy up in the Northeast tell me how girls are not allowed to be engineers especially electronica engineer today and I told him I said thoughts what I want to be because that’s what my brother was for my brother really is I’ve got one brother out of seven kids and I always tell them that I come from a family of seven which is the truth but I was told him I come from a family of all boys and one girl who was kind of a safety factor for me at the time but I actually came from a family of all girls and one boy and my brother he really is an Electrical engineer in Arizona 🤦‍♀️ it’s just now dawned on me that is completely different from what you all are doing but I was told the rain I didn’t want to be an electrical engineer because I don’t like electricity and getting electrocuted now I realize why they laughed at me then because he does electrical circuits are put electricity into what not a building and this is working with computers and circuit boards and I can’t roll my eyes hard enough saying this but anyways it wasn’t really explain to me then electronic engineer And an electrical engineer anything but anyways that girls can do this that it’s not just for boys and see you because I was told by the boys that went to college at these places these big schools that girls were not allowed to be an Electronic engineer No wonder they didn’t really care too much about me being an electrical engineer and I can just electrocute myself lol Now this was back in 1997, 98, 99 mybe even as late as 2004 Because I know that was last year that Did 🚪2🚪 sale I don’t even know why I wrote all this I’m just gonna erase it anyways

[@mathgrts]

You inspire me so much! 💪👊

[@City2x]

She is my hero.

[@shoaibshoobi7131]

your work and You both are Cool

[@bittertea]

Space cat pin game is on point.

[@Bengadeer]

Way cool. B.T.W, I grew up with Mr. Wizard too. Afternoon TV. Gilbert Chemistry sets. I made the family's fireworks for 4thJuly with homemade gunpowder and powdered iron, etc. The Maker Movement and Open Source move the engineering world along. I have to laugh thinking about how Microsoft established the idea of "borrowing" software was piracy and was bad. Microsoft wouldn't exist if hackers had listened to that. (You know, the Bell Telephone Hour with Dr. Baxter was a pretty cool show as well. Just saying.)

[@wild-radio7373]

Love Her! #LadiesMake! 🤜🏻👍🤛🏻♡♡♡

[@wild-radio7373]

I feel like if I was ever blessed with anyone... ANYONE who would have let me use the tools I could have been right there with her!!! I'm so jealous

[@sbgrimsson]

I am a customer and a fan of lady Ada :)

[@billyjoe3309]

Adafruit is pure love. Everything they do just works. It's like 3M.

[@realitypreferred7084]

Inspiring

[@TheOpticalFreak]

Totally Awesome 😎🤘💯🤖💓💕

[@jimgoodinmusic]

Love it!

[@ismailsamirusta]

This video just gave me goosebumps... Such a good person, such an inspiration!

[@robertcameronjones]

This is just totally random, but I'm a huge fan of yours. I'm also a volunteer for robotics in Detroit Public School Systems. I'm looking for advisors or board members to work with Detroit Public Schools, which has some serious challenges to make STEM happen. My quick background: EE GM Institute 30 years experience safety electronics, volunteer robotics teacher and coach. Hope to hear from you. My class is mostly girls, and they would love to see more role models like you.

[@janine1154]

LOVE LOVE LOVE! So inspiring

[@KofiNateDogg]

Adafruit should acquire Radio Shack, she clearly understands the market better than those old boys.

[@56NeilWatson]

I wondered if the name derived from the unrecognized Ada Lovelace

[@naderhumood1199]

Your great lady

[@vidopro360]

I am from Namibia, a country in Africa and i love your work so much, i am a self learner in coding but i need some help, some tutoring, i have this brilliant idea i wish to execute in the near future. Please help?

[@Sizzlik]

I admire the lady. CoDC moo

[@mrx.2233]

We need more people like you. Well done!

[@robertl2476]

GoGetUm! This 71 year old loves your videos. RB - Eastern Long Island

[@edgeeffect]

Ace Adabot badge she's got there. There might not a an "I" in "team" but there is in "MIT". ;)

[@noxiousbyproduct]

Awesome

[@freaker126]

we need more engineers. I want to see a spaceship build for space exploration and also mars and the moon is occupied before I die. Do it!

[@ted_van_loon]

then make one, couldn't be to hard. some people managed it. however I wouldn't recommend destroying the moons or mars's surfac, because it is not nice to destroy worlds. your ambitionis already completley possible without trouble. it doesn't even require things like electromagnetic relative deformation since you do not need to bypas any speed near the speed of light to get to the moon or mars.

[@christopherross8358]

❤

[@robertsissco2439]

"I'm an Engineer, and that means I solve problems"

[@astasuleo]

congrats

[@bcerrati]

I cried 4 times.

[@boz465]

before uni i sore lots of these projects online great to no who made them :)

[@63seedubyt]

Brava!

[@rudrashivagana1578]

Mr. Wizards World!

[@h2o-fpv623]

Very nice and u are in NY city better love it.

[@mukundraj5207]

I love all the electronic round me and full time (real) engineer would love to work any day soon together.