Jerome Dron, founder of French start-up Redison, has created a technological solution to the time-honoured problem of noisy drum practices. Here, he explains Redison's technology, expansion plans in the UK and US, and why 'fun' is critical to staff retention.

What is the business in a nutshell?

Redison is a French startup with a goal is to make consumers life easier. Our main focus is on music Internet of Things (IoT) objects and our team is made up of musical experts who are passionate about performing as much as we can.

Our first product is the Senstroke connected drumsticks. These mean that users can drum anywhere anytime, without the need for a large space or the worry of noise disturbance to others.

Why did you decide to start the business?

I am a keen drummer but as my family grew we ran out of space and time for me to practice my drumming at the same level. I wondered if there was an easier, more portable way to drum which lead to the idea of Senstroke.

I researched and couldn’t believe that there was nothing in existence that addressed the issues of space and noise associated with drumming. I knew there had to be a better solution possible through technology, and so the idea was born.

How did the business develop?

Once we had developed the product we launched on Kickstarter and had great success. We then launched in retail across France in November 2018 where we saw our name grow and the demand increase. Recently we have expanded to the UK and US.

Can you explain a little about market conditions in your industry?

The music market has always been complicated, there are cost and time barriers which make it accessible to the minority and not the majority.

We therefore felt the music industry was in need of a shake up and that it needed to embrace technological advancements that made it possible for more people to play. We wanted to change this and make drumming something everyone could do without the need for space or a huge investment.

What has been your biggest challenge since starting the business?

Our biggest challenges have been pretty typical for a start-up - time and money. However, as a small passionate team we have been able to really drive the product forward and gain a solid following in France which we hope to recreate in the UK.

What major bumps in the road have you had and how have you overcome them?

Our major bump has been financing the development and initial production. It takes months, and sometimes years, to create a product that you’re 100% happy and that consumers will want.

Once we had the prototype we had to source the best suppliers and production to be able to mass produce without losing the quality. We continue to invest in development in terms of our software where we are always looking to innovate.

We have been fortunate with our financial partners who have allowed us to get the Senstroke to where we want it without compromising.

What was your biggest mistake?

We have learned many lessons since starting Redison. There are so many challenges when you’re a small start up and your product is the first of its kind as there is no awareness. For us we probably tried to launch too many products at once. In the future we would just look at doing one product at a time.

How do you aim to attract and retain good people?

As a young dynamic start-up we offer our team great values, atmosphere and the ability to work on fun products. We are a fun team and we are all passionate about music and tech. This has allowed us to attract some of the best talent and to build loyalty amongst our team.

What is your best advice to would-be entrepreneurs?

Believe in yourself, believe in your dreams. Listen to advice, listen to your clients and above all persevere!