"We believe the modern adult deserves a refined nicotine experience: premium, clean, and done right." — Ricky Lee, Co-founder & CEO, VYE

In S4E19 of the DARE with Darwoft podcast, host Ned Hayes sat down with Ricky Lee, in collaboration with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, to explore what it looks like to build a consumer hardware startup in one of the most regulated industries on the planet, with a lean team, AI as a co-pilot, and a global launch strategy that flips conventional wisdom on its head.

Principal topics covered:

• How Ricky and his co-founder identified a real gap in the nicotine market and built VYE from scratch.

• The role of AI in compressing R&D timelines for a physical product.

• Why VYE is launching in the UK first, and what that means for their US market entry strategy.

•  How the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network and serendipitous community connections shaped the company's path

If you're building a physical product in a regulated space and wondering whether there's a smarter path to market, this episode has your answer.

The best founders don't wait for the perfect conditions. They find the right market, prove the product, and come back stronger.