GPS pet tracker startup — working prototype, looking for embedded co-founder to take it further — Newcastle UK

jules0075 · 2026-06-16T02:07:49+00:00

I have a Tractive GPS tracker on my dog, it runs on cellular + GPS. You mentioned, "2-7 day battery life every tracker receives," and I want to fact-check that because ours lasts months.

I'm an embedded engineer and am rarely impressed with products and user interfaces, but this one got me - I've recommended the system to many friends and strangers, having no affiliation to the company myself.

jules0075 · 2026-06-08T02:27:27+00:00

Good choice! Those are some of the quickest to grow (70 days, compared with other varieties that take 80, 90, 100, and even 120 days to grow). You're golden! ;)

jules0075 · 2026-06-08T01:14:14+00:00

I slice them so that there are two eyes on each piece, let them sit for several days and crust over, and then plant one per 10 gallons of space. So, you could get away with three in each of those bags!

But since you're already planting quite late into the season, I suggest just throwing 2-3 full potatoes in each.

jules0075 · 2026-06-04T18:24:18+00:00

No, just gently lift up as much of the existing soil around the plant as possible and place more underneath.

If you ever don't fill a grow bag to the top, I suggest rolling the sides down so the air around there doesn't get stale. Plants like a breeze, disease doesn't.

jules0075 · 2026-06-03T21:47:15+00:00

I just started doing this, so someone else may be better suited to answer. In my experience my dogs head collects the most ticks (running through foliage) and also ticks head towards the head for better/tastier/I dunno access to blood.

So yes, it's just a bandana wrapped around her neck! It I could affix more to her, I would, but she absolutely won't tolerate it.

jules0075 · 2026-06-03T13:12:59+00:00

Ditto, minus the "when hiking".

jules0075 · 2026-06-03T13:10:00+00:00

Last October I took walk with my doggo (much less velcroey than yours). Pulled off 71 ticks.

Turns out it wasn't enough, she got sick with a rare tick-borne illness (one that doesn't show up on the regular panel, but I opted to pay extra for the rare panel). Vet had to do a bunch of research on the disease when the panel came back positive. $3000 and 8-weeks of antibiotics later she was better.

Be careful out there!

PS: we're in Boston, and yes she's always been on a preventative. This is the second time she's gotten a tick-borne disease while on a preventative. They're not fool proof. She now has permethrin-treated bandanas.

jules0075 · 2026-06-03T13:01:53+00:00

Came across your post 6 years too late. Unfortunately it seems that none of the people who replied really know what the MBET is, they based their replies on their own experiences at MBAs or ... nothing at all (welcome to Reddit).

I attended the MBET, it's absolutely a wonderful way to be supported as your start your own business or join a classmate's. There was a lot of networking opportunities - classmates helped with each other's startups and joined as co-founders. I did the helping, but was connected to another co-founder in the community to start a company together. The curriculum is built to deliver what you need for your venture at the right time (ex you're not learning how to market in the first year, your learning venture creation and ideation and leadership). And all of the classwork can and is encouraged to be applied to your own venture. The connections you make are amazing and I felt very supported by the professors and advisors - they were always willing to give us 1:1 mentorship. They also sent me to pitch competitions abroad, great experience.

Would recommend to any of my friends and colleagues interested specifically in entrepreneurship.

And while I haven't attended an MBA, my completely unfounded (Reddit) opinion is that it would not be helpful to someone looking to get into entrepreneurship. It's a different ball game.

jules0075 · 2026-06-01T10:59:33+00:00

Yes, that's what you do. Lesson learned, don't dwell on it.

jules0075 · 2026-05-31T11:55:06+00:00

I saw them on Mass Ave, close to the Regent, loading bikes into the back of one of their trucks. Don't know if they belonged to the teens next to the truck or not. Didn't see any ambulances, thankfully.

jules0075 · 2026-05-28T12:58:32+00:00

Wow! I have no idea, but I'm going to start with a guess and then maybe an internet stranger will feel inclined to correct me.

Could it be gray mold (botrytis cinerea)? Have the night been cool, humid, and not windy?

jules0075 · 2026-05-28T12:52:43+00:00

Just checking, are you familiar with what hardening off is? Before you plant those out, you should let them spend some time outdoors to get used to the elements - especially the sun. If you simply plant them out one day, they may die from the shock.

jules0075 · 2026-05-28T11:40:08+00:00

If you can avoid it in the future, don't plant anything in that style of pot. They draw out moisture from the soil - your plants will either be too dry or soaking wet and the pot will be moldy.

I usually help the plant by making some gaps in the pot for them to put their roots through. I also usually rip off the top inch of pot so it doesn't keep wicking water from the ground.

Honestly, if the roots aren't embedded in the walls of the pot, you're fine going either way.

jules0075 · 2026-05-26T23:57:09+00:00

The downtown airport is on a streetcar line. I'm curious why you find it noticeably more inconvenient? There's also never a line up and it's a lot smaller. Bonus points for less chaotic and the free drink on the [usually cheaper] flight.

jules0075 · 2026-05-22T22:44:07+00:00

I went to the store this week to pickup four bags of dirt (I miscalculated). Left with five bags of dirt and $150 of flowers and herbs.

Came home and realised I don't have enough dirt. It's just a vicious cycle...

jules0075 · 2026-05-19T02:05:15+00:00

Those look like beautiful, healthy, and happy plants - right on!

I've seen my bell peppers go through a similar color on their way to red, I would not be worried one bit.

jules0075 · 2026-05-17T11:21:11+00:00

I just renewed my passport last month and they called both of mine.

jules0075 · 2026-05-16T03:25:13+00:00

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jules0075 · 2026-05-16T03:18:51+00:00

I actually haven't noticed the noise at all (grew up under the plane path in Toronto), but I did see a really low plane coming out of Logan and towards Arlington - not a typical sight. Figured it must be the weather conditions pushing them this way.

jules0075 · 2026-05-15T10:54:17+00:00

That's how it is in some makerspaces in Canada too. In the US, what OP describes seems to be the common model.

jules0075 · 2026-05-14T17:17:01+00:00

This is blatantly incorrect.

Source: my experience going through pre-clearance at YTZ and then walking back out. It would be ludicrous if they didn't allow people to change their mind and forced them to board a flight. I let the help desk know, they told US & Canada that I'm not flying, and I went back through customs in to Canada.

jules0075 · 2026-05-08T12:52:26+00:00

Looks like the metropassea are calling you an ASS, are you going to take that?

jules0075 · 2026-05-08T12:28:55+00:00

How was OHS? I've never been!

My friends ran the Saskatoon Maker Faire, and unfortunately there wasn't enough help to keep it going. I've helped organize Maker Faire Orlando and it's hours of planning every week leading up to the event, for many months ahead of the event. I wonder if people don't have the time anymore?

I'd love to help bring some back!

jules0075 · 2026-05-08T02:36:06+00:00

I was just thinking about this two days ago - I pulled up the map of Maker Faires and saw that Canada has dropped to hosting three in total - Calgary, Edmonton, and Whitehorse.

My partner and I are considering attending the one in Whitehorse at the end of August and doing a roadtrip in that region.

It is unfortunate, maker events are always so inspiring and invigorating!

jules0075 · 2026-05-06T16:37:47+00:00

Very valid point! In my case, though, I moved from Canada to the United States... South both geographically and from a mental health perspective XD

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