Our founder, Mehdi Maizate, had the pleasure of being invited on the podcast The Interface, hosted by Steven, to tell the story of Phoneside, from the first 3D printed prototypes to the medals of the Lépine Competition.
In this episode, we're not just talking about tech accessories:
we are talking of information technology, entrepreneurship, production, Made in France and human.
Phoneside × Le Coq Informatique: much more than just a podcast
This invitation is particularly important to us because Le Coq Informatique is not just a media outlet :
it is also a customer && partner which uses and offers Phoneside to its own customers.
In the video, Steven also shows a Personalized Phoneside One by Le Coq Informatiqueused as useful promotional item for their clients.
👉 An accessory that stays on the computer and showcases their brand on a daily basis.
So, this podcast is:
- A exchange between two players in the world of IT,
- a highlighting the career path of Mehdi,
- and one concrete feedback on the use of Phoneside in a professional context.
From a DIY idea to an award-winning product: what Mehdi shares in the podcast
In the episode, Mehdi looks back on the entire journey he took before arriving at Phoneside One that you know today.
A story of family, computers… and a garage
Behind Phoneside, there is:
- a secretary mother who puts her children in front of a very early age computer,
- a handyman father with whom Mehdi repairs and resells bicycles back home,
- and very quickly, a passion forcomputer science and the resourcefulness.
At 14, Mehdi coded his first website.
A few years later, he was selling clothes and accessories on LeBonCoin and Facebook. The entrepreneurial spirit was already there.
Simplon &3D printing: the ideal playground
It's at Simplon, computer science school in bootcamp, everything is accelerating.
Mehdi discovers there 3D printing and falls in love with a simple idea: Transforming an idea into a concrete object that you can hold in your hand.
He prints prototypes, tests concepts… And one day, he created the first version of Phoneside One : a 3D printed iPhone 5 case that clips onto the computer screen.
Objective: To keep the phone in the same field of vision that the screen, to test responsive websites and mobile apps more effectively.
Colleagues see the prototype and the phrase comes up often: “That’s a clever idea. I want one too.”
That's where the idea becomes potential product...
The 7 3D printers and the first production woes
In the podcast, Mehdi and Steven go to the Employment and Business Center (MDE)that's where Phoneside really took off.
That's where Mehdi:
- installs its first 3D printers,
- recruits its first intern, apprentice, employee,
- and prints the first series of Phoneside One.
We move from 1 to 7 3D printers to try and keep up with demand.
But very quickly, the limitations become apparent:
- slow production
- high production cost
- orders 1000+ pieces difficult to absorb.
It was also during this period that Phoneside began working with beautiful companies, particularly in IT and tech, which order versions custom with logo and colours.
The product finds its place:
👉 a useful tool for everyday use, but also an excellent corporate gift.
The behind-the-scenes glimpses shown in the podcast
One of the highlights of the episode is the part site visits.
Le Coq Informatique didn't just stay in an office: the team followed Mehdi at several key production locations.
ESAT: where innovation meets inclusion
Part of Phoneside's products is assembled and packaged in an ESATby workers with disabilities. Mehdi explains why this choice is important for Phoneside:
- give a dimension social and inclusive to the project,
- to ensure a assembly and packaging quality impeccable,
- while maintaining production local.
The moment is powerful, human, sometimes moving. You get the feeling that Phoneside is more than just a story about plastic and clips: it's an adventure entrepreneurial, social and collective.
Marking: Trust the specialists
The podcast also takes us to ARTampo, Phoneside's branding partner. Mehdi recounts that initially, he had invested in a digital printing machine himself… Result : wasted time maintenance problems, The marking quality was subpar.
Today, the marking of Phoneside vehicles is entrusted to specialists. It is also at this partner's location that the Phoneside One Le Coq Informatique.
The icing on the cake: the Lépine Competition
The episode also discusses a topic that is symbolic for the brand:
THE medals at the Lépine Competition.
Phoneside was:
- silver medal For Phoneside One,
- bronze medalist For Phoneside NoteThe very first smartphone holder that clips onto the cover of a notebook!
Mehdi explains how to register, how the Paris Fair unfolds, the meeting with the public, the juries, the tests, the feedback…
And above all, what it changes on a daily basis:
- in credibility “Winner of the Lépine Competition medal” reassures companies
- in visibility That's a strong hook, even in prospecting emails ^^
- in motivation : a true recognition of the work accomplished.
In short, there are quite a few details to learn directly in the podcast!
For us at Phoneside, this podcast with Le Coq Informatique is important for several reasons:
- He puts human beings at the center : the MDE, the ESAT, the partners, the team.
- He shows the real behind-the-scenes of a product that we often only see in photos on an e-commerce site.
- He gives the floor to a client-partner who uses Phoneside daily, and who recommends it to their own clients.
Thanks again to Le Coq Informatique for the invitation, the trust, and the spotlight.
We are proud to see Phoneside used and recommended by players committed to the world of IT… and we look forward to seeing what comes next. 🚀
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