What Retia LLC does

Retia LLC (also operating as Hacker Interchange) is a privately-held cybersecurity education company founded in 2019 by Kody Kinzie and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company designs and sells open-source hardware platforms—centered on the Nuggets family of microcontroller boards (WiFi Nugget on ESP8266, USB Nugget on ESP32-S2, and Bluetooth Nugget on ESP32-S3)—that enable beginners to learn ethical hacking, hardware assembly, and wireless security techniques. Products use easily sourceable components, integrate OLED screens, buttons, and radios (WiFi/Bluetooth/LoRa), and support Arduino, MicroPython, and CircuitPython programming. A secondary Nibble product line (Nibble Zero, Nibble Screen Connect, Open Source Meshtastic Nibble) targets the off-grid Meshtastic/Meshcore/Reticulum LoRa mesh-networking market.

The business model is product-led and direct-to-consumer. Hardware revenue flows through a single Shopify storefront at retia.io with prices ranging from $8 (Slim Nugget Cases) to $230 (Ultimate Hacker's Startup Kit), plus add-on modules such as the LoRa Radio Backpack ($30+) and LiPo Battery Breakout ($15). Secondary streams include paid in-person workshops at DEFCON, HOPE, and the Chaos Communication Congress ($60–$140), Udemy course bundles included with hardware kits, and custom hardware produced for the CyberCat Academy partnership with Code Girls United and the State of Montana. The primary customer base consists of individual hackers, makers, hobbyists, and cybersecurity beginners; secondary segments include conference attendees, academic/nonprofit partners, and CTF participants. Marketing is content-driven via YouTube, Hak5, SecurityFWD, Discord, and GitHub.

The company operates as a lean, founder-led organization with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no enterprise sales motion. Competitive differentiation rests on beginner-friendly open-source designs, an active community ecosystem, and recurring presence at the largest global hacker conferences.

Name

Retia LLC

Legal name

Retia LLC

Website

https://retia.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Retia LLC is a Los Angeles-based cybersecurity education company that designs and sells open-source hardware platforms (the Nuggets and Nibble product lines) for teaching ethical hacking, WiFi/Bluetooth security, and LoRa mesh networking to hobbyists, makers, and cybersecurity beginners via its Shopify storefront and conference workshops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Hardware product sales: Retia designs and sells open-source hardware kits and assembled products through its Shopify e-commerce storefront. Products include microcontroller platforms (WiFi Nugget, USB Nugget, Bluetooth Nugget), add-on modules (LoRa backpacks, LiPo battery breakouts), soldering kits, and complete beginner kits. Revenue is generated from one-time hardware purchases at various price points.
2. Educational workshops and classes: Retia hosts paid in-person workshops at cybersecurity conferences (DEFCON, HOPE, Chaos Communication Congress) and community events. Workshops are bundled with hardware kits and include topics such as Wi-Fi hacking, Bad USB attacks, Meshtastic node building, and soldering.
3. Online course access (Udemy): Hardware kits such as the Beginner Wi-Fi Hacker's Kit include access to online Udemy courses for self-defense and hacking education, creating an upsell and cross-sell revenue stream bundled with physical products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Retia LLC designs, manufactures, and sells open-source educational hardware kits (the Nuggets family of microcontroller platforms and Nibble LoRa mesh nodes) for cybersecurity and ethical hacking training. The company complements its hardware sales with paid hands-on workshops at hacker conferences, online courses (Udemy), and free educational content distributed via YouTube, Hak5, and SecurityFWD channels.

Product overview

Retia LLC (also operating as Hacker Interchange) is a cybersecurity education and hardware company that creates tools making it easy to learn hacking and hardware. The product portfolio centers on the Nuggets family of open-source, education-focused microcontroller boards: WiFi Nugget (ESP8266) for Wi-Fi security learning, USB Nugget (ESP32S2) for HID/BadUSB attacks, and Bluetooth Nugget (ESP32S3) combining Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hacking capabilities. Add-on modules include the LoRa Radio Backpack for long-range Meshtastic mesh networking and LiPo Battery Breakout for portable power. The Nibble line provides dedicated Meshtastic/Meshcore mesh networking nodes (Nibble Screen Connect, Nibble Zero, Open Source Meshtastic Nibble). Educational bundles combine hardware with online courses, while workshops at conferences like DEFCON and HOPE provide hands-on training. The company also offers soldering kits, accessories, and creates free cybersecurity content across YouTube, Hak5, and SecurityFWD channels. Code is available on GitHub with support for Arduino, CircuitPython, and MicroPython programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nuggets: A line of educational hacking hardware platforms including WiFi Nugget, USB Nugget, and Bluetooth Nugget designed for learning ethical hacking and hardware assembly.
• Nibble

Products and services

• WiFi Nugget (ESP8266) A fully assembled ESP8266-based Wi-Fi hacking microcontroller featuring a screen, buttons, neopixel LED, headers, and D1 mini board. Pre-flashed with Wi-Fi Deauther firmware and supports Arduino IDE and MicroPython programming. Designed for beginners learning Wi-Fi security techniques.
• USB Nugget (ESP32S2) A compact ESP32-S2-based HID attack platform with screen, buttons, and WiFi support. Mounts as USB flash drive for drag-and-drop payload deployment and supports CircuitPython and Arduino. Designed for learning keystroke injection and BadUSB attacks.
• Bluetooth Nugget (ESP32S3) An upgraded ESP32-S3-based hacking device featuring dual-core processor, built-in OLED screen, six buttons, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth radios. Supports Bluetooth scanning/emulation, Bluetooth spamming attacks, Meshtastic with LoRa backpack, and includes AI acceleration for image/audio processing.
• Solder Your Own Nugget Kit (Unassembled) A DIY soldering kit containing Nugget PCB, SH1106 screen, buttons, neopixel, pin headers, ESP8266 D1 mini, and ESP32S2 S2 Mini microcontrollers. Allows users to build Wi-Fi or USB Nugget variants themselves.
• Beginner Wi-Fi Hacker's Kit A beginner-friendly bundle containing an assembled WiFi Nugget, high-quality Micro USB cable, and access to the Wi-Fi Self Defense for Beginners online course on Udemy.
• Beginner Hardware Hacker's Kit A comprehensive hardware hacking bundle including USB Nugget, Slim Nugget Case, mini breadboard, and breadboard breakout tail add-on for CircuitPython and Arduino projects.
• Ultimate Hacker's Startup Kit A complete bundle combining four starter kits: Cat-Themed Meow Mixer Soldering Kit, Beginner Wi-Fi Hacker's Kit, Beginner Hardware Hacker's Kit, and DIY Nugget kit with both ESP8266 and ESP32S2 chips.
• Meow Mixer Soldering Kit A cat-themed beginner soldering kit featuring RGB LEDs with adjustable color and intensity via potentiometers. Includes Meow Mixer PCB, CR2032 battery, resistors, and comprehensive soldering guide.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Hak5coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRetia creates educational content distributed through the Hak5 YouTube channel and media platform, which is a well-established cybersecurity media brand. This partnership extends Retia's reach to Hak5's large audience of cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts.
• SecurityFWDcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRetia produces regular content for the SecurityFWD YouTube channel, including twice-weekly livestreams (Tuesday hacker Q&A and Friday hacker news stream), expanding visibility and audience reach within the cybersecurity community.
• Code Girls UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetia partners with Code Girls United and the state of Montana to host the annual CyberCat Academy, a week-long cyber camp teaching soldering, ethical hacking, and cybersecurity skills to kids and adults. Retia creates custom hardware designs (Meow Mixer soldering kit, Nibble LoRa nodes) for these programs using grant funding.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Adafruit Industries: Open-source hardware retailer and educator selling ESP32/ESP8266-based kits and tutorials. Comparable in educational hardware-first GTM, beginner-friendly CircuitPython/MicroPython focus, and product-led e-commerce model.
• Great Scott Gadgets: Open-source hardware vendor for security research (HackRF, Ubertooth, YARD Stick One). Direct peer in educational, open-source offensive-security and SDR hardware tools aimed at ethical hackers.
• Flipper Devices: Creator of the Flipper Zero multi-tool for RFID, NFC, infrared, sub-GHz radio, and HID attacks. Closest direct competitor in pocket-sized, open-source-friendly hacking hardware targeting the same beginner-to-intermediate ethical hacking audience.
• Arduino: Foundational open-source microcontroller platform supported across Retia's products (Arduino IDE). Comparable in beginner-friendly hardware education ecosystem and programmable microcontroller form factor.
• SparkFun Electronics: Open-source electronics retailer offering microcontroller kits, sensors, and tutorials to makers and educators. Comparable product catalogue, educational positioning, and direct-to-consumer hardware model.
• Hak5: Established maker of offensive security hardware (WiFi Pineapple, Bash Bunny, Packet Squirrel) and a cybersecurity content media brand that partners with Retia. Direct peer in educational security hardware and overlapping customer base of pentesters and hackers.
• Proxmark / RRG Industries: Open-source RFID/NFC research hardware used by security researchers and hackers. Comparable niche in dual-use security hardware and overlapping audience of physical-security researchers.

Emerging players

• Hack The Box: Cybersecurity upskilling platform with labs and certification paths targeting aspiring pentesters. Adjacent in beginner-to-pro offensive security training content; lacks the hardware kits that define Retia's GTM.
• TryHackMe: Online cybersecurity training platform with hands-on labs for beginners. Comparable in entry-level cybersecurity education mission; differs by being software/learning-platform rather than hardware-centric.

Broad incumbents

• Seeed Studio: Larger open-source hardware manufacturer offering ESP32/LoRa/Meshtastic products. Overlaps in IoT and Meshtastic hardware ecosystem serving makers and education customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WiFiNugget
• GitHubgithub.com/retiallc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7MsOTrWzbNeCRAEsCfHyKQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/retia-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Retia LLC