Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
If you're looking for an uncommon thinker, how about a tech industry veteran developing and selling landline phones in 2025 — and selling out of them in the process. Chet Kittleson is the co-founder and CEO of Tin Can, a Seattle startup making Wi-Fi enabled landline phones designed to let kids talk to friends and family with just their voices. No screens, no AI.
GeekWire recognized Kittleson as one of our Uncommon Thinkers (geekwire.com/special-coverage/uncommon-thinkers-2025/) for 2025, a program presented in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners honoring inventors, scientists, and entrepreneurs transforming their industries in unexpected ways.
In this episode, he talks about the moment at school pickup that sparked the idea, why his own kids don't own devices, what happened when he eliminated screens on family road trips, and the $12 million seed round led by Greylock that will fuel the company's next chapter.
Related stories:
• Tin Can dials up another $12M to meet soaring demand for landline-style phone for kids (geekwire.com/2025/tin-can-dials-up-another-12m-to-meet-soaring-demand-for-landline-style-phone-for-kids/)
• Uncommon Thinkers: Tin Can is Chet Kittleson’s calling, and a way to foster deeper connections (geekwire.com/2025/uncommon-thinkers-tin-can-is-chet-kittlesons-calling-and-a-way-to-foster-deeper-connections/)
• Uncommon Thinkers: Hope for the future from our 2025 honorees (geekwire.com/2025/uncommon-thinkers-hope-for-the-future-from-our-2025-honorees/)
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.
See omnystudio.com/listener (omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
If you're looking for an uncommon thinker, how about a tech industry veteran developing and selling landline phones in 2025 — and selling out of them in the process. Chet Kittleson is the co-founder and CEO of Tin Can, a Seattle startup making Wi-Fi enabled landline phones designed to let kids talk to friends and family with just their voices. No screens, no AI.
GeekWire recognized Kittleson as one of our Uncommon Thinkers (geekwire.com/special-coverage/uncommon-thinkers-2025/) for 2025, a program presented in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners honoring inventors, scientists, and entrepreneurs transforming their industries in unexpected ways.
In this episode, he talks about the moment at school pickup that sparked the idea, why his own kids don't own devices, what happened when he eliminated screens on family road trips, and the $12 million seed round led by Greylock that will fuel the company's next chapter.
Related stories:
• Tin Can dials up another $12M to meet soaring demand for landline-style phone for kids (geekwire.com/2025/tin-can-dials-up-another-12m-to-meet-soaring-demand-for-landline-style-phone-for-kids/)
• Uncommon Thinkers: Tin Can is Chet Kittleson’s calling, and a way to foster deeper connections (geekwire.com/2025/uncommon-thinkers-tin-can-is-chet-kittlesons-calling-and-a-way-to-foster-deeper-connections/)
• Uncommon Thinkers: Hope for the future from our 2025 honorees (geekwire.com/2025/uncommon-thinkers-hope-for-the-future-from-our-2025-honorees/)
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.
See omnystudio.com/listener (omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
