I gave up over 20 hours of my free time last week to talk with 35 engineers, manufacturers, and business owners I’d never met before. No agenda, just curiosity. Each chat was 30 minutes to an hour, and it’s not over: I’ve got more scheduled this week (link in comments if you’re interested in having a conversation this week or at any point in the future). So far, here are two big takeaways: 1. Today, anyone can offer and sell a physical product - much like software. The barrier to hardware development is burning off. Ten years ago, hardware development required huge capital, tooling, and big bets. Today, thanks to accessible CAD, affordable prototyping, and a wealth of shared knowledge, the barrier feels more like a rope you can just duck under. 2. Asking beats assuming. I was amazed at the depth of knowledge people were willing to share. A week of conversations felt like a year of experience. People aren’t naturally secretive - they want to help. If you give your time and listen with genuine interest, the return in knowledge and connections is invaluable. So to summarize… The future of hardware is more accessible than ever - and the best way to tap into it is by asking questions and listening attentively. Hardware feels like a swelling wave, and it might be about to be the ride of a lifetime. 🌊 Do you think so too? Extra notes and references in the comments.
Cameron G.
3w
See you Monday. Nice to meet like-minded folks 👍
Mike Durkin
3w
Never seen anyone do anything like this. Meeting booked 🤝
Gareth Neal
3w
Love this and would love a chat.
Mark Winker
3w
Talking to each other always creates value. Was a great initiative you took. Really appreciate having met you through that post. 💯 😎
Solomon H.
3w
Agreed! Barriers to hardware are lower than ever. The easy part is the CAD and engineering, harder at least in my experience is the sales and marketing! If it's a good product it will see but finding the audience and capturing the sales takes time!
Great idea! Thanks for sharing! Point number one is taken with a huge caveat, that you're making very simple doodads and widgets. Making anything else there is still a huge barrier to entry. If you want to make something that has electronics, or a reputable/ traditional supply chain (involving injection mold tools, or tooling of any sort) custom materials, FCC, FDA, FAA or other regulatory approvals, etc. If you involve any kind of assembly labor or assembly instructions, if you involve any kind of testing and test documentation. All of these exist in the real world and cannot be sold into an app/ marketplace. But, cool idea to have these discussions! Thanks for sharing!
Point #1 is true for some product types :-) love the analogy of a wave and I agree, there’s a lot of pent-up energy in hardtech, especially because the majority of innovations for the past 50 years have been in IT and communications. So not just a wave, but a tidal wave!
Dave C.
3w
I've been thinking lately about what is the actual value we, as engineers, bring to the table. I'm thinking it has a lot to do with responsibility and ownership. Like you said, the knowledge and tools are becoming more available over time. I'd love to chat to get your perspective.
Engineer @ Yamaha | Prototype to Production Design
3wThread for notes and references