From Idea to Market. How to build a hardware startup

Editor's Notes

• #8: Just a few years ago, it would have taken a corporate empire to design, build, and market a hardware game-changer like Apple’s  AAPL -1.00%  iPhone. Today, there’s far more hope — and excitement — surrounding the little guy, and for good reason.
• #12: There are companies which ar emaking it easier China has the hwhole chain Distribution channels;Grand St, gadget marketplace Tindie, Shoplocket provide ,means to easily reacg cosumers without needing to go through big box retailers.
• #14: I wanna invote you to be a part of this revolution
• #20: Drag your picture and Send to Back
• #22: What most hardware entrepreneurs underestimate is just how hard it is to bring a whole system — engineering, design, testing, packaging, supply chain, certifications, documentation, logistics, and so on — together into a product ready for mass adoption. It takes multiple iterations to make a hardware product truly amazing, so it’s a mistake to expect hardware startups to deliver Apple-like quality when they don’t have that type of experience. That’s why we always hear stories about much-hyped Kickstarter projects’ failed deadlines.
• #36: Yuou ar eprototyping tolearn - it’s the mosyt important fundamental reason to do so. - you should be leanring form each prototype – showing it to potential users, demoing it fo r VCs to proof concept, and leraning about the prices Prototype is here to communicate your idea Prototype early and often – craft your prototype to your audience “if you bring I to a meeting of designers you can bring rough foamcore, if you are bringing it to a meeting with VCs make sure you brough something more clean Show different prototypes to different audiences – look alike – like rendres, work alike Don’t be afraid to show a very rough version Get your hands dirty – go and do laser cutting in techshop Get it out in the frnt if the users asap and learn form then Use scla emodels if needed Tools for quick prototyping – eg paper Work alike and looks like prototypes Works like – focuses on a core functionality of hthe product to make sure the technical challenges have been met and fundamental subsystems work – sensors mechanisms or connevtivity solutions Looks like prototype focuses n the form, easthetics and esign language and ergonomics to emphasize the look and feel regardless of functionalitu It helps to isolate the feedback and determine both the deisgna dn the functionality – hence its good toget feedback separately on both ofthese things Use teardownd – taking apart competitors products can be helpful. Ifixit is the best resources for well documented teardowns of common products Component selclection How each part has been manufactured How the product ws assembled
• #39: You wanna start icorpoatinb DFM here and this si where things usually get hard
• #41: The purpose of a minimum viable product or “MVP” is to get to market quickly, learn from customers, and iterate based on the results. Unlike in software, though, a hardware MVP isn’t about searching for a repeatable business model: People either buy the product, or they don’t. A great hardware MVP is about the fastest path to cash — while still delivering a simple but good product. Because hardware is a cash-flow business, and that filter drives a lot of product decisions.
• #42: Can be hard an dexpensive transition Amaking amnay is a different game During the oprototyping you will make decisions which will affetct that stage – its good toprototype with manufacturing I The TIMING – if you apperach too early the might not take your seriousl – if its too late they might not be able to roduce what you want – and you will have to build it all over gaian
• #67: If you have done most of your work before the corwwfudnig launch you would thing that this part will be easy. That s