# S2E37 Defied the odds:  A Physical Product Development Firm That Focuses on Startups & Small Businesses, Mako Design + Invent –Kevin Mako

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2021-08-23
- Length: 50m
- Episode: 37
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/defied-the-odds-kevin-mako/

## Summary

Kevin Mako, Founder of Mako Design + Invent, explains how his firm supports hardware startups and small manufacturers by guiding products from initial concept to first production run. He details the financial journey for inventors, emphasizing the use of crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to bridge the gap between prototyping and manufacturing, while advising on the importance of a 'Smart Minimum Viable Product' (SMVP) to manage complexity and cost. Mako also discusses his company's strict ethical policy of never taking equity in client products to avoid conflicts of interest, and highlights the role of his podcast, The Product Startup, in educating the hardware community.

## Chapters

- [0:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu#t=29) Introduction: Kevin Mako and Mako Design + Invent
- [1:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu#t=77) Mako's Background and Company History
- [3:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu#t=198) Service Model for Startups and Small Manufacturers
- [7:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu#t=439) Identifying the Market Gap for Inventors
- [13:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu#t=797) Funding Strategies and Crowdfunding as a Bridge
- [19:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu#t=1149) Cost Estimates and Crowdfunding Execution
- [23:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu#t=1389) Managing Feature Creep with SMVP
- [31:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu#t=1866) Equity, Friends/Family, and Early Stage Financing
- [40:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu#t=2445) Ethical Policy: No Equity in Client Products
- [41:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu#t=2476) Recommended Books and The Product Startup Podcast

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- Kickstarter (other)
- Indiegogo (other)
- The Product Startup (other)
- 10X Rule (other)
- The Common Path to Uncommon Success (other)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [056: Mistakes, Opportunities, & Feedback for a New Product](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2020-10-21-056-mistakes-opportunities-feedback-for-a-new-product) (Product Startup)
- [216: 5 Key Tips For Starting Your Product Development Journey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-03-11-216-5-key-tips-for-starting-your-product-development-journey) (Product Startup)
- [3: Onward](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-10-28-3-onward) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Product Design and Manufacturing with Nick Frank of Knectiv](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [107: Using Hardware Incubators for Product Startups](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-12-22-107-using-hardware-incubators-for-product-startups) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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