# S7E26 Paul Vizzio | From Prototype to Product: How Paul Vizzio Engineered RemieDog Into a Real Hardware Business

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2026-06-19
- Length: 40m
- Episode: 26
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-19-s7e26-paul-vizzio-from-prototype-to-product-how-paul-vizzio-engineered-remiedog

## Summary

Paul Vizzio, Director of Hardware Engineering at Proteus Motion and founder of the direct-to-consumer brand RemieDog, details the journey of engineering a specialized dog leash from a blocky 3D-printed prototype to a manufacturable product. He explains how he reduced costs by 80% by shifting from CNC machining to die casting and sourcing components from non-traditional hiking suppliers to ensure load ratings. Vizzio also discusses the harsh realities of unit economics, revealing that while the hardware is profitable, marketing and operational expenses have made the venture a financial loss, leading him to adopt a 'build in public' strategy to share his engineering and business learnings.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-19-s7e26-paul-vizzio-from-prototype-to-product-how-paul-vizzio-engineered-remiedog#t=0) Introduction and RemieDog Origin
- [5:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-19-s7e26-paul-vizzio-from-prototype-to-product-how-paul-vizzio-engineered-remiedog#t=346) Prototype Design and CAD Iterations
- [10:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-19-s7e26-paul-vizzio-from-prototype-to-product-how-paul-vizzio-engineered-remiedog#t=640) Cost Reduction: CNC to Die Casting
- [21:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-19-s7e26-paul-vizzio-from-prototype-to-product-how-paul-vizzio-engineered-remiedog#t=1292) Supplier Sourcing and Component Testing
- [28:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-19-s7e26-paul-vizzio-from-prototype-to-product-how-paul-vizzio-engineered-remiedog#t=1686) DFM and Factory Relationships
- [32:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-19-s7e26-paul-vizzio-from-prototype-to-product-how-paul-vizzio-engineered-remiedog#t=1936) Profitability, Marketing, and Build in Public

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- RemieDog (product)
- Proteus Motion (company)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Alibaba (other)
- Petco (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 293: My pants are here!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-01-29-episode-293-my-pants-are-here) (Making It)
- [19: Smushed by the Gears of Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-29-19-smushed-by-the-gears-of-industry) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [76: Tom’s Future Corner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Ep. 8 - Ryan from V1 Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-11-09-ep-8-ryan-from-v1-engineering) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [18: No Cool Cheap Screwdrivers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

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