# Product Design and Manufacturing with Nick Frank of Knectiv

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2020-02-02
- Length: 46m
- Episode: 6
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv

## Summary

Nick Frank, founder of Knectiv, an Austin-based product design and manufacturing firm, explains their turnkey approach to developing electronic products for startups and enterprises. He highlights common pitfalls like failing to design for manufacturability (DFM) and underestimating upfront costs, using the rapid development of Alan Walton's 'The Scout' hidden camera detector as a case study. Frank also discusses working with Eric Hunter on an automated fish feeder, emphasizing the importance of validating demand through crowdfunding before scaling production.

## Chapters

- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv#t=15) Introduction: Nick Frank and Knectiv
- [5:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv#t=346) Common Product Development Mistakes and DFM
- [10:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv#t=635) Case Study: The Scout Hidden Camera Detector
- [18:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv#t=1104) Case Study: Automated Fish Feeder and Crowdfunding
- [21:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv#t=1303) Pricing Strategies: Project vs. Hourly Billing
- [28:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv#t=1721) US Development vs. China Manufacturing
- [37:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv#t=2223) Client Onboarding and Product Simplification

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Knectiv (company)
- The Scout (product)
- spyguy.com (other)
- Alan Walton (other)
- Eric Hunter (other)
- Indie Creation (other)
- Raspberry Pi (other)
- Texas Instruments (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S2E37 Defied the odds:  A Physical Product Development Firm That Focuses on Startups & Small Businesses, Mako Design + Invent –Kevin Mako](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu) (Being an Engineer)
- [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)
- [3: Onward](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-10-28-3-onward) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Samuel Feller | Product & Project management, Kickstarter, & DIY Product Launch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-10-28-samuel-feller-product-project-management-kickstarter-diy-product-launch) (Being an Engineer)
- [186: Sleeping on the Factory Floor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-02-09-186-sleeping-on-the-factory-floor) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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