# Importance of Technical Advisors and Product Simplification

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2020-05-15
- Length: 23m
- Episode: 19
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-05-15-importance-of-technical-advisors-and-product-simplification

## Summary

John Teel, host of the Predictable Designs Podcast and former Texas Instruments chip designer, explains why hardware entrepreneurs must hire an independent technical advisor and aggressively simplify their product designs. He illustrates these points with two case studies: one entrepreneur who saved approximately $50,000 by eliminating a complex wireless charging feature involving motors, and another who reduced development complexity by lowering video resolution from 1080p to 720p. Teel argues that product simplification is critical for startups to manage costs, reduce risk, and avoid the pitfalls of developing overly complex products that require expensive microprocessors or multiple devices.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-05-15-importance-of-technical-advisors-and-product-simplification#t=0) Introduction: The necessity of technical advisors
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-05-15-importance-of-technical-advisors-and-product-simplification#t=15) Role of independent technical advisors in hardware development
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-05-15-importance-of-technical-advisors-and-product-simplification#t=15) Case study: Eliminating complex wireless charging features
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-05-15-importance-of-technical-advisors-and-product-simplification#t=15) Case study: Simplifying video resolution from 1080p to 720p
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-05-15-importance-of-technical-advisors-and-product-simplification#t=15) Conclusion: The ROI of simplification and technical advice

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Texas Instruments (company)
- Hardware Academy (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S2E51 The Hardware Academy | John Teel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-12-03-s2e51-the-hardware-academy-john-teel) (Being an Engineer)
- [114: Designing an MVP for a New Consumer Product](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-16-114-designing-an-mvp-for-a-new-consumer-product) (Product Startup)
- [Lisa Lloyd | Engineering with Inventors, Starting Inexpensively, and Diverse Teams](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-06-17-lisa-lloyd-engineering-with-inventors-starting-inexpensively-and-diverse-teams) (Being an Engineer)
- [163: 2023 Trends in Product Development for Hardware Products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-02-16-163-2023-trends-in-product-development-for-hardware-products) (Product Startup)
- [113: How Founders Develop Complex Hardware Products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-09-113-how-founders-develop-complex-hardware-products) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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