# How to Validate Your Product Idea Before You Spend Serious Money On It

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2020-07-13
- Length: 36m
- Episode: 25
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-13-how-to-validate-your-product-idea-before-you-spend-serious-money-on-it

## Summary

Host John Teel explains how hardware entrepreneurs can validate product ideas before spending significant money on development. He outlines specific strategies including researching competition to ensure market proof, building an audience through content marketing, and using sales page tests to gauge real interest. Teel also discusses the importance of pre-selling, minimum viable products (MVPs), and leveraging an existing email list for successful crowdfunding campaigns like Pebble's.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-13-how-to-validate-your-product-idea-before-you-spend-serious-money-on-it#t=0) Introduction and Academy Announcement
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-13-how-to-validate-your-product-idea-before-you-spend-serious-money-on-it#t=15) The Importance of Validating Before Development
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-13-how-to-validate-your-product-idea-before-you-spend-serious-money-on-it#t=15) Researching Competition and Being Second to Market
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-13-how-to-validate-your-product-idea-before-you-spend-serious-money-on-it#t=15) Sharing Ideas and Protecting Intellectual Property
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-13-how-to-validate-your-product-idea-before-you-spend-serious-money-on-it#t=15) Gathering Feedback from Retailers and Distributors
- [16:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-13-how-to-validate-your-product-idea-before-you-spend-serious-money-on-it#t=990) Building an Audience and Email List Early

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Arduino (tool)
- Raspberry Pi (tool)
- Pebble (company)
- Kickstarter (company)
- Indiegogo (company)
- Best Buy (company)
- Hardware Academy (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [012: Testing product ideas. 7 inventors & small business owners share advice](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-07-12-012-testing-product-ideas-7-inventors-small-business-owners-share-advice) (Product Startup)
- [073: Tips from the World’s Biggest Crowdfunding Agency](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-04-28-073-tips-from-the-worlds-biggest-crowdfunding-agency) (Product Startup)
- [010: I have an idea, now what? Developing, testing & prototyping physical products.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-06-14-010-i-have-an-idea-now-what-developing-testing-prototyping-physical-products) (Product Startup)
- [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)
- [108: Hardware Design Tips from Apple & Intel Leader](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-01-05-108-hardware-design-tips-from-apple-intel-leader) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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