# Why You Must Simplify Your Product to Succeed

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2022-07-19
- Length: 10m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-19-why-you-must-simplify-your-product-to-succeed

## Summary

Host John Teel argues that hardware entrepreneurs must simplify their products to reduce development time, cost, and risk, especially for startups with limited capital. He illustrates this with two examples from his Hardware Academy: an entrepreneur who avoided the complexity of a custom motorized wireless charger, and another who chose 720p video over 1080p to stay within microcontroller capabilities. Teel emphasizes that these simplifications can save tens of thousands of dollars and accelerate time to market.

## Chapters

- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-19-why-you-must-simplify-your-product-to-succeed#t=15) Introduction: The Cost of Complexity

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Hardware Academy (other)
- hardwareacademy.com (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)
- [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)
- [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)
- [063: Hardware Startup Tips from a 22 Year Apple Exec](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-17-063-hardware-startup-tips-from-a-22-year-apple-exec) (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)

## Citing this page

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