WORST DAY Bringing a New Product to Market

Predictable Designs Podcast · 9 Nov 2022 · 11m · Episode 34

What this episode covers

John Teel, host of the Predictable Designs Podcast, recounts his journey bringing the 'Pop-Up Microlite' to market in 2007. He describes his initial excitement from a Blockbuster VP, the stress of presenting in Dallas, and the devastation of receiving blunt negative feedback on a warped 3D-printed prototype. Teel explains how he diagnosed the material failure due to heat, rebuilt trust with the buyer, and leveraged the resulting letter of intent to secure manufacturing investment.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • It's Only a Prototype · 5m

    Introducing: It's only a Prototype Podcast

    Phil Staunton, founder of product design consultancy D2M, and co-host Tom Constable introduce the 'It's Only a Prototype' podcast, which explores the messy realities of launching physical products. Staunton draws on 15 years of experience and his own failed product launch to highlight the high failure rate of hardware ventures, noting that even top investors see only one in ten successes. The hosts outline key upcoming topics, including re-shoring manufacturing from China, handling intellectual property issues, and dealing with cheap imitations.

  • Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast · 1h 21m

    Ep. 39 - Starting a Hardware Company

    Stephen Hawes and Lucian Chapa, founders of Opulo, discuss the realities of starting a hardware company, emphasizing the necessity of accepting failure and overcoming imposter syndrome. They share personal anecdotes about failed projects, such as a 3D scanner and wedding cake toppers, to illustrate that iteration is key. The hosts also detail their strategy for building traction through authentic social media content, specifically YouTube, and the importance of validating product-market fit by engaging directly with early users.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 38m

    2: Launching

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat document the launch of their Obi smart laser toy for pets on Kickstarter, hosted by Myke Hurley. The founders describe the high-stakes pressure of relying on the campaign to sustain their business, noting that previous successes with products like the Neat Ice Kit had created a false sense of security about their ability to pivot to new markets. As the campaign failed to meet its $100,000 goal, they faced the difficult decision of whether to cancel the project, ultimately choosing to let it run its course to respect their backers while learning from the marketing failure.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 10m

    186: Sleeping on the Factory Floor

    Indrek Rebane, CTO of Build It Hardware Accelerator and engineer at Hedgehog Engineering, discusses the realities of building physical products, from garage prototypes to mass production. He explains why Arduino-based prototypes often fail in manufacturing due to cost, reliability, and component availability issues, and emphasizes the importance of user testing and finding product-market fit before scaling. Rebane also shares insights on the Estonian tech ecosystem, the Garage48 Hardware & Arts hackathon, and the critical need for founders to avoid 'stupid money' and focus on making what customers actually want.

  • Making It · 1h 01m

    Episode 203: So and So Johnson

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the difficulty of deciding when to scrap a project and restart, citing Diresta's failed brass belt buckle casting and printing press adjustments. They explore the psychological attachment to work-in-progress and the importance of having the courage to change course, using the Fire Festival documentary as an example of ignoring failure signals. The hosts also share recent maker projects, including Clagett's metal sculpture class and Picciuto's screen printing experiments, while highlighting tools like Bantam Tools and AI-driven safety tech from Smarter Every Day.

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