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Predictable Designs Podcast

John Teel, a former Texas Instruments chip designer, for hardware startups and entrepreneurs bringing a new electronic product to market: developing, manufacturing, marketing and selling it.

48 episodes · 31 hours · since 2020

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Predictable Designs Podcast has ended.

Its last episode came out on 25 Jan 2023. The whole back catalogue is still here to explore, every episode with its summary and chapters.

Predictable Designs Podcast is filed under electronics, product development and startups. Its most recent episode published on , so it sits in the archive rather than the active listings. Listeners have left 12 ratings on Apple Podcasts, averaging 5 out of 5.

Latest episodes

The 10 newest episodes of Predictable Designs Podcast, each with a summary and chapters.

  • · 43m

    Q&A - Best PCB Design Software, Finding Co-founders, and Avoiding Unsold Inventory

    Host John Teel answers questions from his Hardware Academy members regarding PCB design software, sales strategy, and co-founder selection. He advises entrepreneurs to use accessible tools like KiCad or DipTrace rather than expensive suites like Altium or Eagle, warning that software incompatibility can hinder future outsourcing. To avoid unsold inventory, he recommends pre-selling to a warm audience and starting with small production runs to validate demand before scaling. Finally, he suggests finding a technical co-founder through networking and universities, emphasizing that the founder must demonstrate significant progress and risk-taking to attract serious partners and fair equity splits.

    PCB design & layoutDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    1 chapters

  • · 17m

    The Ugly Truth About Prototyping a New Product

    Host John Teel explains the iterative stages of prototyping electronic hardware, emphasizing that no single prototype suffices for mass production. He details the progression from low-cost Proof of Concept (POC) prototypes using development kits like Arduino or Raspberry Pi to 'looks-like' models made of clay or 3D printed, and 'works-like' prototypes with custom PCBs. Teel outlines the critical transition to pre-production prototypes optimized for injection molding, followed by Engineering Validation Testing (EVT), Design Validation Testing (DVT) for certifications like FCC and UL, and Production Validation Testing (PVT) for pilot runs.

    Prototyping & iterationPCB design & layout
    6 chapters

  • · 18m

    Microcontroller Showdown: Selecting the Best One for Your Project

    Host John Teel explains how to select the right microcontroller for electronic products, warning against mid-project changes and emphasizing the need for 'room to grow' in GPIO and performance. He categorizes microcontrollers into 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit families, detailing specific architectures like the 8051, PIC, AVR, MSP430, STM32, and ESP32. Teel compares their costs, peripherals, and development ecosystems, noting that 32-bit chips like the STM32 and ESP32 have become cost-competitive with 8-bit options while offering superior features.

    Microcontrollers & dev platforms
    1 chapters

  • · 8m

    How Long Does It Take to Develop a New Electronic Product?

    John Teel, host of the Predictable Designs podcast, explains that the time to develop an electronic product depends on three critical variables: product complexity, the founder's involvement, and budget. He illustrates how unnecessary features like wireless charging can triple development time and cost, advising entrepreneurs to simplify designs. Teel shares his personal experience of learning 3D modeling to avoid delays caused by external engineers, emphasizing that no one works harder than a focused founder. He concludes with concrete estimates, suggesting 3-6 months for a first prototype and 9-12 months for a final version if expertise exists, plus additional time for certification.

    Validation & product-market fitPrototyping & iteration
    1 chapters

  • · 19m

    How to Outsource Product Development

    Host John Teel explains how to outsource electronic product development by balancing experience, cost, location, and trust. He advises hiring specialized engineers with relevant product experience, using independent design reviews to mitigate risk, and paying via fixed-price milestones to control budget. Teel also distinguishes between proof-of-concept prototypes using off-the-shelf modules and manufacturable custom PCB designs, warning against switching software like Altium or Eagle mid-project.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringPricing, margins & unit economics
    6 chapters

  • · 18m

    Microcontroller or Microprocessor - Which Do You Need for Your Project?

    John Teel, host of the Predictable Designs Podcast, explains how to choose between a microcontroller (MCU) and a microprocessor (MPU) for electronic products. He argues that 90% of projects should start with an MCU, citing the STM32F469 as a high-performance example that bridges the gap for displays. Specific use cases like 1080p video, USB 3.0, and complex GUIs require an MPU, while battery life and simple control favor an MCU. Teel also contrasts development platforms like Arduino and Raspberry Pi to guide prototype-to-production decisions.

    Microcontrollers & dev platformsPCB design & layout
    1 chapters

  • · 20m

    The Costs to Develop & Manufacture a New Electronic Product

    Host John Teel breaks down the three major cost categories for developing and manufacturing electronic products: development, scaling, and landed production. He details specific expenses including electronics, software, enclosure prototyping, and retail packaging design, emphasizing that entrepreneurs often underestimate these initial outlays. The discussion then shifts to scaling costs, highlighting certification fees and the significant expense of injection molds required for mass production. Finally, Teel analyzes landed production costs, covering components, PCB assembly, labor, testing, scrap rates, packaging, freight, and duties, warning that ignoring these figures leads to financial failure.

    Pricing, margins & unit economicsDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    1 chapters

  • · 20m

    15 Steps to Develop a New Electronic Hardware Product

    Host John Teel outlines a 15-step framework for developing new electronic hardware products, emphasizing the critical importance of early cost estimation and manufacturing feasibility. He details the progression from product definition and preliminary design to schematic capture, PCB layout, firmware development, and enclosure prototyping via 3D printing. The process concludes with iterative testing, debugging, and obtaining necessary electrical certifications like FCC and CE before mass production.

    PCB design & layoutPrototyping & iteration
    9 chapters

  • · 14m

    13 Reasons Why New Hardware Products Fail

    Host John Teal outlines 13 common reasons why new hardware products fail, categorized into technical, financial, and sales/marketing challenges. He emphasizes critical pitfalls such as underestimating development time, neglecting design for manufacturing (DFM), and running out of cash flow due to inventory costs. Teal also highlights the importance of validating customer demand early through crowdfunding and building an audience before launch.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIPricing, margins & unit economics
    1 chapters

  • · 11m

    WORST DAY Bringing a New Product to Market

    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.

    Validation & product-market fitPrototyping & iteration
    1 chapters

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