Hardware Podcasts

011: DIY Design & Manufacture of a Basketball Training Tool with Tony Devine of The Original Profender

Product Startup · 28 Jun 2016 · 59m

What this episode covers

Tony Devine, a teacher and inventor, explains how he designed and manufactured the Original Profender, a mobile basketball training device, entirely by himself using a garage workshop and CNC machinery. He details his validation process, which involved demonstrating the prototype to college and NBA programs like Villanova and the Brooklyn Nets to prove its value before seeking formal production. Devine also discusses his experience appearing on Shark Tank, noting that while it provided credibility, it did not generate the expected sales spike, forcing him to remain a one-person operation focused on direct sales and education. He describes the iterative design improvements, such as switching from plastic to metal connectors after field failures, and his strategy of expanding into lower-priced stationary models to capture a broader market.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Villanova, Brooklyn Nets, Mako Design + Invent
Products
Original Profender, D-Man, Big Man Pad, Stationary Profender
Also
Shark Tank

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