# 025: Industrial designer turned product-based business owner, Robson Splane of the Prorise Seat Assist

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2016-11-01
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the
- Listen: http://theproductstartup.com/tps025-industrial-designer-turned-small-business-owner-robson-splane-prorise-seat-assist/

## Summary

Robson Splane, an industrial designer with 30 years of experience, explains how he transitioned from a design consultancy to founding Risability and launching the Prorise Seat Assist. He details rejecting a lucrative licensing deal after 18 months of negotiation to manufacture and sell the product himself, citing the desire for creative and financial independence. Splane describes the iterative prototyping process, which involved 20 initial prototypes and 15 refined models, ultimately settling on a simple mechanical lever system rather than motors or pneumatics. He also discusses the strategic decision to source manufacturing in China and Mexico to meet government procurement requirements and manage costs while ensuring quality through third-party QA.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the#t=0) Introduction: Robson Splane and Risability
- [2:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the#t=146) Robson Splane's Design Background and Consultancy
- [5:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the#t=334) Leaving the Infomercial World and Licensing Strategy
- [9:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the#t=548) Identifying the Aging Demographic and Market Opportunity
- [13:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the#t=807) Prototyping the Prorise Seat Assist: From Complex to Simple
- [15:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the#t=920) The Importance of Functional Prototypes and Working Models
- [17:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the#t=1064) Intellectual Property, Patents, and Licensing Agreements
- [28:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the#t=1702) Manufacturing in China and Mexico: Sourcing and QA
- [37:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the#t=2250) Marketing, Distribution, and Funding Challenges
- [41:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-01-025-industrial-designer-turned-product-based-business-owner-robson-splane-of-the#t=2481) Advice for Inventors: Research, Resources, and Avoiding Scams

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Prorise Seat Assist (product)
- Risability (company)
- Splane Design Associates (company)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- General Motors (company)
- United States Veterans Administration (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Against All Odds: Overcoming Huge Setbacks to Sell 5 Million Worldwide](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-15-against-all-odds-overcoming-huge-setbacks-to-sell-5-million-worldwide) (It's Only a Prototype)
- [Introducing: It's only a Prototype Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-04-09-introducing-its-only-a-prototype-podcast) (It's Only a Prototype)
- [#027 - Rapid prototyping - a platform and its essential tools, with Finbarr Watterson of Fictiv, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [3: Onward](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-10-28-3-onward) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [From Corporate World to Freelancing to Running a Hardware Startup with Roberto Weiser of Developpa](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-06-29-from-corporate-world-to-freelancing-to-running-a-hardware-startup-with-roberto-w) (Predictable Designs Podcast)

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