# 053: Manufacturing, Quality & 3D Printing

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2017-05-23
- Length: 49m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-05-23-053-manufacturing-quality-3d-printing
- Listen: https://theproductstartup.com/053-manufacturing-quality-assurance-3d-printing-guest-host-khierstyn-ross/

## Summary

Filip Valica of Mako Design + Invent, interviewed by Khierstyn Ross of Crowdfunding Uncut, explains that crowdfunding campaigns often fail due to poor manufacturing planning rather than lack of funding. They discuss the importance of iterative prototyping, using 3D printing to decouple complex features, and the critical need to validate product-market fit before committing to tooling. The conversation covers strategies for sourcing overseas manufacturers, vetting them through trade fairs and third-party QA, and protecting intellectual property with NNN agreements to prevent design theft.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-05-23-053-manufacturing-quality-3d-printing#t=0) Introduction: Filip Valica and Khierstyn Ross on Manufacturing Risks

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- Crowdfunding Uncut (company)
- Crowdfunding Hustlers (company)
- Coolest Cooler (product)
- Scully (product)
- Rockwell Razors (product)
- Canton Fair (other)
- Alibaba (other)
- Global Sources (other)
- China Checkup (company)
- Glow Biz (company)
- 3D Hubs (company)
- IKEA (company)
- Fidget Cube (product)
- Milton (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [186: Sleeping on the Factory Floor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-02-09-186-sleeping-on-the-factory-floor) (Embedded.fm)
- [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)
- [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)
- [Episode 204: The Maker Knife with Giaco Whatever](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-03-01-episode-204-the-maker-knife-with-giaco-whatever) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-05-23-053-manufacturing-quality-3d-printing. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Product Startup.