# 054: Food-safe Children's Products, Dan & Justin with Milton the Mealtime Companion

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2017-06-06
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-06-06-054-food-safe-childrens-products-dan-justin-with-milton-the-mealtime-companion
- Listen: https://theproductstartup.com/054-dan-justin-milton-mealtime-companion/

## Summary

Dan and Justin, founders of 60 LLC, discuss creating Milton, the Mealtime Companion, a food-safe silicone tool for picky eaters. They detail their prototyping journey using a MakerGear M2 3D printer and custom silicone molds, followed by rigorous toy safety testing and US-based manufacturing. The episode highlights their strategic use of a companion children's book and storytelling to drive engagement, while navigating early-stage validation through Reddit and managing unit economics for a bootstrapped launch.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-06-06-054-food-safe-childrens-products-dan-justin-with-milton-the-mealtime-companion#t=0) Introduction: Dan and Justin with Milton the Mealtime Companion
- [2:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-06-06-054-food-safe-childrens-products-dan-justin-with-milton-the-mealtime-companion#t=170) Product Concept and Social Modeling Strategy
- [9:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-06-06-054-food-safe-childrens-products-dan-justin-with-milton-the-mealtime-companion#t=553) Prototyping with 3D Printing and Silicone Molds
- [15:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-06-06-054-food-safe-childrens-products-dan-justin-with-milton-the-mealtime-companion#t=924) Testing, Safety Compliance and US Manufacturing
- [27:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-06-06-054-food-safe-childrens-products-dan-justin-with-milton-the-mealtime-companion#t=1639) Packaging Design and Unit Economics
- [33:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-06-06-054-food-safe-childrens-products-dan-justin-with-milton-the-mealtime-companion#t=2005) Market Validation and Launch Strategy

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Milton the Mealtime Companion (product)
- 60 LLC (company)
- MakerGear M2 (tool)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Catherine Callahan (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [353:  The emotional weight of bank accounts](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-05-06-353-the-emotional-weight-of-bank-accounts) (Making It)
- [339 - Beyond the Dieline ep 1 with Tom Seymour and Jessica Kwon from Moka Energy!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-02-05-339-beyond-the-dieline-ep-1-with-tom-seymour-and-jessica-kwon-from-moka-energy) (People of Packaging)
- [Live Episode! Milk Bar: Christina Tosi (2019)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-10-25-live-episode-milk-bar-christina-tosi-2019) (How I Built This)
- [25: Q&A](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

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