# #027 - Rapid prototyping - a platform and its essential tools, with Finbarr Watterson of Fictiv, USA

- Show: [The Hardware Entrepreneur](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur)
- Published: 2017-05-24
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson
- Listen: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thehardwareentrepreneur/027.mp3

## Summary

Finbarr Watterson, Hardware Community Evangelist at Fictiv, explains how the company uses a distributed manufacturing model to provide rapid 3D printing and CNC machining services for hardware prototyping. He details Fictiv's origin story, where founders Nate and Dave Evans bootstrapped the business by fulfilling orders from their kitchen before raising seed and Series A funding. The discussion covers the strategic advantage of iterating in the US before scaling to mass manufacturing in China, using Lockitron as a case study for avoiding early inventory mistakes.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson#t=0) Introduction and Fictiv's Mission
- [5:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson#t=306) Fictiv's Distributed Manufacturing Model
- [8:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson#t=514) The Origin Story and MVP
- [11:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson#t=696) Business Model and Competitors
- [15:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson#t=925) Design for Manufacturing and Customer Experience
- [20:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson#t=1224) Funding Stages and Early Mistakes
- [23:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson#t=1424) US Prototyping vs. China Mass Manufacturing
- [29:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson#t=1774) Lockitron Case Study and Cultural Differences

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Fictiv (company)
- Lockitron (company)
- Protolabs (company)
- Plextronics (company)
- Exometry (company)
- 3D Hubs (company)
- Kickstarter (company)
- MakerBot Replicator 2 (product)
- Ford (company)
- SL (company)
- The Power of Habit (other)
- Charles Duhigg (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [164: The 3 Prototyping Phases for New Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-02-23-164-the-3-prototyping-phases-for-new-product-development) (Product Startup)
- [149: How to Professionally Prototype your Invention Idea](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-11-09-149-how-to-professionally-prototype-your-invention-idea) (Product Startup)
- [053: Manufacturing, Quality & 3D Printing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-05-23-053-manufacturing-quality-3d-printing) (Product Startup)
- [Dylan Lundberg | Protolabs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs) (Being an Engineer)
- [107: Using Hardware Incubators for Product Startups](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-12-22-107-using-hardware-incubators-for-product-startups) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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