# 41: Rejected Ideas

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2018-08-29
- Length: 50m
- Episode: 41
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-08-29-41-rejected-ideas
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/41

## Summary

Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss rejected product ideas, including a golf swing app, a Cosmonaut rocket stand, and a mini ice block machine, explaining that they were abandoned due to complexity, triviality, or small market size. They detail the decision-making process for a two-person team, noting that even simple products incur significant marketing and inventory overhead, which often outweighs the potential revenue. The conversation shifts to their pivot toward stationery, driven by customer surveys, and concludes with a segment on Apple's laptop ecosystem and the challenges of professional docking workflows.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-08-29-41-rejected-ideas#t=8) Introduction: Rejected Ideas and Golf App
- [6:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-08-29-41-rejected-ideas#t=392) Cosmonaut Stand and Complexity vs. Simplicity
- [14:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-08-29-41-rejected-ideas#t=894) Mini Ice Block Machine and Market Size
- [17:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-08-29-41-rejected-ideas#t=1043) iPhone Grip and Product Line Strategy
- [29:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-08-29-41-rejected-ideas#t=1749) Wall-Mounted Record Player and Furniture
- [38:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-08-29-41-rejected-ideas#t=2329) Dan's Tech Corner: Apple Laptops and Docking

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Glyph (product)
- Cosmonaut (product)
- Neat Ice Kit (product)
- Mark One (product)
- Kleinbell (other)
- Grammar Vox (company)
- Muji (company)
- Apple (company)
- Powerbook Duo (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How to Know If Your New Product Idea is a Good One to Pursue](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-06-28-how-to-know-if-your-new-product-idea-is-a-good-one-to-pursue) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 5 - StudioNeat (9/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-5-studioneat-9-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [351: That’s it, we’re not going to finish.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-04-15-351-thats-it-were-not-going-to-finish) (Making It)
- [Hardware Entrepreneurs: 3 Critical Mistakes You Must Avoid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-06-21-hardware-entrepreneurs-3-critical-mistakes-you-must-avoid) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [13 Reasons Why New Hardware Products Fail](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-11-23-13-reasons-why-new-hardware-products-fail) (Predictable Designs Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-08-29-41-rejected-ideas. 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 Thoroughly Considered.