Adam Benzion is the co-founder of Hackster a global community for hardware hackers and starters. A former Microsoft and a hardware entrepreneur, Adam also moderates The starting material group on LinkedIn.
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In 2010, I started an exploration project based on common hardware problem: short battery life in mobile devices . Together with my co-founder, we launched a 20-month affair with two great aspirations: to develop a more intelligent charging technology that increases energy efficiency by 30 percent ahead of existing products and integrated research solar technology for replenishing energy.
In the midst of all this, we also kicked off a successful Kickstarter campaign to help us to go and deliver a ready retail battery case -. A real product
Looking at the simplicity of what I considered "feasible" makes me cringe. I am one of many who can tell you how rewarding such a company may be, but also how difficult, expensive and frustrating process.
If I start not being swallowed by a manufacturer of accessories leader in 2012, he would probably have gone bankrupt. Not because the technology was still young, but just because I tried to do too much with too few resources. And I did not know anything at the time was problematic on the road.
I do not want to scare anyone away, on the contrary. I am here to tell you that you can do it, and show you how to do it in a way that reduces the risk, cost and frustration.
What you need to know about hardware startups bootstrapping
for you and thousands of other hardware budding entrepreneurs save a lot of self-inflicted pain, I created Ultimate Guide to bootstrap Hardware Startups . Free to download, share and copy.
This guide aims to encourage hardware entrepreneurs with the resources, processes and tips to help you build something from nothing. It is a collection of knowledge of experienced engineers, manufacturing experts, the pros of the supply chain and contractors hardware I tested is sought or personally know the tastes of Xbox, Kindle, LifeProof, Moment, OtterBox, Highway1, HAXLR8R, Bolt, TI and Apple.
There is a collection of resources, best practices and experiences that are valuable to your hardware inputs.
This is an excerpt below.
Door 1: Explorer
start. Before a single nut is connected to a bolt, there is an idea, and with it, must be answered numerous questions.
This is not a moment to overwhelm you with details, there will be plenty of time for that, but later there was also no time to start playing with prototypes.
You'll be better in the long run if you make your way through the list to follow and see what you come up with.
Define your customer segment
What problem you solve? Whose needs will be served by your product? Would you buy this product? What will the product cost at retail, and that in accordance with customer expectations? How big is your market?
Build a paper on marketing requirements
What is your brand? These are not the same as the company name, logo or slogan, but what you represent. Brand identity is a huge part of the marketing world of today.
There are needs of customers, and the customer wants. The issue of your answers may be trite, but it does not mean that you can not make it sexy. Test the seductive power of your idea with Google Ad Words hit your "future website."
Moreover, it is probably never too early to intellectual property and consultation of the brand, just for peace of mind.
Involve others as much as possible
Find mentors and advisors. Press people you trust. Whenever you can, talk to people who have done this before.
Validate assumptions. Talk to at least 20 foreigners on your product. Gauge their enthusiasm, listen to their questions carefully and do not assume that you still have the answers.
Build the right team
Yes, you need a qualified team, but a business startup should be stocked with risk takers. Search resilient, persevering types that can keep each other motivated when frustration levels are high.
take technical courses, participate and learn new things
The cost is key figure it early
Develop cost estimates. Prototypes are expensive and so are the engineers who build them. At this point, a comprehensive draft law materials will not exist, but the estimate specific costs is always important.
Map of your financing strategy. Cash is often the thing that makes or breaks hardware startups. A funding strategy can take many forms, (and of course will be considered more thoroughly when we get to "Fund"), but it must be on the table as soon as possible.
Majestic products, even at this early stage, will come back to bite you later if you can not order up dollars when you sell. Margins are business killers. I felt first hand and it was ugly. It's never too early to think about costs.
Build an experience, not a product
You agree to deliver a physical product, and although we are not the "Prototype" for now ( what is next), this is the time to sharpen your pencils writing and contact with the outside world that will help you define the xperience you must provide to succeed.
develop visual concepts of software, hardware and people that meet in several scenarios of use cases. Make them enough, 3D renders, it's like ecstasy for the soul and they keep you going to keep you inspired.
Set your product and experience architecture. The design is nice, but what happens under the hood is more important, and that's why people bother to use it and how it translates into everyday use
Define your strategy software. Be aware of the Internet of things, APIs. Will you need to consider interoperability with other devices? Probably yes, then how does it work? How does it look like?
Engage a professional team to help you build the product? Do it after you have defined the heart of your invention, the desired experience and brand.
Over-communicate with your team and suppliers; insist on "feedback".
Hardware, fun challenges
The appearance of materials, finishes, colors and lights, software and utilities all together is magic many of us can not resist. In the end, the world will have access to an invention that you came with, so make sure you do this right, following the right steps and talk to the right people.
Want more? For details on how to initiate the start of your hardware, download complete guide, share or forward, then go build something!
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