Frequently asked questions
Determining if your idea is worth pursuing involves several steps such as Market Research, Customer Development, and Business Analysis. Ultimately, it requires a leap of faith. We offer assistance with these processes, so feel free to contact us for support.
Product development is the process of taking an idea and turning it into a real, market‑ready product. It typically involves concept design, engineering, prototyping, testing and refining until you’re confident it can be manufactured reliably. Learn more about our approach to product development.
Timelines vary widely depending on complexity, but most products take several months to a couple of years to go from idea to market. Early planning and staged development help reduce surprises and keep things moving steadily.
Not at all. Even a rough sketch or a clear problem you want to solve is enough to start a conversation. An experienced team can help you shape that early idea into something practical and manufacturable.
Prototyping is about building one or a few versions to test ideas, design and usability. Manufacturing is setting up processes to make your product at scale—both stages need different thinking, and you’ll save time and money by treating them separately. Read more about prototyping here.
It depends on complexity, materials and testing requirements, but you should expect to invest in several rounds of design and prototypes. Starting with a clear plan and staged phases helps you manage costs as you go—if you’re unsure, we can talk through typical ranges.
You can start with a Non‑Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before sharing sensitive details. To protect your idea, you can file for patents, trademarks, and copyrights. If your company has proprietary elements, consider filing for a patent to protect your business during its early stages. Consult with patenting companies to determine if your idea is patentable and unique. Note that not all ideas can be patented or are worth patenting. For more information, read our blog articles on topics like 'Dangerous Mistakes that could Kill your Hardware Startups' and 'How to Select a Lawyer for Your Startup?'
It’s risky to jump straight in without testing. Even simple products benefit from a prototype phase to catch design flaws, usability issues or unexpected costs before you commit to tooling and bulk production.