One Prototype Isn’t Enough: Understanding the Stages of Prototyping

When someone says “prototype,” it can mean a lot of different things. To some, it’s a scrappy model they built in a garage. To others, it’s a sleek-looking sample ready for photoshoots and pitch decks.

And they’re both right.

Because in product development—especially when you’re building hardware, electronics, or IoT devices—there isn’t just one kind of prototype. There’s a whole series. And each one has a job to do.

If you try to skip steps, or squeeze all your goals into one prototype, things go sideways quickly. The prototype becomes too expensive, too fragile, too soon. Or worse—you think you’re done, but you’ve missed something big.

So, let’s talk about the different stages of prototyping, what they actually mean, and why each one earns its place on the path to a successful product.

Proof of Concept: Is this even possible?

This is where it starts. Before you spend time designing enclosures or ordering PCBs, you build something—anything—that shows your idea works in principle.

Let’s say you’re developing a device that can detect water flow using a sensor and then push a message to a mobile app. Before worrying about how it’s packaged, or what it looks like, you want to see that your sensor can detect what you need it to, reliably, and that the signal can actually be sent and received.

This might involve an Arduino, a tangle of wires, a lot of tape, and a 3D-printed stand that only works when you hold it at the right angle. And that’s okay. Because if you can’t prove it works here, there’s no point trying to make it pretty later.

The proof of concept helps you reduce technical risk early. It lets you test the riskiest parts of your product before you invest time and money building the whole thing. And yes—it’s allowed to be ugly.

Alpha Prototype: Bringing the idea to life

Once your proof of concept is solid, it’s time to start shaping it into an actual product.

The alpha prototype is where you start integrating your systems into something more complete. Now, you’re designing your own PCB instead of using a dev board. You’re fitting parts into an enclosure. You’re testing the physical design—how things fit, how they connect, how they behave.

This version is usually built for internal testing. It’s not about polish. It’s about validation.

Does the sensor still work when placed inside the casing? Does the wiring route cleanly through the housing? Do your buttons get stuck? Does it fall apart if someone drops it on a bench?

At this stage, we’re often making quick changes—refining the design based on what we’re seeing and fixing mechanical issues that only show up when the product is physically real. It’s hands-on, messy, and essential.

Beta Prototype: Real users, real feedback

Now we’re starting to look at something that resembles the final product.

The beta prototype is more polished—both in looks and functionality. It’s built from more refined parts, often with early production-intent designs. The materials might not be final, but they’re close. The performance should be consistent. This is where you can start showing the product to external users.

At CRINNAC, we use beta prototypes for field testing, user validation, and stakeholder demos. This version answers new questions:

How do people interact with the product? Do they find the interface intuitive? Does anything confuse them? Does it work the same way in different environments?

The goal here isn’t just to see if the product works—it’s to see how people use it. Because real-world use is unpredictable, and users always manage to find the one edge case you didn’t test for.

The feedback you get at this stage is gold. It helps you fine-tune everything from ergonomics to firmware behaviour. And it often leads to design updates before production even begins.

MVP (Minimum Viable Product): Ready for the real world

The MVP is the final stage of prototyping—and often the first stage of launch.

This version is built with real-world use in mind. It’s functional. It’s reliable. And it’s “good enough” to be used outside the lab. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, or even final. But it’s strong enough to run small pilots, present to investors, or get early feedback from target users in real conditions.

If you’re raising capital or approaching strategic partners, an MVP helps them see the product’s potential—and trust that you’re capable of bringing it to market. It’s no longer just a concept. It’s something they can hold, test, and believe in.

MVPs are also useful when you want to launch fast without waiting for full-scale production. If you’re building niche equipment or industrial tools, your early customers may not mind a slightly rougher version—as long as it works and solves their problem.

So… why not just build the MVP from the start?

It’s a fair question. And we hear it all the time. But here’s the reality: jumping straight to an MVP skips all the learning.

Every prototype before the MVP teaches you something. About the performance. About the materials. About user expectations. About design limits.

If you skip those steps, you’re flying blind—and chances are, you’ll end up rebuilding your MVP anyway. Only this time, it’ll be more expensive, and you’ll have lost valuable time.

At CRINNAC, we help our clients move through these stages smartly—not just to build something that works, but to build something that’s ready. We make sure each prototype has a clear purpose and helps you reduce risk while moving forward with confidence.

Where to next?

In the next post, we’ll talk about why prototyping is especially powerful for startups—and not just for engineering reasons. We’ll explore how physical prototypes support investment, product validation, market entry, and smart decision-making.

Until then, if you’re in the early stages of product development and wondering which kind of prototype you need next—or how to even start—get in touch. We’d love to help you figure it out.

Find out more about our prototyping process here.