Product Startup
Kevin Mako of MAKO Design + Invent
The Product Startup Podcast is the hardware product development industry's #1 podcast. From invention idea to getting onto store shelves, and everything in between. Hear how inventors, product startups, & small manufacturers created their inventions and launched their physical product businesses. Learn from the industry's top industrial designers, mechanical engineers, PCB designers, consumer product managers, manufacturers, patent attorneys, hardware investors, product sellers, wholesalers, retailers and more. Learn about industrial design / product design, prototyping, 3d printing, additive manufacturing, product manufacturing, marketing, selling, patenting, logistics, and product business scaling. Hosted by Kevin Mako, North America’s leading expert on product development for physical product startups, founder of Mako Design + Invent, keynote speaker, and Masters of Engineering lecturer. Produced by MAKO Design + Invent, the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 18, 2016 • 60min
023 - Making Personal Connections to Customers with the Cheerbox, Tamar Lucien of Mental Happy - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
How Tamar tested the market and developed a personalized product to help everyone feel better. We also talk about how Tamar creates a genuine, personable experience for customers.
Oct 11, 2016 • 55min
022 - Ecommerce Strategy & Customer Persuasion, Chloë Thomas of eCommerce MasterPlan - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
Creating an ecommerce strategy for your product-based small business, including making the most of social media, emails, and customer feedback.
Oct 4, 2016 • 41min
021 - Using Public Research to Develop WINK Lash and Brow Oil with Megan Cox of Amalie Beauty - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
How Megan developed the prototypes for WINK based on publically-available research and started her small business for under $2000. Megan talks about testing the proof of concept with a small group of users and finding a contract manufacturer and fulfil...
Sep 27, 2016 • 53min
020 - Creating Memorable Customer Experiences with Matt Ruedlinger of Triple R Marketing - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
Why Matt and his wife decided to buy Joan's Caramels and how they are working with local wineries to infuse caramels with their wine. We also get into increasing sales for both businesses by creating a unique product and selling to companies direct vi...
Sep 20, 2016 • 54min
019 - Organic haircare products with Susana Stewart & Caroline Maina of Fro Butter - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
How Susana and Caroline saw a niche in the market and formed a partnership - as cosmetologist and client. How they developed and tested products for almost a year, and created multiple products for the main concerns - and narrowed down a list of produc...
Sep 13, 2016 • 55min
018 - Re-inventing the walker with Jennifer Harris of Motivo - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
Why Jennifer and her partner thought they could improve on the design and sell it for more than the existing models. User-centered design and how they worked with over 300 users to refine the product - including going to grocery stores with them and in...
Sep 6, 2016 • 50min
017 - Healthy Instant Noodles & Cutting-Edge Vending Machines with Damien Lee of Mr. Lee's Noodles - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
Damien is ex-Australian Special Forces, a former City headhunter, a single dad of two and stage 4 cancer survivor. Learn how he landed a contract with the world's largest catering company, Compass Group, to get into universities in the UK,
Aug 30, 2016 • 55min
016 - Gluten-free & allergy-friendly food with Luke Lucas of Foddies - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
How Luke and Chrissy got started without any experience in the food industry for under $2,000. We talk about selling wholesale to cafes and restaurants and how they tested recipes and found their target market and validated their ideas by talking to th...
Aug 24, 2016 • 55min
015 - Becoming the online party supply leader in Australia with Dean Salakas of The Party People - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
How The Party People partnered with 3M on new products (their best selling item). About issues in releasing a new product - false starts and customer "teething" and the emerging personalization / customization trend.
Aug 9, 2016 • 43min
014 - Targeting Low-Volume Customers & Building Custom Control Systems, Mickey Swortzel of New Eagle - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
We learn to focus on our secret sauce, "Take what you know, listen to customers, and spot trends....build a product that doesn't re-create the wheel"
