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
Jul 26, 2016 • 56min
013 - From Kitchen to Amazon, Launching All-Natural Cake Mix for Dogs with Kelly Costello of Puppy Cake - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
How Kelly got her "Lightbulb Moment", launched, and sold her first product in five months with under $5,000 in funding and why Puppy Cake manufactures product in-house.
Jul 12, 2016 • 34min
012 - Testing product ideas. 7 inventors & small business owners share advice - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
Hear the different ways each founder validated their ideas and confirmed (as best they could!) that there was a market. Also hear their best tip for bringing a product to market.
Jun 28, 2016 • 60min
011 - DIY Design & Manufacture of a Baskeball Training Tool with Tony Devine of The Original Profender - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
The importance of testing your idea, and how Tony did it on a minimal budget. Why you can't worry about people stealing your idea and Tony's battle to get on Shark Tank (and how the publicity from appearing on the show didn't live up to expectations).
Jun 14, 2016 • 30min
010 - I have an idea, now what? Developing, testing & prototyping physical products. - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
A solo episode on validating product ideas, the true value of an idea and creating prototypes on any budget.
May 31, 2016 • 54min
009 - NDAs, Contracts, Insurance & Other Legal Tips with Gordon Firemark of Entertainment Law Update - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
We also cover advertising - implied endorsements vs. fair-use, trade secrets, patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
May 17, 2016 • 55min
008 - Temporary Face Masks & Surviving Shark Tank, Doug Marshall of The Game Face Company - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
How Doug got the $80k in financing he needed to start his business before Shark Tank. We get into applying for Shark Tank, legal stipulations for appearing on the show, and preparation and coaching guests get before they appear in front of the Sharks.
May 3, 2016 • 46min
007 - CNC Knitted Scarves & $100K Kickstarter Success, Fabienne Serrière of Knit Yak - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
How Fabienne orchestrated a $100k+ Kickstarter campaign on her own (and why she doesn’t recommend it to everyone). The three pieces of advice from successful Kickstarter mentors that helped her be successful
Apr 19, 2016 • 49min
006 - Customizable swimwear with Kelsey Duffy of Versakini - The Product Startup: Product development for small business
How Kelsey found a deeper problem that needed solving and created a product to solve it - "it's OK to be indecisive." The path a swimsuit takes from idea to prototype to market and how she was able to recruit collaborators and designers to work with he...
Apr 5, 2016 • 49min
005: Miniature Construction Materials
This episode shares how Mat formed his idea, brought it to life, and started selling miniature cinder blocks, as well as how his team 3D printed, prototyped, and tested ideas for under $500. Learn about their strategy for quickly growing revenue and how they decide which products to develop.
Mar 22, 2016 • 48min
004: All-Natural Jerky & Serial Kickstarter Campaigns
Brad Summey created Savage Jerky Co., an all-natural, craft jerky brand, to fill the void for spicy jerky in the marketplace without any food industry experience.
