Hot answers tagged prototype
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Another option is to find a customer first.
Here is what you will probably learn if you do some research: (please see disclaimer at the bottom.)
There are literally thousands of CRM applications. There are client side solutions that have been in the market for years like ACT and even look-alikes "better-thans" like Salesnexus. There are polished ...
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You're right that investors like to have something solid: a product being used, a team with a track record, a problem that's widely acknowledged and poorly solved, a rock solid business model. Why? Well, it's very easy to spend money, much harder to make it.
So if you think your idea has merit, you should look at seeking investment as one project that will ...
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Congratulations on your discipline and patience during customer development. It seems you've learned enough to build a good MVP.
Some of the next steps you should consider:
Go back to the drawing board to figure out what the MVP actually should be. Since you have collected plenty of research, it shouldn't be a problem to identify the value proposition to ...
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Your prototype will probably be the most expensive single unit you build (especially if it requires molded parts made from custom molds). You will have to source each component of your product (like the bike would have a frame, tires, seat, hardware, etc.) from various vendors (useful exercise so you can talk about bulk/production pricing while you sort out ...
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Long question, but easy answer: no.
Vcs almost never invest in the kind of company you describe.
You say you are two programmers: that's great! Keep working on it a bit longer and get something going. The only other approach I can think of (if this is B2B) is to start lining a pre-order or two from businesses interested in your product. That would be a ...
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Real investors see ideas day-in and day-out, esp. startup funders. Real investors are not in it to do it themselves; they have many more ideas than time/resources. Most investors respect the property of entrepreneurs; many are/were entrepreneurs. Most investors understand there's more to a successful startup than the idea.
This is not to say that the ...
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What you want to do is not simple and the way to do it varries depending on what country you are in. Each country will have different electrical systems and regulations.
I am an electrical engineer, although I don't do this type of work. It's fairly easy to find a local engineering firm to do this kind of work in the US. But this is going to be an expensive ...
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The number one thing investors are going to look for is traction. And the only way to get traction is by establishing product-market fit. It seems like you have the product.
Your next step is to find your market.
Finding a market validates that your product is actually useful. If you can start getting your first customers on your own, that's an excellent ...
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If you are going to commit yourself to a project, that I assume isn't a "two week adventure" but considerable longer, I'd do some research, at least to check whether someone has this implemented already. If so, I'd analyze the features it offers to see how I can do better. In some cases, it may decide against going forward with my project, and choose another ...
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If you have a really good proof of concept you can easily articulate in a sentence or two and can somehow demonstrate the capacity to make it happen, you're in better shape than most. The prototyping should happen after the idea has been developed and workshopped with unforgiving scrutiny. If the idea is bulletproof you're in good shape.
I think any ...
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I might propose something that's done in the software industry, but could be easily interpreted for other purposes.
Try using the social networks. Gather there (by facebook ads and adwords) people interested in your product (solving their problem). You will then have more detailed information about their age, sex and interests so you will be able to narrow ...
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We tried many wireframing/mockup/prototyping tools.
We ended up with mockflow.
Pros:
Mockstore: a cloud database of graphic objects shared by the mockflow team as well as other users.
Masters: the possibility to apply a 'master' on pages.
Snap on grid: well... you know what it is :)
Sync: all projects are saved online and syncing works really well.
...
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While not technically a "wireframing" tool, InVision (http://www.invisionapp.com/) is a prototyping tool aimed at designers. Its sweet spot is when you have a designer who mocks up the comps, and you want to "see them in action", as it were. You use InVision to wire em all up, and then you can share it with your team, clients, etc.
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You should definitely get input from a potential customer, possibly even offering a reduced cost for that customer when the product goes live. Market research should be able to point you to a customer with expertise and desire.
The most important thing to remember about the viability of a new product is customer's willingness to buy it. You may have ...
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Prototype it and source some individuals in your target market and do anything you can to get their feedback before committing resources something more full-scale. It can be argued that final is only possible AFTER you have some user feedback.
You mention you don't have a link to the industry. There's your task: make that link. Depending on your ...
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Sell the physical assets or trade them, then pivot. When you pivot software you take a loss on code, when you pivot a physical business you take a loss on equipment. By the way, pivoting a software startup is expensive unless you're the developer. Just like pivoting a physical business is expensive if you didn't build the equipment yourself.
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I don't think it really matters whether you are a software or "non-software startup". Cust Dev is all about questioning your core business assumptions.
Doing cust dev allows you to make better decisions based on tested hypothesis, instead of just assuming things - e.g. buying a lot of expensive hardware assets. What if you find out that there is no market ...
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Have you tried talking some angel investors about your idea? Do you have a network of them yet?
I have invested in ideas where there was no code before (successfully and unsuccessfully). It all depends on the people (people first!) and the idea. But if you don't have a network of people to reach out to your first step is to build that network.
Here in ...
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As entrepreneurs it's clear that we all have a million 'million dollar' ideas, but it's also obvious that a lot of the time we're just working on assumptions, and use forums like this to find out whether people 'think it's a good idea' or not.
The issue with that is that we're not actually asking our target market - it's fine to ask friends / colleagues to ...
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If you're a coder, prototype it first and release it.
You'll prove to yourself that you can build it.
People will have a chance to use your prototoype. That will give you much better feedback than feedback from people who merely have to commit to airing their opinions.
Gather feedback on how valuable the app is to your users so that you can price it ...
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Seek validation of your current approach. This could be done through user interviews, gaining respected investment or hitting some sort of objective metrics (X views of prototype maybe?).
Concept discussed in this video
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There are a few strategies you can use that don't cost a ton of money:
1.) If the concept or software process can be patented, then file a provisional patent. NOLO has a Patent It Yourself book that you can probably find in a large regional library, or you can buy a copy. The book does a reasonable job of explaining what can be patented and the process for ...
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Two suggestions
Can you turn this into an iphone, android or nokia app and simply sell the concept on these platforms? If yes then you don't need the gaming companies or an investor. Just bootstrap it and launch it.
While legal patents can provide some protection but that depends on the concept being patented. Check with your lawyer or look up/ask on ...
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Sadly, I've looked into this for developing custom in car fascias for custom fully featured in car computer systems. When dealing with things like getting moulds made because you're not getting something mass produced, but rather a prototype, it can be very expensive and I mean expensive.
You are better off outsourcing to manufacturers in China and even ...
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I agree with the other advice here. This is how I try to convince people to think about it: assume you developed your idea(s) and just spent 3 months to a year coding it, polishing it. What would you do next? Go and sell it of course.
Ok, then do that first and see how it goes. You will have just saved yourself a year of development.
Your objection: but I ...
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The start point isn't the producers (who could be your route to market or your competition), it's the customers. Think about the problem you're trying to solve, think about who has that problem and go engage!
Depending on the type of product, a sketch (or word sketch) ought to be possible. You just need enough to extract some learning - and where you have ...
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A very difficult question to answer, but one of the best advice I have ever heard on this is by Chris Dixon http://cdixon.org/2010/03/14/developing-new-startup-ideas/
I really like the part about which filters to apply while listening to a set of people.
Moreover, from a more personal experience, it is always the execution that is much more important than ...
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