How to Turn Your Proof-of-Concept Into a Custom PCB

Published on by John Teel

If you’ve built an early working proof-of-concept prototype using off-the-shelf parts, then you’ve proven exactly one thing, that your concept works.

But what you can actually do with a prototype at that stage is limited, because in most cases it’s … read more

Which Wireless Modules Should You Avoid in Your Product?

Published on by John Teel

The wireless module you pick can kill your product before it ever ships.

I’m talking about FCC certifications that fall apart at the last minute, cellular networks that shut down mid-production, parts that go discontinued right when you’re scaling, and … read more

ESP32 vs RP2350: Which Should You Use in Your Product?

Published on by John Teel

Pick the wrong microcontroller for your product and you’re looking at a full board redesign, fresh certification fees, and months of lost time.

The ESP32 versus RP2350 question is one I get asked constantly, and most comparison videos turn it … read more

Can You Sell a Hardware Product Before You Build It?

Published on by John Teel

You can spend a year and tens of thousands of dollars developing a product that nobody buys.

I’ve watched it happen over and over, and it’s almost never because the product was bad.

It’s because the founder built first and … read more

Which Arduino Boards Should You Avoid for a Product?

Published on by John Teel

These boards all work perfectly fine for early prototypes, which is exactly what makes them dangerous, because the chip underneath simply isn’t a foundation you can carry forward into production.

So I’m going to walk you through the seven Arduino … read more

MCU vs MPU: Which Is Right for Your Product?

Published on by John Teel

Microcontroller or microprocessor. I’ve worked with hundreds of product creators, and this is one of the most expensive decisions people get wrong. We’re talking six months of wasted development and tens of thousands of dollars, because the fix usually means … read more

How to Choose a Microcontroller Family for Your Product

Published on by John Teel

The wrong microcontroller family won’t just slow you down, it can trap you in a dead-end architecture that forces a complete redesign right when you’re ready to scale.

In this video I’m going to rank every major MCU family, from … read more

Which Microcontrollers Should You Avoid in Your Product?

Published on by John Teel

Choosing the wrong microcontroller can lock you into months of rework, destroy your margins, or leave you completely stranded when the manufacturer moves on.

And after reviewing hundreds of hardware designs, I keep seeing the same 7 MCUs show up … read more

How to Use AI Agents to Market a Hardware Product

Published on by John Teel

Over the past few weeks I’ve gone deep on AI agents for my own business, and it’s completely changed how I think about marketing.

I built a content distribution system where I can focus all my energy on creating one … read more

When Should You Move From a Dev Kit to a Custom PCB?

Published on by John Teel

There are three stages that virtually every hardware product moves through, from early concept all the way to optimized production.

Most founders either skip one of these stages entirely or get stuck in one way too long, and both mistakes … read more

Is Hardware Still a Good Business to Start in 2026?

Published on by John Teel

You’ve heard it a thousand times, hardware is hard.

It’s the unofficial motto of hardware founders.

But that phrase is no longer a warning, it’s your biggest advantage.

It’s hard not to be jealous sometimes.

You’re stuck waiting on prototypes, … read more

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