Introduction to Microcontrollers

Discover what a microcontroller is, how it differs from a microprocessor, and the critical specifications you need to understand in order to pick the best one for your specific product application. ... read more

How to Order Printed Circuit Boards

In this article you will learn about all of the various specifications required to order Printed Circuit Boards. ... read more

Episode 32 : How to Build an Audience for Your Product with Craig Rettew

In this episode of the Predictable Designs Podcast I speak with electrical engineer Craig Rettew about how to build an audience for your product when you have no prior online marketing experience. ... read more

The Importance of Engineering Documentation and Hardware Revision Control

Revision control and proper engineering documentation are essential to ensure that you only ship quality products to customers. ... read more

Episode 31 : Product Simplification, Marketing, and Crowdfunding with Miguel Hernandez of Palocam

In this episode I continue my conversation with Miguel Hernandez who is the creator of the Palocam as we discuss product simplification, marketing, and crowdfunding. ... read more

Patent, Copyright, Trademark, or NDA: How to Protect Your Idea

Patents get all of the attention but there are lots of other options available to protect your product. In this article you will discover the seven best ways of legally protecting your new product. ... read more

Episode 30 : How to Execute Quickly with Miguel Hernandez of Palocam

In this episode of the Predictable Designs Podcast I speak with Hardware Academy member Miguel Hernandez. Miguel is the founder of Palocam which is a remote-controlled camera designed to be driven up metal poles for filming sporting events from above. ... read more

Why Testing Your Product is Just As Important as the Product Itself

Learn what needs to be tested, how to test it, and how to design your product to make it more easily testable so only high quality units ever ship to your customers. ... read more

Q&A: Reducing Manufacturing Costs, Increasing Sales, and Funding Options

In this podcast and video I answer the questions asked by a member in the Hardware Academy. The questions focus on reducing manufacturing costs, increasing sales, and funding options. ... read more

Lesson 5: The Strategic Way to Develop and Sell Your New Electronic Hardware Product

In this last lesson, I’ll be sharing some valuable final thoughts, tips, and recommendations, including the key rules for success with a new product. ... read more

Lesson 4: The Strategic Way to Develop and Sell Your New Electronic Hardware Product

In this fourth lesson I’ll be discussing product development strategies, electrical certifications, and manufacturing your product. ... read more

Lesson 3: The Strategic Way to Develop and Sell Your New Electronic Hardware Product

Now it’s time to focus on those things that most entrepreneurs delay until it’s too late. This includes marketing, selling, and networking before you begin the expensive product development stage. ... read more

Lesson 2: The Strategic Way to Develop and Sell Your New Electronic Hardware Product

How much will it cost to develop and manufacture your product? How will you sell your product? What type of business model and legal structure is best for you? These are all questions that will be answered in this lesson. ... read more

Lesson 1: The Strategic Way to Develop and Sell Your New Electronic Hardware Product

In this first lesson you’ll learn about competitive research, the danger of being overly secretive, how to validate your product, proving your product concept, and why you must first simplify your product. ... read more

The 4 Step Process I Followed to Get My Own Hardware Product to Market

I’m going to share with you the four steps I followed to fund my manufacturing, build a global sales team, and successfully sell my product in hundreds of retail stores. ... read more

The Minimum Viable Hardware Product

The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) concept is more often associated with software but it applies equally well to hardware with some modifications.  ... read more

The Path of Hardware Entrepreneurship: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

There is a concept in psychology called the Dunning-Kruger Effect, which is a hypothetical cognitive bias stating that people with low ability at a task overestimate their ability. We are all guilty of this cognitive bias at some point, but recognizing it is the first step to understanding yourself and the world around you, allowing you to overcome this bias. ... read more

Why New Hardware Startups Fail and How to Make Sure Yours Doesn’t

Learning from your own mistakes is usually just a part of the process of developing and selling a new product. But what’s much more efficient is if you can instead learn from the mistakes of others. ... read more

Top 10 Design Mistakes To Avoid When Developing Your New Electronic Hardware Product

There are design mistakes that I see made over and over again on the development of new electronic hardware products. Some of these mistakes are with the electronics design, some are with the enclosure design, and some are more general in nature. ... read more

How to Choose the Best Legal Structure for Your New Hardware Business

Choosing the best legal structure for your new hardware business is critical. It impacts how much you pay in taxes, your ability to raise funding, the paperwork you need to file, and your personal liability. ... read more