Pre-Black Friday trial offer - Try it for 7+ days for only $1 with no automatic rebilling!
Develop and Launch a Successful New Electronic Product!
Expert help, training, resources, and active community for innovative entrepreneurs, startups, makers, and engineers.
YOU WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY REBILLED!
Trial period ends on Black Friday (Nov 29th). To continue beyond the trial you'll need to join a paid plan.
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"From figuring out how to put together the first breadboard prototypes, to doing marketing and building a waitlist, creating a roadmap and a strategy, and building a functional prototype with a custom PCBs, I've been accompanied by John and the Hardware Academy every step of this journey. I couldn't have accomplished any of this without the Academy."
Nicolas Franco, Creator of the Hex Evo and Academy member since 2020. Blew past $40,000 crowdfunding goal in only 86 minutes!
Introducing the Hardware Academy
Developing a new electronic product and bringing it to market is similar to traversing a minefield. Your chances of making it across successfully are slim if you try it alone.
You need a guide who has done it before, or better yet an entire team of experienced guides!
Unlike many companies out there that claim to help you bring a new product to life, what makes the Hardware Academy different is you get 100% unbiased advice.
I have no financial interest outside of the small membership fee, so the advice you get is unbiased and honest.
NEW WORKSHOP: 3D-Printed Injection Molding
Discover an almost-secret, new game changing technology that allows you to get production quality injection molded prototypes for a ridiculously low price. (Held live Feb 2024 - Recording available )
Meet some of the experts waiting to help you inside the Hardware Academy:
We guarantee that ALL questions are thoroughly answered by an expert in a timely fashion.
NEW! Get personal advice directly from John Teel
Simply submit your question via video or audio, and you’ll receive a personal video reply from John direct to your email inbox.
If you are on the Hardware Academy Standard plan questions are limited to two minutes, and your question (but not your video) may be shared with other members. Those on a Private Mentoring plan get unlimited private support.
Get access to experts, training, and resources in all of these areas:
Electronics Design
Programming
Mechanical Design
Prototyping
Certifications
Manufacturing
Marketing
Startups
Fundraising
Logistics
Patents
Sales
"What an incredible experience and just invaluable in our journey to understand everything about hardware development. John is truly a master, and just an outstanding guy!"
- Sujoy Roy (Academy member)
NEW COURSE: How to Design a Custom ESP32 PCB
(includes schematic design, PCB layout with KiCad, ordering, programming, and testing boards)
Member Story: Nicolas Franco and the Hex Evo
When Nicolas Franco went to bed the night before his crowdfunding campaign went live, he felt sick to his stomach from nerves.
He had worked so hard on his product and put so much of himself into it, that he couldn’t help but be nervous.
There was a lot riding on this launch!
He was confident it would do well, but…there are always doubts.
His product is called the Hex Evo and it’s a totally unique gaming controller.
Nicolas came up with his idea during college when he started gaming using a mouse and keyboard instead of a joystick.
He quickly realized that while aiming with the mouse was superior to using a joystick, using the keys with his left hand was awkward.
The keyboard was large and in the way, when all you needed were a handful of keys.
Plus, it was way too easy to hit the wrong key.
So he of course imagined a better solution - a controller built specifically for the left hand with only the necessary buttons for game play.
Nicolas has been an active member of the Hardware Academy for several years while developing his product.
He posted this message in the Academy community:
“From figuring out how to put together the first breadboard prototypes, to doing marketing and building a waitlist, creating a roadmap and a strategy, and building a functional prototype with a custom PCB, I've been accompanied by John and the Hardware Academy in every step of this journey.”
So how did his crowdfunding launch go?
Well, luckily the next morning his stomach issues quickly disappeared because…
…he surpassed his funding goal of $40,000 in only 86 minutes!
I’m proud to be listed as one of his advisors, and I'm excited to continue guiding him here in the Academy as he sets up manufacturing for the Hex Evo.
“I couldn't have done all of this without the help of this amazing community that you've built, and that's why I made a special section in my Indiegogo page for the Hardware Academy.”
YOU WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY REBILLED!
To continue beyond the trial you'll need to join a paid plan.
Peek Behind the Scenes:
This will give you guest access to the Academy. You will be able to see the community discussion topics and the course overview pages, but you can't access the actual discussion posts or course lessons.
The Hardware Academy has expanded my knowledge and understanding of the hardware product development process. It is a valuable resource for hardware developers and entrepreneurs, and provides opportunity for both broad learning, through following the discussions, as well as gaining help with specific questions or problems you might face during an individual project. Worth the price of admission.
Brian Wilson
Academy member since 2019
Member Story: Ronald Wijnsema and the Button+
Ronald Wijnsema was woken up at 6am because his phone kept chiming over and over again with new notifications.
Turns out the notifications pouring in were from people pre-ordering his new product!
Within a couple of hours he had sold about $15,000 from his own website.
Then, within a few days his sales had climbed to over $40,000, and within a couple of weeks it grew to over $64,000!
Keep in mind his product wasn't even available yet - these were only pre-sales - and now he can use this money to fund the manufacturing.
Smart move Ronald! Funding and product validation all rolled into one:)
Pre-selling your product simply means getting people to pay you in advance for your product before you manufacture it.
Without a doubt it’s the #1 way to validate that your product will sell, which drastically lowers the overall risk for your project.
Also, pre-sales produce the cash that you need to then manufacture your product just like Ronald.
In fact, with these pre-sales under your belt you'll have manufacturers begging to work with you, instead of ignoring you.
To pre-sell your product in most cases you need to have at least a functional prototype, otherwise there are just too many unknowns for you to be able to realistically commit to any type of delivery schedule.
Ronald's product is called the Button+ and it's a modular control panel that can be connected to any smart home system.
His project was definitely no overnight success (they never are).
"I'm over the moon by this, but it did not come easy. I spent more than 4 years developing this, of course with the help of John Teel and others in the Hardware Academy."
Ronald got his big break recently when a Dutch tech platform called Tweakers interviewed him for an article about his product.
Obviously the Netherlands isn't exactly the world's largest economy, which makes what he accomplished that much more impressive.
Not only did he raise over $64,000, but the article also received hundreds of comments from people expressing their excitement for his new product.
Slam.dunk!
I'm excited to be able to continue guiding Ronald on the next steps of setting up manufacturing here inside the Academy.
YOU WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY REBILLED!
To continue beyond the trial you'll need to join a paid plan.
The Hardware Academy has been by far one of the biggest bangs for my buck when it comes to business and manufacturing advice. John Teel has managed to pool together subject matter experts of all kinds that provide meaningful answers through a simple yet effective online interface. There's no hassle. Just ask your question and let the answers pour in.
Lucas Schulte
Academy Member
I was hesitant on joining the Hardware Academy, but immediately first day in there all of those worries were gone. It was completely worth the value to get that knowledge from people that aren't trying to sell you something, and that's very valuable. That monthly fee, it's worth every penny. I already feel like I saved myself tons of headache.
Erik Hunter
Founder, InD Creation
For the first time ever, I have access to a dedicated online community highly knowledgeable in many different areas of hardware development. I can ask questions, see what others are asking which in many ways also applies to my own situations. The answers are always very illuminating. Additionally the platform itself provides technical resources critical to get started and improve on my hardware design and development skills. A dedicated online community highly knowledgeable in many different areas of hardware development, so that you do not get stuck during hardware development.
Tshoganyetso Mangadi
Academy Member
As a founder of a tech product who doesn't have a background in engineering, John and the other members of the community were really helpful. Their expertise is invaluable. The Hardware Academy is a great source of efficient and informative resources when creating an electronic product. I had a top-notch experience joining the Academy. John is truly an expert in his field and helps a lot of members from solving tough and impactful problems to aid in the creation of our projects. The Academy has provided me a professional, prompt and outstanding experience in my journey to create my tech device.
Margaret Cezar
Academy Member
Anyone that needs to get a hardware project done needs to be in the Academy. lnput from lots of great contributors. I use it as a knowledge base - I probably will not be the most active contributor but I find great value in the discussions. It has already answered questions for me that others have asked.
Michael O'Gorman
Academy Member
I would highly recommend the Hardware Academy as a place where the support of any kind, related to hardware design and product prototyping can be found. The Academy contains very useful courses, and the community is very active, there are a lot of actual questions with great, detailed and concise responses and all that is related to hardware design, the issues which everyone who deals with electronics design and development meets. I would especially mention the option of direct communication with John as the leading person of this great community. Not just that, a lot of experienced people who can also help with ideas, evaluation, guides and other things in order to make the reasonable choices in product design, development and marketing.
Nikola Pavlicevic
Academy Member
The Hardware Academy is the place to be if you are really committed to your transformation in order to become a hardware entrepreneur.
Dan Botezatu
Academy Member
The Hardware Academy provides a group of highly trained engineers to provide mentoring and an environment to thrive. If you're like me you've already spent endless hours scouring the internet for answers. Its tough to know where to even start. Now I'm surrounded by talented ambitious individuals who love to help others. They help motivate you and hold you accountable. It's so refreshing!
Kris Christopher
Founder, Grow-Nanny
I decided to give the Hardware Academy a shot and was very glad I did. I’ve spent the past couple years working on my IoT side project, spending countless hours researching every aspect of how to bring my boot-strapped product to market, but ran into roadblocks with technical and business issues I just couldn’t find the answers to and I wasn’t in a position to hire one-on-one consulting services. I was instantly connected to like-minded individuals with complimentary skillsets and was able to quickly get solutions to my lingering questions, including from John.
Nick S.
Academy Member
An excellent resource of supportive, experienced people willing and able to give lots of constructive criticism about hardware and business development.
Loring Robbins
Academy Member
If you are developing a product, it is strongly recommended you join the Hardware Academy to get access to the material and experts for guidance which may save you time and money in the long run.
Qandeel Sheikh
Academy Member
The people John has brought in to the Hardware Academy to help answer member’s questions are fantastic. They are very knowledgeable and responsive; better than I could have expected. I have learned a lot about some of the details often overlooked when you think about starting a business. Things like certifications, serial and part version numbers and tracking, and how to achieve effective customer support. The members are very helpful as well; the experience of many members is vast, and deep, and they are willing to help. This seems to have been by design. This is community is as advertised from the beginning.
Matt Fasano
Academy Member
The Hardware Academy has put me in touch with people that I never would have been able to communicate with that have the experience of designing a product or knowledge of the legal issues involved in the process. Being in the Academy has helped in the fact that you can talk to others who have gone through the process and made mistakes and you can gain the knowledge not to make the same mistakes. It gives you a route to take if you are going to bring a product to market, being able to talk to many people in different fields has been a godsend to get their opinions, expertise and guidance.
Trevor Martynook
Academy Member
There is very little that you will find available on the net that matches the breadth and depth of what the Hardware Academy can offer and all in one place. I have been able to find answers to questions that I have not been able to find anywhere else as there are many experts in the Academy from diverse backgrounds. It's getting that 'needle in the haystack' answer to a question that for me makes the Academy worth it even if I don't ask many questions. Sometimes all I want is not a specific answer but more of a reality check on what I am planning to do. Being pointed in the right direction can make all the difference in the world.
Lee Taylor
Academy Member
YOU WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY REBILLED!
To continue beyond the trial you'll need to join a paid plan.
Hey there, I’m John Teel, a product design engineer, serial entrepreneur, and the founder of Predictable Designs.
As a senior design engineer at Texas Instruments I designed dozens of successful electronic microchips. My designs can be found in all kinds of popular electronic devices including some from Apple and Intel. You likely own a product or two with one of my chip designs inside.
Before starting Predictable Designs, I founded a hardware startup named MicroLite Tech that developed and manufactured consumer lighting devices. My product was sold in hundreds of retail locations across multiple countries.
In addition to developing the product I also oversaw manufacturing in China, marketing, trade shows, logistics, financing, and sales. I had a team of over 20 sales representatives across the U.S. selling my product at one point.
For the past 7 years my full time passion has been helping entrepreneurs, startups, makers, inventors, and small companies just like you to develop and bring new electronic products to market. Over 60,000 people have subscribed to my Predictable Designs blog.
I received my Master’s in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) degree from the University of Texas with a focus in Microelectronics.
As a member of the Hardware Academy you will always have priority access to me for help and advice.
*NEW* - AI Chat Assistant - Trained on all my courses, workshops, YouTube videos, and blogs. Get answers to your questions instantly!
Featured In
NOT SURE IF THE Hardware Academy IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
The Hardware Academy is NOT for everyone, and truth be told I'd prefer to help you figure out if it’s not right for you BEFORE you join rather than waste your time. So, let’s cut to the chase...
WHO IT IS FOR:
WHO IT IS NOT FOR:
Some of the ways the Hardware Academy can save you money and time:
How is the Academy different?
To bring a new electronic product to market you will need to work with engineers, programmers, consultants, freelancers, attorneys, marketers, and many others. The more money you spend, the more these people or businesses benefit financially.
For instance, if you hire an engineer at an hourly rate, they will make more money if they design a more complicated product rather than a simplified version.
Or, for example, when you hire a patent attorney they get paid whether your product succeeds or fails. They basically have one shot to get as much from you as possible.
Their financial interests don't align with yours, and aren’t tied to your product’s ultimate success.
Or, worse yet, an invention promotion firm that tells you that your product is sure to be a homerun, because they want to just get as much money as possible from you, so they tell you exactly what you want to hear.
The problem is most of these arrangements are expensive and short-term. Their business models are to get as much money from you in the shortest time as possible.
On the other hand, the Hardware Academy is about providing you independent, unbiased, affordable guidance over the long-term.
I have no financial interest outside of the small monthly membership fee, so the advice you get is unbiased and honest. For example, I don't make more money by convincing you to develop an unnecessarily complex product.
I also don't make commissions on any products or services I recommend to members. In fact, I instead pass all of those commissions down to you as a discount!
Also, with a starting price of only $97 per month, my business model depends on honesty and ongoing quality, otherwise you will just leave (which we make super easy to do).
I'll be right there by your side throughout the entire journey, helping you avoid many of the pitfalls and obstacles in your path to market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter where I'm located? I'm not in the U.S. so will I still benefit from the Hardware Academy?
Can I get private one-on-one help with my project?
How far along do I need to be with my product? If I only have an idea will I benefit from the Hardware Academy? What if I'm much farther along, will I still benefit?
What type of products are right for the Hardware Academy? Is it only for electronic products or any physical product?
How do you handle confidential information when questions are asked? Can other members view my questions?
How is the Academy community area different than any of the many available free forums on design and entrepreneurship?
How are courses structured? Are courses live or recorded, text or video format? What topics are covered?
Can I get a design review of my product in the Hardware Academy?
I'm an engineer that wants to learn more about product development, but I don't have my own product. Is the Hardware Academy right for me?
I have no technical background or experience with anything related to product development. Is the Hardware Academy right for me?
I don't yet have a product idea, or I have multiple product ideas. Should I join now or wait until I have selected the product idea I wish to pursue?
How do I cancel my subscription if I no longer wish to remain a member? Can I rejoin later?
I'm in secretive stealth mode, can I be anonymous and still gain benefit from the Hardware Academy?
Is all of the content available straight away or is it time-released (drip fed)?
Can I upgrade and downgrade between plans?
My startup consists of several people, do we each need to have a separate membership, or can we all share the same account?
Does the Hardware Academy make any claims to my intellectual property?
Once I join will the price ever increase?
We are pre-revenue so we need to keep our expenses to a minimum. Should we wait until we have revenue to join the Academy?
Get the help you need inside the
Hardware Academy
Cancellation Policy: We make it super easy for you to cancel at any time. In fact, here's a video showing you how to cancel.
You will also get a receipt every month so you won't ever just forget you are subscribed. We're not happy if you are not making progress!
All prices in US Dollars
