How to fake it for 18 months and (almost) launch a hardware product

A story about the early stages of our journey to bring a hardware product to market.

1. how to fake it for 18 months and (almost) launch a hardware product Jason Frame jason@onehackoranother.com | @jaz303 Friday, 31 May 13
2. Hello. Friday, 31 May 13
3. 2006-2010: Friday, 31 May 13
4. Friday, 31 May 13
5. Products Friday, 31 May 13
6. Products • Online Accounting Friday, 31 May 13
7. Products • Online Accounting • Magic Mail Friday, 31 May 13
8. Products • Online Accounting • Magic Mail • Freefall CMS Friday, 31 May 13
9. Products • Online Accounting • Magic Mail • Freefall CMS • Discipline Friday, 31 May 13
10. Products • Online Accounting • Magic Mail • Freefall CMS • Discipline • Zone Marshal Friday, 31 May 13
11. 2010-2011: Friday, 31 May 13
12. Shipped! • 18 months on/off development • ~500 copies sold Friday, 31 May 13
13. 2011 - ???: freelancing Friday, 31 May 13
14. Products Friday, 31 May 13
15. • Screen Marshal Products Friday, 31 May 13
16. • Screen Marshal • RipeCMS Products Friday, 31 May 13
17. • Screen Marshal • RipeCMS • ColorScope Products Friday, 31 May 13
18. Crisis :( Friday, 31 May 13
19. The Idea Friday, 31 May 13
20. Friday, 31 May 13
21. Friday, 31 May 13
22. Friday, 31 May 13
23. Friday, 31 May 13
24. - - - - + + + + CURIOUS CHIP... Friday, 31 May 13
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31. Friday, 31 May 13
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34. The Future • New Design • Custom Electronics • Kickstarter July 2013 • Shipping early 2014...? Friday, 31 May 13
35. “I don’t like taking risks” Friday, 31 May 13
36. Something you really believe in won’t look like a risk Friday, 31 May 13
37. “I have no idea what I’m doing” Friday, 31 May 13
38. There is no such thing as magic Friday, 31 May 13
39. Friday, 31 May 13
40. There is no such thing as magic Friday, 31 May 13
41. Divide and Conquer Friday, 31 May 13
42. Friday, 31 May 13
43. Friday, 31 May 13
44. Friday, 31 May 13
45. Friday, 31 May 13
46. Learn just enough to talk sensibly Friday, 31 May 13
47. Reuse Friday, 31 May 13
48. Arduino Friday, 31 May 13
49. PSoC Friday, 31 May 13
50. GPS Friday, 31 May 13
51. GSM Friday, 31 May 13
52. FPGA Friday, 31 May 13
53. “I never finish anything I start” Friday, 31 May 13
54. Friday, 31 May 13
55. Do something big Friday, 31 May 13
56. Talk! Friday, 31 May 13
57. Copycats Can’t Copy Vision Friday, 31 May 13
58. Team Friday, 31 May 13
59. Commit! Friday, 31 May 13
60. Commit! •Publicly Friday, 31 May 13
61. Commit! •Publicly •Personally Friday, 31 May 13
62. Commit! •Publicly •Personally •Financially Friday, 31 May 13
63. “This idea is too big” Friday, 31 May 13
64. All that Stand Between You and a Successful Project are 500 Experiments http://prog21.dadgum.com/148.html Friday, 31 May 13
65. Friday, 31 May 13
66. Use Illusions Friday, 31 May 13
67. Friday, 31 May 13
68. Friday, 31 May 13
69. “I’d rather be doing something else” Friday, 31 May 13
70. Align your goals Friday, 31 May 13
71. “I’m an introvert” Friday, 31 May 13
72. Tell a Story Friday, 31 May 13
73. Practice! Friday, 31 May 13
74. “I don’t have enough money” Friday, 31 May 13
75. Breakdown Friday, 31 May 13
76. • 18 months Breakdown Friday, 31 May 13
77. • 18 months • Total spend: ~£6,000 Breakdown Friday, 31 May 13
78. • 18 months • Total spend: ~£6,000 • £1,500 of this was awards and grants Breakdown Friday, 31 May 13
79. • 18 months • Total spend: ~£6,000 • £1,500 of this was awards and grants • £4,500 = £250/month Breakdown Friday, 31 May 13
80. • 18 months • Total spend: ~£6,000 • £1,500 of this was awards and grants • £4,500 = £250/month • £125 per person with a team of two Breakdown Friday, 31 May 13
81. • 18 months • Total spend: ~£6,000 • £1,500 of this was awards and grants • £4,500 = £250/month • £125 per person with a team of two • There are, of course, opportunity costs... Breakdown Friday, 31 May 13
82. Make cool shit. Friday, 31 May 13
83. Friday, 31 May 13