The Hardware Startup: Building Your Product, Business, and Brand

by Renee DiResta, Brady Forrest, Ryan Vinyard

Thanks to the decreasing cost of prototyping, it's more feasible for professional makers and first-time entrepreneurs to launch a hardware startup. But exactly how do you go about it? This book provides the roadmap and best practices you need for turning a product idea into a full-fledged business. Written by three experts from the field, The Hardware Startup takes you from idea validation to launch, complete with practical strategies for funding, market research, branding, prototyping, manufacturing, and distribution. Two dozen case studies of real-world startups illustrate possible successes and failures at every stage of the process.

Genres: Business, Technology, Nonfiction

326 pages, Paperback

First published June 22, 2014

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid overview on the basics of a hardware startup. Could replace the outline for many hardware accelerator programs. Of course, reading is one thing and having the resources/experience to execute them is something else entirely. Still, a very comprehensive, swift read for the aspiring early hardware founder to take in behind doing the dive into the space.

[Juan Ríos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to understand the elements of a hardware startup and how the ecosystem has evolved, from the artisans of the past to the internet and the arrival of the maker revolution. The book's authors intent to be the equivalent to the Lean Startup for SaaS but in reality is more of a complement and you should explore more authors to get a wider understanding of entreprenership. The people from YCombinator are a good start (Sam Altman, Paul Graham and Jessica Livingston). Also Steve Blank (The creator of the costumer development approach) and Alexander Osterwalder (Business model canvas) to name a few.

[Rendell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful and up to date textbook style book for those interested in building a successful hardware startup. If you are tinkerer or frequent crowd sourcing websites, you will find it insightful. The case studies are current and the lessons from entrepreneurs are pretty useful for you to navigate the hardware startup scene. The book covers most of the practical things needed by hardware startups. Liken a bible on "how to" for running a hardware startup business.

[Brett Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Intro to Hardware Startups

Our company pivoted from software to hardware and this book was a good high level introduction. Every single topic should be a book in it of itself, so this is just an intro.

[Aurélien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dense but really covers a lot of ground. If you already have an idea and started tinkering, go ahead. Otherwise, I would recommend other books that help more on the ideation process : 0 to 1, 100M$ offers ...

[Dalan Mendonca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and good overview, nothing in depth.
Has links to lots of resources and introduces many concepts you further dive into.