Journal

Notes from
the field.

Hard-won lessons from 30+ years of making physical products. No fluff, no sponsored content — just honest perspectives on hardware development, manufacturing, and what it really takes to launch.

Articles

Oct 28, 2023

Manufacturing

Pitfalls of 3D Printing in New Product Development

3D printing is one of the most powerful tools in product development — and one of the most misused. When founders treat FDM prints as a proxy for injection-molded parts, they end up making expensive decisions based on prototypes that don't reflect production reality.

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Failed 3D prints trash can

Oct 4, 2022

Strategy

Should I Manufacture in China or USA?

Manufacturing decisions for first-time entrepreneurs. The honest truth about what drives the decision — and why "Made in the USA" is more complicated than the marketing suggests.

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Sep 29, 2022

IP Strategy

How Do I Need to Start Thinking About My IP?

It all begins with an idea — but protecting that idea requires a strategy most founders put off for too long. A practical primer on when and how to start thinking about patents, trade secrets, and IP protection.

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Sep 8, 2022

Team Building

What Is a Product Manager?

Project Manager or Product Manager — or both? One of the most common points of confusion in early hardware teams, and why getting clarity on this role early can save you months of misaligned effort.

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