Three Mistakes New Inventors Make

Turning your invention idea into a functioning product is a dream come true for many people. However, inventing a new product or starting a business can be a maze, as it’s something most people haven’t experienced before. Although mistakes are natural when on a new path that is completely foreign to you, there are some mistakes inventors make that should and could be avoided.

Let your industrial design firm help you navigate the fierce process of product development.

Expect Unrealistic Results

If you think your invention idea will turn into an instant success overnight, you may want to rethink your business plan. It’s normal to think your idea is the best idea, but setting unrealistic expectations for the results is just going to set you up for disappointment and failure. Few inventions make people millions of dollars, especially when it’s your first one. So make sure to keep your head up high but not lost in the clouds. Passion for your invention idea, combined with hard work and drive, is the key recipe for success.

Assuming Your Invention is For Everyone

Not having a defined target market and assuming that everyone is going to want to buy your invention is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in your process. Even if nothing out there exists like your invention, you still need to look at whether it’s something that people would be interested in purchasing and using. Market research is a critical step in the process, and it’s one that should never be skipped.

Define your target market to achieve optimal results with your invention.

Lacking Business Acumen

Developing an inventive idea is important; however, there are a multitude of factors that go into succeeding with your idea. The invention idea is only a small part of the grander picture. The most successful inventors have lots of ideas and only act on the ones that make the most sense for them to enter a market with.

Although you don’t need an MBA to successfully realize your product vision, it is important to have some knowledge of the business aspects salient to inventing because just having an invention idea is only going to get you so far.

Product development is tough. It’s not cut and dry. There are so many different factors and components that go into it. However, there are a lot of mistakes that frequently get made that can be avoided. These are just three of the most common ones that inventors encounter, so make sure you’re aware of as many as you can before you jump into the invention process head first.

About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!