Launchpad
From idea to a prototype you can hold,
in about twelve weeks.
A structured programme for first-time hardware founders: weekly sprints, real customer conversations, prototypes that improve every cycle, and a name and logo you can pitch with.
First-time founders rarely have a spec. They have an idea, a hunch about a customer, and a deadline set by their savings. Launchpad exists to produce the spec and the prototype that proves it, without spending a year building the wrong thing beautifully.
Is this you?
It usually starts like this.
- 01
You have a strong idea and no engineering team yet.
- 02
You built a demo that impressed people, and now it has to become a product.
- 03
You've been quoted six figures for a first prototype and suspect there's a smarter path.
- 04
You run an accelerator and want hands-on hardware support for a cohort.
What you get
Concretely.
A weekly working session
With the engineers building your prototype, answering one clear question each week.
Customer conversations
Run with you and turned into written requirements before anything is built.
Prototypes you can hold
Tested with customers, shown to investors, improved each cycle.
A name and a logo
So the prototype is taken seriously in the room.
Mentors
Engineering, manufacturing and go-to-market, brought in when they're useful.
An honest go/no-go
At every stage, with a documentation pack any engineer can pick up.
Stages
Four stages, one question each.
- Weeks 1–2
Discover
Who is this for and what would 'working' mean? Output: problem statement.
- Weeks 3–4
Define
Customer interviews, requirements, concept selection. Output: requirements and a concept.
- Weeks 5–8
Design
Architecture, electronics, mechanical, firmware plan; identity in parallel. Output: design pack.
- Weeks 9–12
Prototype
Build, test with customers, iterate. Output: working prototype and findings.
How it works
How a cohort of one runs.
- 01
Chat
We tell you honestly whether Launchpad, a project, or a simpler first step is right.
- 02
Plan
A written programme plan: stages, cadence, build budget.
- 03
Run
Twelve weeks of sprints. You talk to customers; we build and test.
- 04
Prepare
Cost model, production path, pitch material. Then continue, raise, or pause.
FAQ
Questions we get asked
Do we need to be technical?
No. You need to know your customer and be willing to talk to them every week. We handle the engineering and explain every decision plainly.
How much does it cost?
A programme fee agreed upfront, plus prototype parts at cost. You'll get the number on the first call.
Do you take equity?
No. Launchpad is a fee. We're open to other arrangements if you raise them, but it's never a requirement.
What happens after twelve weeks?
Most founders continue as a project or fractional client, use the pack to raise, or both. Some stop, which is a good outcome after twelve weeks rather than two years.
Can an accelerator run this for a cohort?
Yes. We run cohort versions with shared workshops and per-team engineering time.
Have an idea that needs to become a prototype?
Tell us about the customer, not the technology. We'll take it from there.