Prototyping and MVP that proves it works.

A working prototype that does what you promised when someone holds it, backed by test reports, user feedback and a first bill of materials. It’s what founders take to investors and crowdfunding backers, and what the factory builds from next.

Book a free 30-minute callSee what’s included

Built and tested in our Bengaluru workshop · NDA on request · You own the prototype files

A team testing prototypes and an app on a tablet around a workshop table
8–14 wks

from engineering kickoff to a tested prototype

10 months

from idea to a manufacture-ready product for Mustard

₹15 cr

pre-Series A that EUME raised on the prototype we built together

<1 year

from starting up to acquisition by Kaynes Technology, for Mustard

Trusted by global brands and 80+ founders

  • Panasonic, an Analogy Design client
  • Google, an Analogy Design client
  • Unilever, an Analogy Design client
  • Mondelēz, an Analogy Design client
  • Maersk, an Analogy Design client
  • Aprilia Racing, an Analogy Design client
  • Marvel, an Analogy Design client
  • Borosil, an Analogy Design client
  • boAt, an Analogy Design client
Himanshu Verma, Founder, Mustard Glasses (acquired by Kaynes Technology)Founder, acquired within a yearHimanshu VermaFounder, Mustard Glasses (acquired by Kaynes Technology)
“A talented team with great design thinking skills and fast execution. I had a fabulous time working with them as the speed of execution was mind blowing. In less than 8 months I had a physical product to showcase at CES and it led to our acquisition in less than a year of starting up.”

Hear from more founders we’ve built with

The risk isn’t building a prototype. It’s building the wrong one.

A prototype that looks right but proves nothing costs months. One that can’t be manufactured costs more.

Rush into prototyping without knowing what it has to prove and you get expensive iterations, failed demos and surprises at the factory. We decide what each prototype must answer before we build it, and engineer it so the next version moves towards production, not sideways.

The demo that broke on stage

A looks-like model passed off as a works-like one. Investors and backers notice.

The prototype that can’t be made

Hand-finished parts and off-the-shelf boards that no factory can reproduce at your price.

The test nobody ran

Heat, drops, battery life, water. Skip them now and they come back as returns.

The BOM you’ve never seen

Without a bill of materials there’s no real unit cost, so the price on your campaign is a guess.

What prototyping and MVP includes

Five pieces of work run by one engineering and design team, from the first mechanism to a prototype you can put in someone’s hands.

Hands holding a bowl of circuit boards and wiring for a prototype

Engineering the MVP

Mechanisms, enclosures, PCB and firmware coordination, thermal and tolerance analysis, engineered for the volume and price you’re aiming at. Electronics roughly doubles the engineering, so we plan for it from day one.

Phase 28–14 weeks
01 / 05Next ↓
A designer tracing a pattern around a foam insole prototype

Rapid prototyping

3D printing, CNC machining, vacuum casting and soft tooling, chosen for what each round has to prove. Our Bengaluru workshop keeps iterations fast.

02 / 05Next ↓
A grid of toast slices from a browning test, light to burnt

Testing and validation

Functional, drop, thermal, battery and environmental tests, plus time in the hands of real users. You get test reports and a list of what changed and why.

03 / 05Next ↓
Blue 3D-printed housings, a circuit board and a hub laid out for assembly

BOM and cost model

A first bill of materials and cost model, so your unit cost and margin are numbers, not hopes, before you talk to a factory or set a campaign price.

04 / 05Next ↓

Where it fits

Prototyping and MVP is phase 2 of Product Path™.

It removes the second risk: that it doesn’t work. You come in with a validated concept, ours or your own, and leave with a tested prototype, a first BOM and a cost model.

Phase 1

Concept and strategy

A validated concept going in means fewer prototype rounds coming out.

Phase 2

Engineering and prototyping

This service. A working MVP, test reports and a first BOM.

Phase 3

Manufacturing and scaling

The same team turns the approved prototype into a product a factory can make.

Phase 4

Launch

Your MVP becomes the hero of the campaign, the deck and the listing.

Prototyping, step by step

How a prototype gets built

Each step ends with something you can hold, test or show. Swipe or scroll sideways, or jump to a step.

Plan the prototype

Removes the risk that you build something that proves nothing.

Prototype board for a massage backpack with test rigs and parts
The decision

What does this prototype have to prove, and to whom?

You walk away with

A test plan, an architecture for the mechanics and electronics, and a build plan for each prototype round.

How long

1–2 weeks

Good to know

If your concept came from another studio, we review it here before we build anything.

Engineer the build

Removes the risk that it works once and never again.

Product architecture board mapping the parts inside an air cooler
The decision

Do the mechanism, electronics and enclosure work together at your target size and cost?

You walk away with

Mechanism and enclosure CAD, PCB and firmware coordination, and tolerance and thermal checks.

How long

3–5 weeks

Build and test

Removes the risk that it fails in someone’s hands.

Rapid prototyping board for a wellness diffuser with printed parts and notes
The decision

Does it survive real use, and do people use it the way we expected?

You walk away with

Working prototypes, functional and user test reports, and a list of design changes.

How long

3–5 weeks

Good to know

Most new products need three to five rounds. We plan for that up front.

MVP and handoff

Removes the risk that you can’t price it or make it.

A woman wearing prototype smart glasses
The decision

Is it ready to show investors and backers, and ready for a factory to quote?

You walk away with

A refined MVP, updated CAD, a first BOM and cost model, and a handoff plan for manufacturing.

How long

1–2 weeks

Next step: design for manufacturing

Is prototyping the right next step?

If you have a concept you trust, yes. If not, start earlier. If you already have a prototype, you may be past this.

A concept, but nothing that works yetPrototyping and MVP
A demo day or trade show in a few monthsPrototyping and MVP
A prototype that breaks or overheatsPrototyping and MVP
An idea nobody has validatedConcept design
An approved prototype that needs factory quotesDesign for manufacturing

What prototyping costs, before you have to ask

No hourly billing. After a free call you get a custom proposal for phase 2, so you know the number before you commit.

Prototyping and MVP is phase 2 of Product Path™ and takes 8–14 weeks. What it costs depends on what the prototype has to prove, so we price it in your proposal after the first call.

Every phase is scoped and priced before it starts, and the same team carries the prototype into manufacturing.

What sets the cost of an MVP

Where your prototype phase lands comes down to six things.

Boards, batteries and code

A product with electronics takes roughly twice the engineering of a purely mechanical one. An app adds more.

Mechanisms

Hinges, motors and latches each add build and test rounds.

Demo or proof

A model that only has to look right for a deck is quicker than an MVP real users will test.

Rounds to an MVP

Most MVPs need three to five rounds. A concept validated with us often needs fewer.

Testing

Bench tests are part of the work. Certification pre-tests or outside labs add cost.

Concept maturity

A tested concept or clean CAD shortens phase 2. We’ll tell you on the first call.

Lab fees go straight to the lab

If your MVP needs certification pre-tests, the lab bills you directly and we take no commission. We tell you early which tests to expect.

Not sure what the prototype has to prove? Start with a sprint

A small fixed-fee sprint pins down the one thing your prototype must prove, in two or three weeks, and plans the build around it. Start phase 2 within six months and the sprint fee comes off the price.

Why founders prototype with a studio, not a freelancer

Design, engineering and the workshop in one place

Our Bengaluru studio and workshop build and test prototypes next to the engineers who designed them.

Prototypes that point towards production

Each round is designed for the process it will be made with, so the MVP isn’t a dead end.

The same team into manufacturing

Our team of four in Shenzhen and 150+ partners take it from prototype to tooling.

Building an MVP: a freelancer, a prototype shop, or us
QuestionA freelance engineerA prototype shopAnalogy
Who decides what the prototype must proveYouYou, from a drawingWe agree it with you before anything is built
Who builds and tests itOutsourcedThe shop builds, nobody testsOur Bengaluru workshop builds and tests every round
Does it point towards productionRarelyNo, it’s made to the drawingYes, materials and processes are chosen with the factory in mind
What you leave withA modelPartsA working MVP, test reports, user feedback and a first BOM

Prototyping for US founders, without the Bay Area price

Prototypes are physical, so we plan for distance from day one.

Prototypes shipped to your door

Each round is couriered to you, so you test it yourself and put it in users’ hands in the US.

Live build reviews

Watch the build and test results on video in your working hours, then decide the next round together.

Ready for CES and investors

We plan the build around your show or raise date, as we did for Mustard’s CES debut.

MVPs we’ve built, by category

Smart glassesWearablesSleep techWellness devicesBags and carryHome electronics

Guides on prototyping and MVPs

Reading for founders planning a first prototype. All articles

MVPA product MVP validation framework for foundersRead the guideValidationValidate your hardware idea before you spend any moneyRead the guidePrototypingWe designed a kids bike that grows with themRead the guide

Prototyping and MVP questions, answered

Planning an MVP and still unsure? Ask us; an engineer replies within one working day.

What is the average prototype cost for hardware products?

It depends on what the prototype has to prove: a looks-like model is very different from a working prototype with custom electronics. Prototyping is phase 2 of Product Path™, and we price it as a custom proposal after a free call.

What is the typical MVP cost for product development?

An MVP usually needs engineering, several prototype rounds, testing and a first BOM, which is the scope of phase 2. Electronics, moving parts and testing move the number most. You’ll know the full price before you commit.

How long does it take to build a prototype?

Phase 2 usually takes 8–14 weeks from engineering kickoff to a tested prototype, a first BOM and a cost model. A simple looks-like model can be much faster.

What is the prototype process from idea to testing?

Plan what the prototype must prove, engineer the mechanism, electronics and enclosure, build and test in rounds with real users, then refine it into an MVP with a BOM and cost model.

Which prototyping methods do you use?

3D printing for fast form and fit, CNC machining for precise or metal parts, vacuum casting and soft tooling for small batches, and off-the-shelf or custom electronics depending on the stage.

Do prototype materials affect manufacturing decisions?

Yes. A part printed in one material can behave very differently when moulded in another, so we choose prototype processes that tell you something true about the production part.

Can a prototype help me raise money or launch on Kickstarter?

Yes. A working prototype with test results and a cost model is often what turns an investor conversation or a campaign page into a yes. EUME raised a ₹15 crore pre-Series A on the prototype we built together.

Can MVP software replace physical validation?

No. Simulation and CAD help, but heat, drops, grip, wear and how people really use the product only show up on a physical prototype.

What mistakes should founders avoid when prototyping?

Building before deciding what the prototype must prove, polishing a looks-like model as if it works, skipping tests, and designing parts no factory can reproduce at your price.

Can you improve a prototype someone else built?

Yes. We review what exists, keep what works and fix what doesn’t. Many founders come to us with a prototype that works on the bench but can’t be manufactured.

Can you prototype products with electronics?

Yes. We coordinate PCB design and firmware with the mechanical and industrial design, so the board, battery and enclosure fit and work together.

What happens once my MVP is approved?

It moves into phase 3, design for manufacturing, usually with the same engineers: drawings, vendor quotes, tooling plans and certification mapping. You can also pause to raise money or run a campaign on the MVP.

Bring us the concept you need to prove.

A CAD file, a rough prototype that half works, or a demo date that’s coming fast. In 30 minutes we’ll tell you what your prototype needs to prove, how long it takes and roughly what it costs.

If you need a concept before a prototype, we’ll point you there first.