Build a Product Nobody Else Can Source.
End-to-end product development for brands ready to own their category. Market research, industrial design, CAD engineering, prototyping, tooling, pilot runs, and patent support — under one roof, for one team.
Upgrade Path from PL / OEM
Three Scenarios Where Only Full Product Development Works.
Private label is fastest. OEM gives you exclusivity. But full product development is the only path for these situations.
The Product Doesn’t Exist Yet
You’ve identified a problem in your market that no factory currently solves. Private label offers nothing matching. OEM needs a reference — but there isn’t one.
You Need Patent Protection
You want to build a defensible moat competitors can’t copy within 12 months. That means novel design, unique mechanism, or patentable features — all requiring ground-up development.
You’re Productizing IP / Research
You have licensed IP, research findings, or a proven prototype that needs commercialization. You need engineering + manufacturing translation, not just sourcing.
Four Development Project Scopes
Pick the Scope That Matches Your Stage.
Minimum Viable Product
First-to-market validation. Basic functional prototype. Pilot run of 100–500 units for concept testing.
- Brief → Concept in 2 weeks
- Functional prototype
- 100–500 unit pilot
- Budget: $5K–$15K
Iteration of Existing Product
You have a product that works. Now you need V2: better materials, new features, cost optimization, or a line extension. Partial re-engineering, existing factory relationships retained.
- V2 design in 4–6 weeks
- Material / feature upgrade
- Reuses existing moulds where possible
- Budget: $8K–$25K
Sister Products for Catalog Breadth
You have a hero product. Now add 3–5 complementary SKUs for AOV expansion and repeat-purchase growth. Design consistency across the line.
- Unified design language
- Shared supply chain leverage
- 3–5 SKUs in 60–90 days
- Budget: $15K–$50K
Ground-Up Patent-Protected Flagship
A category-defining product you intend to patent in multiple markets. Full industrial design, engineering, prototyping, tooling, safety testing, and patent coordination.
- 12–16 weeks full cycle
- Utility + design patent support
- Multi-region compliance testing
- Budget: $30K–$120K
In-House Capabilities
Depth Across Six Disciplines.
You don’t need to hire a designer, an engineer, a sourcing team, and a compliance consultant. Our in-house team covers all of it.
Concept sketches, ideation workshops, aesthetic direction, ergonomic studies. 8 in-house designers across consumer categories.
3D CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion360), DFM analysis, tolerance studies, structural validation. Electronics + mechanical engineers on staff.
3D printing (FDM, SLA, SLS), CNC machining, vacuum casting, soft tooling. Prototype turnaround: 5–14 days.
Injection mould design + build, stamping, casting, assembly lines. 2,300+ factory network for volume production.
CE / FCC / RoHS / FDA test coordination via partnered labs. Drop testing, burn testing, pressure testing in-house.
Prior art documentation, patent attorney coordination, utility + design patent filings in US, EU, UK, CN. We advise; attorneys file.
Where Your Investment Goes
Transparent Budget Allocation · No Hidden Margins.
Sample breakdown for a mid-scope Flagship project. Your actual split depends on product complexity.
Illustrative only. Actual project costs documented line-by-line in your service agreement before any work begins.
Typical Flagship Timeline
12 Weeks from Brief to Mass Production Ready.
Phase 01 · Discovery & Brief
Market research, competitor analysis, target user definition, feature prioritization, success criteria. Output: signed Product Brief document.
Phase 02 · Concept & Sketch
3–5 concept directions with sketches, mood boards, ergonomic studies. Client picks 1–2 to advance.
Phase 03 · Engineering & CAD
Selected concept translated to 3D CAD. DFM (Design for Manufacturing) review. Component specifications locked.
Phase 04 · Prototype Round 1
First functional prototype via 3D print / CNC. Client reviews in-person or via shipped samples. Iteration feedback captured.
Phase 05 · Prototype Round 2 + Approval
Second prototype with Round 1 changes. Final design approval. Tooling specs locked. Patent filing initiated if in scope.
Phase 06 · Tooling Build + Pilot Run
Mould / tool build (2–3 weeks typical). Pilot production run of 100–500 units. Compliance testing in parallel.
Phase 07 · Mass Production Ready
Pilot validated. Mass production quote issued. Inventory scheduled. Documentation package delivered to client.
What You Receive
The Documentation Package That Makes It Truly Yours.
Product Brief & Spec Sheet
Formal documented spec covering materials, dimensions, tolerances, compliance targets. Foundation for all future production runs.
3D CAD Files (.STEP, .STL, .IGES)
Your product’s digital master files. Standard formats any other factory can import. You own these — your leverage across the supplier landscape.
Mould Ownership Certificate
Legal document confirming mould / tooling is your property. Factory name, mould ID, and physical location documented.
Compliance Test Reports
CE / FCC / RoHS / FDA / CPSC / whatever your market requires. Issued in your company’s name. Amazon + customs-ready.
Technical Drawing Package
2D engineering drawings with dimensions, tolerances, assembly instructions. Required for patent filings and factory migration.
IP Transfer Agreement
Signed legal document transferring industrial design, utility patents (if applicable), and design IP to your company.
Real Project
How a Wellness Brand Built a Proprietary Recovery Device from Scratch.
Starting PointA US fitness brand was private-labeling generic percussion massagers — same product as 40+ competitors on Amazon. Reviews focused on price, not performance. Margin eroding. Founder wanted a proprietary device with a defensible claim: “the only massager designed for trigger-point therapy.”
What We Built14-week Flagship scope. Designed a patented trigger-point head attachment (narrower, cone-shaped, angled for deep-tissue access) and customized the motor profile for consistent 12mm amplitude. Filed a design patent (US) and utility patent (pending, US + EU) covering the trigger-point attachment geometry. Custom mould, custom electronics. Pilot run of 500 units. Total investment: $48K.
OutcomeLaunched as “trigger-point optimized” with patent-pending claim in marketing. Amazon Brand Registry approved in 28 days. Repositioned from $89 to $149 (competitor price range: $59–$119). First 500 units sold out in 5 weeks. Re-ordered 5,000 units. Revenue year 1: $640K on the single SKU. Patent granted month 14.
Your IP. Your Property. Always.
Signed NDA on day one. IP transfer on final payment.
Every development engagement starts with a mutual NDA before you share a single spec. Factory non-competes signed before tooling begins. Final design IP, CAD files, mould ownership, and patent rights all transferred to your company at project completion.
Part of the Custom Family
Not Ready for Full Product Development? Start Smaller.
Founder FAQ
What Serious Product Founders Want to Know.
How is product development different from OEM?
OEM assumes you have a reference or existing spec. Product Development starts earlier: market research, concept ideation, industrial design, THEN engineering. Full product development is right when no reference product exists or you’re building something patentable. Most OEM projects don’t need patent filings; most Product Development projects do.
What’s the minimum commitment?
MVP scope ($5K–$15K) is the smallest meaningful engagement. Below that, private label is more economical. Full Flagship scope ($30K+) is for products meant to anchor a brand for 3+ years. We’ll recommend the scope that matches your goals during the discovery call.
Can you help file patents?
We prepare prior-art documentation, CAD drawings, and technical specifications required for utility and design patent applications. Actual filing is done by licensed patent attorneys (we have partners in US, EU, UK, CN; attorney fees separate from our service). Most design patents cost $1.5K–$5K to file per market; utility patents $3K–$15K.
What if my product idea already exists?
We do a prior-art search during Phase 01 (Discovery). If a substantially similar product exists, we’ll tell you honestly — and recommend either (a) moving to OEM with modifications, or (b) redesigning to avoid infringement. We won’t let you spend money developing something that’s already protected.
Do you retain any rights to the developed product?
No. Every asset created in your engagement — CAD files, drawings, moulds, compliance documents, IP filings — transfers to you on final payment. We retain no residual rights, no portfolio usage without permission, no factory licensing to third parties.
What happens if the first prototype doesn’t work?
2–3 prototype iterations are budgeted into every full-cycle scope. Most Round 1 prototypes need refinement. If fundamental rework is required (rare, about 8% of projects), we flag it during engineering review before tooling commits. You’re never stuck paying for tooling on an unproven design.
Can I visit the factory during tooling build?
Yes, and we encourage it for Flagship scope projects. Factory is in Greater Bay Area (Shenzhen / Dongguan). Typical visit: 1 day factory walk-through + 1 day tooling inspection + 1 day pilot run review. We coordinate logistics, translate meetings, and prepare factory staff.
Start a Project
Book a Discovery Call.
30 minutes to discuss your product concept, target market, and scope. We’ll tell you if full product development fits — or if Private Label / OEM is the better starting point. Honest read, no pressure.
Book Discovery Call30-min call · Project scope estimate within 72h · NDA signed before any spec shared