The Hardware Academy is brought to you by:
Developing and Selling a New Electronic Hardware Product Just Got Faster, Cheaper, and Less Risky...
Get the expert guidance and training you need to develop, manufacture, and sell your new electronic product.
Do any of these sound like you?
You've come to realize you can't do this alone. You know you need help from independent experts you can trust that have done it before!
Introducing the Hardware Academy
Expert guidance and training to help you develop, manufacture and successfully sell your new electronic hardware product.
Bringing a new product to market is similar to traversing a minefield. Your chances of making it across successfully are slim if you try it alone.
The saying "you don't know what you don't know" is especially true when bringing a new product into the world. You need a guide who has done it before, or better yet an entire team of experienced guides.
If you’ve never brought a new product to market before there are so many unknowns you don’t even know exist.
Let the Hardware Academy be your guide through this unknown territory. It's never too early or too late in your journey for the Academy to help you.
MEET SOME OF THE EXPERTS WAITING TO HELP YOU IN THE HARDWARE ACADEMY:
GET HELP FROM EXPERTS IN THESE AREAS:
Electronics Design
Programming
Mechanical Design
Prototyping
Certifications
Manufacturing
Marketing
Startups
Fundraising
Logistics
Patents
Sales
We guarantee that ALL questions are thoroughly answered by an expert in a timely fashion.
YOU GET SUPPORT FROM A TEAM OF EXPERTS PLUS:
COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
Get access to in-depth video courses and workshops that will teach you all of the skills you need to succeed with your new electronic product.
Course topics include both technical and entrepreneurial topics. A new course or workshop is released every month while you also get access to the full course library.
Some of the currently available courses include:
PRIVATE CONSULTING
With the Pro and Premium plans you get private consulting with John Teel. You also get access to John in the Starter plan but it's not private one-to-one.
Private consulting includes both email consulting and access to a private communication area inside the community. It does not include phone calls.
John is in the community every day with all of the other experts answering questions and providing advice, but he is also available for private consulting at any time.
Any confidential information you share privately is protected by an NDA so you can feel safe sharing all of the details about your product.
TRUSTED REFERRALS
You'll get access to a qualified list of over 200 developers, suppliers, and manufacturers. These are all companies that either I've used personally, or that have been recommended by other members.
This alone is worth the cost of the Academy! No longer do you have to guess who is best, or risk being ripped off. Now you get referrals for trusted developers, manufacturers, and suppliers.
With the Pro and Premium plans you can also discuss your project privately with John Teel for his help selecting the best developer and manufacturer.
RESOURCES
Members have full access to a library of resources for hardware entrepreneurs and startups.
This includes design review checklists, legal templates, in-depth guides, product teardown videos, and much more.
New content is added on a monthly basis, and members always have access to the full library of resources.
THRIVING COMMUNITY
At the heart of the Hardware Academy is a thriving community with hundreds of hardware entrepreneurs!
Whether you need feedback, support, or just want to connect with other hardware people the community is there for you. It's a friendly place where all questions are welcome regardless of your experience level.
The Hardware Academy community isn't at all like free forums you can find online. John Teel is in there every day answering questions, along with all of the other trusted experts that he has invited to participate.
DISCOUNTS
All members receive discounts on related products and services from a variety of vendors. Discounts include product design, design reviews, PCB boards, 3D printed prototypes, injection molds, and PCB design software. These discounts alone can be more than the cost of the Hardware Academy.
MARKETING / CROWDFUNDING EXPOSURE
If desired, I will help your marketing and/or crowdfunding campaign by sharing your product with my large audience. This includes emailing my audience about your product, as well as sharing it on social media. You must be a member for at least 60 days before this is available.
The Hardware Academy has expanded my knowledge and understanding of the hardware product development process. A unique on-line community of well-intentioned people who are helpful, polite and knowledgeable. It is a valuable resource for hardware developers and entrepreneurs with very little, to quite a lot, of technical knowledge, and provides opportunity for both broad learning, through following the discussions, as well as gaining help with specific questions or problems you might face during an individual project. Worth the price of admission.
Brian Wilson
Hardware Academy Member
Why is this different than all of the other companies offering to help you?
To bring a new electronic product to market you will need to work with engineers, designers, programmers, consultants, freelancers, attorneys, marketers, suppliers, and many others. The more money you spend, the more these people or businesses benefit financially.
For instance, if you hire an engineer at an hourly rate, they will make more money if they design a complicated product rather than a simplified version. Their financial interests don't align with yours, and aren’t tied to your product’s ultimate success.
Or, for example, when you hire a patent attorney they get paid whether your product succeeds or fails. They basically have one shot to get as much from you as possible.
The problem is most of these arrangements are short-term. They do something for you, you pay them, then you both move on. If you later discover their work is low quality, it's usually too late because you have already paid them in full. Your business relationship is over.
Even more risky are companies promising to do everything for you from patents to design to marketing. You are putting the success of your entire project in the hands of one business. That's dangerous!
On the other hand, the Hardware Academy is about providing you independent, unbiased guidance over the long-term.
We have no financial interest outside of the small monthly membership fee, so our advice is unbiased and honest. For example, we don't make more money by convincing you to develop an unnecessarily complex product. We also don't make commissions on any products or services we recommend.
Our only interest is helping you succeed. We represent you, and you alone!
Also, with a starting price of only $49 per month, we actually lose money if you only stick around for a month or two. We want you to stick around for the long-term. This business model depends on honesty and ongoing quality, otherwise you will just leave (which we make super easy to do).
Behind the Scenes of the Hardware Academy
Click below for a LIVE look inside the Hardware Academy!
The links above will give you limited access to the Academy. You will be able to see the various forums and the community discussion topics, but you cannot access the actual content or forum posts.
Featured In
Hey there, I’m John Teel, a product design engineer, serial entrepreneur, and the founder of Predictable Designs and the Hardware Academy.
As a senior design engineer at Texas Instruments I designed dozens of successful electronic microchips. My designs can be found in all kinds of popular electronic devices including some from Apple and Intel. You likely own a product or two with one of my chip designs inside.
Before starting Predictable Designs, I founded a hardware startup named MicroLite Tech that developed and manufactured consumer lighting devices. My product was sold in hundreds of retail locations across multiple countries.
In addition to developing the product I also oversaw manufacturing in China, marketing, trade shows, logistics, financing, and sales. I had a team of over 20 sales representatives across the U.S. selling my product at one point.
For the past 5 years my full time passion has been helping entrepreneurs like you to develop and bring new electronic products to market. Over 42,000 hardware entrepreneurs just like you have subscribed to my Predictable Designs blog.
I received my Master’s in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) degree from the University of Texas with a focus in Microelectronics.
As a member of the Hardware Academy you will always have priority access to me for help and advice. There is even a private consulting area inside the Academy if you need to discuss anything confidential with only me.
NOT SURE IF THE HARDWARE ACADEMY IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
The Hardware Academy is NOT for everyone, and truth be told I'd prefer to help you figure out if it’s not right for you BEFORE you join rather than waste your time. So, let’s cut to the chase...
WHO THE ACADEMY IS FOR
WHO THE ACADEMY IS NOT FOR
PRICE COMPARISON
Hardware Academy versus Private Consultants
Engineers, consultants, and other experts typically charge an hourly rate of at least $100/hour in the U.S. In the past I charged $175/hour for private consulting. Even in less expensive countries, most good engineers will charge you at least $30-50/hour.
In the Hardware Academy you get access to an entire team of over 20 different experts, including myself, that are always available to answer your questions and provide you guidance.
It would cost you a small fortune to hire that many experts, whereas in the Academy you get access to all of them for as little as $49/month. For this price you wouldn't even get a single hour if you hired a private engineer.
Hiring me privately (which is no longer an option) for only one hour, costs the same as 3.5 months in the Hardware Academy where you have unlimited access to me!
I realize some people are not fans of recurring billing, but it actually saves you a ton of money. There is no other way to get this level of access to so many high-dollar experts for such an incredibly low monthly price.
Sure, if you join and never take any action then it may not be a bargain. But if you join and actually take advantage of everything the Academy offers, then it will be the best money you every spend!
It would cost me more to get a single answer from pretty much any expert on any topic, than what it costs me to join the Hardware Academy for a year.
Wayne Frick (member)
Founder, Chirpsounds
Some of the ways the Academy can save you money and time:
What current members have to say...
The Hardware Academy has been by far one of the biggest bangs for my buck when it comes to business and manufacturing advice. John Teel has managed to pool together subject matter experts of all kinds that provide meaningful answers through a simple yet effective online interface. There's no hassle. Just ask your question and let the answers pour in.
Lucas Schulte
Hardware Academy Member
I was hesitant on joining the Academy, but immediately first day in there all of those worries were gone. It was completely worth the value to get that knowledge from people that aren't trying to sell you something, and that's very valuable. That monthly fee, it's worth every penny. I already feel like I saved myself tons of headache.
Erik Hunter
Founder, InD Creation
For the first time ever, I have access to a dedicated online community highly knowledgeable in many different areas of hardware development. I can ask questions, see what others are asking which in many ways also applies to my own situations. The answers are always very illuminating. Additionally the platform itself provides technical resources critical to get started and improve on my hardware design and development skills. A dedicated online community highly knowledgeable in many different areas of hardware development, so that you do not get stuck during hardware development.
Tshoganyetso Mangadi
Hardware Academy Member
As a founder of a tech product who doesn't have a background in engineering, John and the other members of the community were really helpful. Their expertise is invaluable. The Hardware Academy is a great source of efficient and informative resources when creating an electronic product. I had a top-notch experience joining the Academy. John is truly an expert in his field and helps a lot of members from solving tough and impactful problems to aid in the creation of our projects. The Hardware Academy has provided me a professional, prompt and outstanding experience in my journey to create my tech device.
Margaret Cezar
Hardware Academy Member
Anyone that needs to get a hardware project done needs to be in the Hardware Academy. lnput from lots of great contributors. I use it as a knowledge base - I probably will not be the most active contributor but I find great value in the discussions. It has already answered questions for me that others have asked.
Michael O'Gorman
Hardware Academy Member
I would highly recommend the Hardware Academy as a place where the support of any kind, related to hardware design and product prototyping can be found. The Academy contains very useful courses, and the community is very active, there are a lot of actual questions with great, detailed and concise responses and all that is related to hardware design, the issues which everyone who deals with electronics design and development meets. I would especially mention the option of direct communication with John as the leading person of this great community. Not just that, a lot of experienced people who can also help with ideas, evaluation, guides and other things in order to make the reasonable choices in product design, development and marketing.
Nikola Pavlicevic
Hardware Academy Member
The Hardware Academy is the place to be if you are really committed to your transformation in order to become a hardware entrepreneur.
Dan Botezatu
Hardware Academy Member
You can ask just about anything and get an answer pretty quickly. You may not know what questions you are going to have, but you will have questions. It gives me a sense of comfort knowing I have experts I can look to when I have a question. I know that if I get stuck there are people in the Academy I can ask for help. This is the place to get answers.
Jesse McLaughlin
Hardware Academy Member
The Hardware Academy provides a group of highly trained engineers to provide mentoring and an environment to thrive. If you're like me you've already spent endless hours scouring the internet for answers. Its tough to know where to even start. Now I'm surrounded by talented ambitious individuals who love to help others. They help motivate you and hold you accountable. It's so refreshing!
Kris Christopher
Founder, Grow-Nanny
I decided to give the Hardware Academy a shot and was very glad I did. I’ve spent the past couple years working on my IoT side project, spending countless hours researching every aspect of how to bring my boot-strapped product to market, but ran into roadblocks with technical and business issues I just couldn’t find the answers to and I wasn’t in a position to hire one-on-one consulting services. I was instantly connected to like-minded individuals with complimentary skillsets and was able to quickly get solutions to my lingering questions, including from John.
Nick S.
Hardware Academy Member
An excellent resource of supportive, experienced people willing and able to give lots of constructive criticism about hardware and business development.
Loring Robbins
Hardware Academy Member
If you are developing a product, it is strongly recommended you join the Hardware Academy to get access to the material and experts for guidance which may save you time and money in the long run.
Qandeel Sheikh
Hardware Academy Member
The people John has brought in to the Hardware Academy to help answer member’s questions are fantastic. They are very knowledgeable and responsive; better than I could have expected. I have learned a lot about some of the details often overlooked when you think about starting a business. Things like certifications, serial and part version numbers and tracking, and how to achieve effective customer support. The members are very helpful as well; the experience of many members is vast, and deep, and they are willing to help. This seems to have been by design. This is community is as advertised from the beginning.
Matt Fasano
Hardware Academy Member
The Hardware Academy has put me in touch with people that I never would have been able to communicate with that have the experience of designing a product or knowledge of the legal issues involved in the process. Being in the Hardware Academy has helped in the fact that you can talk to others who have gone through the process and made mistakes and you can gain the knowledge not to make the same mistakes. It gives you a route to take if you are going to bring a product to market, being able to talk to many people in different fields has been a godsend to get their opinions, expertise and guidance.
Trevor Martynook
Hardware Academy Member
There is very little that you will find available on the net that matches the breadth and depth of what the Academy can offer and all in one place. I have been able to find answers to questions that I have not been able to find anywhere else as there are many experts in the Academy from diverse backgrounds. It's getting that 'needle in the haystack' answer to a question that for me makes the Academy worth it even if I don't ask many questions. Sometimes all I want is not a specific answer but more of a reality check on what I am planning to do. Being pointed in the right direction can make all the difference in the world.
Lee Taylor
Hardware Academy Member
Frequently Asked Questions
So, you have some questions? Let me now answer those for you...
Does it matter where I'm located? I'm not in the U.S. so will I still benefit from the Hardware Academy?
Can I get private one-on-one help with my project?
How far along do I need to be with my product? If I only have an idea will I benefit from the Academy? What if I'm much farther along, will I still benefit?
What type of products are right for the Hardware Academy? Is it only for electronic products or any physical product?
How do you handle confidential information when questions are asked? Can other members view my questions?
How is the Academy community area different than any of the many available free forums on design and entrepreneurship?
How are courses structured? Are courses live or recorded, text or video format? What topics are covered?
Can I get a design review of my product in the Academy?
I'm an engineer that wants to learn more about product development, but I don't have my own product. Is the Hardware Academy right for me?
I have no technical background or experience with anything related to product development. Is the Hardware Academy right for me?
I don't yet have a product idea, or I have multiple product ideas. Should I join now or wait until I have selected the product idea I wish to pursue?
How do I cancel my subscription if I no longer wish to remain a member? Can I rejoin later?
I'm in secretive stealth mode, can I be anonymous and still gain benefit from the Academy?
Is all of the content available straight away or is it time-released (drip fed)?
Can I upgrade and downgrade between plans (Starter, Pro, Premium)?
My startup consists of several people, do we each need to have a separate membership, or can we all share the same account?
Does the Hardware Academy make any claims to my intellectual property?
Once I join will the price ever increase?
Try it for 30 days for only $10
Hardware Academy
for 30 days
then $49/month
w/ private consulting
for 30 days
then $99/month
Cancellation Policy: We make it super easy for you to cancel at any time. In fact, here's a video showing you how to cancel. You will get a reminder email before your trial ends. You will also get a receipt every month so you won't ever just forget you are subscribed. We're not happy if you are not making progress!
We also offer full private engineering support in our Premium plan for $249/month (no trial available). Upgrade at any time.
All prices in US Dollars
Copyright 2021 by Predictable Designs LLC. Predictable Designs and Hardware Academy are trademarks of Predictable Designs LLC. CONTACT US | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS
