I still remember the moment when I presented my diploma project a project
presented my diploma project a project
presented my diploma project a project that I’ve been working on for an entire
that I’ve been working on for an entire
that I’ve been working on for an entire year the topic mare plane seatbelt for
year the topic mare plane seatbelt for
year the topic mare plane seatbelt for lab held babies under two I brought on
lab held babies under two I brought on
lab held babies under two I brought on stage my most beautiful and angelic
stage my most beautiful and angelic
stage my most beautiful and angelic friend and I put in her arms an adorable
friend and I put in her arms an adorable
friend and I put in her arms an adorable baby doll
baby doll
baby doll I’ve demonstrated the risk on which the
I’ve demonstrated the risk on which the
I’ve demonstrated the risk on which the lab how babies are exposed during the
lab how babies are exposed during the
lab how babies are exposed during the air flight and I showed how my new
air flight and I showed how my new
air flight and I showed how my new seatbelt could save their lives this
seatbelt could save their lives this
seatbelt could save their lives this image could snatch a tear from the most
image could snatch a tear from the most
image could snatch a tear from the most insensitive man so you can imagine the
insensitive man so you can imagine the
insensitive man so you can imagine the result I was rewarded with the highest
result I was rewarded with the highest
result I was rewarded with the highest mark and got great feedback from my
mark and got great feedback from my
mark and got great feedback from my colleagues and teachers it felt great it
colleagues and teachers it felt great it
colleagues and teachers it felt great it was everything that I dreamed of I
was everything that I dreamed of I
was everything that I dreamed of I graduated top of my class from a
graduated top of my class from a
graduated top of my class from a prestigious university and everybody was
prestigious university and everybody was
prestigious university and everybody was excited about my brilliant new product
excited about my brilliant new product
excited about my brilliant new product idea and they were advising me to start
idea and they were advising me to start
idea and they were advising me to start developing as a business you should
developing as a business you should
developing as a business you should patent this idea you should find my
patent this idea you should find my
patent this idea you should find my manufacturer producing it and sell it
manufacturer producing it and sell it
manufacturer producing it and sell it over the Internet
over the Internet
over the Internet you’ll be a millionaire they said but I
you’ll be a millionaire they said but I
you’ll be a millionaire they said but I was scared really really scared I did my
was scared really really scared I did my
was scared really really scared I did my research and I knew how difficult it is
research and I knew how difficult it is
research and I knew how difficult it is to bring innovation in the airplane
to bring innovation in the airplane
to bring innovation in the airplane industry air flight companies are paying
industry air flight companies are paying
industry air flight companies are paying millions of dollars to certify any new
millions of dollars to certify any new
millions of dollars to certify any new change that might affect the passenger
change that might affect the passenger
change that might affect the passenger safety inside the cabin so how was I a
safety inside the cabin so how was I a
safety inside the cabin so how was I a recent product design graduate supposed
recent product design graduate supposed
recent product design graduate supposed to start a business in this field
to start a business in this field
to start a business in this field I needed money for manufacturing for
I needed money for manufacturing for
I needed money for manufacturing for distribution and marketing but mostly I
distribution and marketing but mostly I
distribution and marketing but mostly I was alone I needed a team but this was
was alone I needed a team but this was
was alone I needed a team but this was not the only fear that I had the
not the only fear that I had the
not the only fear that I had the question that was keeping me awake was
question that was keeping me awake was
question that was keeping me awake was and now what if I’m not going to build a
and now what if I’m not going to build a
and now what if I’m not going to build a business out of my diploma project what
business out of my diploma project what
business out of my diploma project what should I do next I knew that the job
should I do next I knew that the job
should I do next I knew that the job offers for product designers in an
offers for product designers in an
offers for product designers in an ex-communist developing country were
ex-communist developing country were
ex-communist developing country were close to none at that point and I still
close to none at that point and I still
close to none at that point and I still remember the realistic but cruel world
remember the realistic but cruel world
remember the realistic but cruel world of my teachers who used to tell us we
of my teachers who used to tell us we
of my teachers who used to tell us we know you’re preparing to become a
know you’re preparing to become a
know you’re preparing to become a product designer but there are no jobs
product designer but there are no jobs
product designer but there are no jobs out there so you should get used to the
out there so you should get used to the
out there so you should get used to the idea that you’ll do something else so I
idea that you’ll do something else so I
idea that you’ll do something else so I was scared and I didn’t want to leave my
was scared and I didn’t want to leave my
was scared and I didn’t want to leave my country either and go work abroad I had
country either and go work abroad I had
country either and go work abroad I had all my families and friends here and I
all my families and friends here and I
all my families and friends here and I love my life so I was in a big impasse
love my life so I was in a big impasse
love my life so I was in a big impasse until I decided to build a strong
until I decided to build a strong
until I decided to build a strong portfolio and publish it online not much
portfolio and publish it online not much
portfolio and publish it online not much time after I’ve got an email from a
time after I’ve got an email from a
time after I’ve got an email from a client who was impressed of my work and
client who was impressed of my work and
client who was impressed of my work and wanted to hire me for one of his
wanted to hire me for one of his
wanted to hire me for one of his projects I was so excited I responded
projects I was so excited I responded
projects I was so excited I responded him immediately and I set a lunch with
him immediately and I set a lunch with
him immediately and I set a lunch with him
him
him I presented myself as professional as I
I presented myself as professional as I
I presented myself as professional as I could
could
could despite I was truly inexperienced in
despite I was truly inexperienced in
despite I was truly inexperienced in this he was a French engineer who used
this he was a French engineer who used
this he was a French engineer who used to work for an innovation company and
to work for an innovation company and
to work for an innovation company and who dreamed to become a successful
who dreamed to become a successful
who dreamed to become a successful entrepreneur he hired me immediately and
entrepreneur he hired me immediately and
entrepreneur he hired me immediately and you know this was my only chance and I
you know this was my only chance and I
you know this was my only chance and I took it his optimism was contagious
took it his optimism was contagious
took it his optimism was contagious he he came here to work on a super
he he came here to work on a super
he he came here to work on a super expensive high-end dental meal with a
expensive high-end dental meal with a
expensive high-end dental meal with a local professor and then he moved to
local professor and then he moved to
local professor and then he moved to China for manufacturing I’ve always
China for manufacturing I’ve always
China for manufacturing I’ve always admired him for his ability to dream big
admired him for his ability to dream big
admired him for his ability to dream big work hard but mostly because he was not
work hard but mostly because he was not
work hard but mostly because he was not afraid of the unknown he was willing to
afraid of the unknown he was willing to
afraid of the unknown he was willing to travel all around the world to connect
travel all around the world to connect
travel all around the world to connect with people and get the best result so
with people and get the best result so
with people and get the best result so this got me inspired to become an
this got me inspired to become an
this got me inspired to become an industrial designer and start working
industrial designer and start working
industrial designer and start working with clients all over the world during
with clients all over the world during
with clients all over the world during the last ten years I help entrepreneurs
the last ten years I help entrepreneurs
the last ten years I help entrepreneurs and companies build the shape and image
and companies build the shape and image
and companies build the shape and image on top of their concepts as a product
on top of their concepts as a product
on top of their concepts as a product designer my biggest satisfaction was to
designer my biggest satisfaction was to
designer my biggest satisfaction was to see my concept designs brought life and
see my concept designs brought life and
see my concept designs brought life and reaching the stores but from tens of
reaching the stores but from tens of
reaching the stores but from tens of products that I was designing maybe five
products that I was designing maybe five
products that I was designing maybe five to ten percent were reaching the market
to ten percent were reaching the market
to ten percent were reaching the market and although this was a realistic
and although this was a realistic
and although this was a realistic success rate in the entrepreneurial
success rate in the entrepreneurial
success rate in the entrepreneurial world for me it felt like a disaster so
world for me it felt like a disaster so
world for me it felt like a disaster so with my morale down I try to see and
with my morale down I try to see and
with my morale down I try to see and search for other opportunities in the
search for other opportunities in the
search for other opportunities in the hardware industry although I was really
hardware industry although I was really
hardware industry although I was really scared on the idea of speaking in front
scared on the idea of speaking in front
scared on the idea of speaking in front of a roomful of people and as you can
of a roomful of people and as you can
of a roomful of people and as you can see this hasn’t changed until now I
see this hasn’t changed until now I
see this hasn’t changed until now I started to pitch my idea design and
started to pitch my idea design and
started to pitch my idea design and innovation laboratory to different
innovation laboratory to different
innovation laboratory to different events
events
events in 2013 I met at one of these events the
in 2013 I met at one of these events the
in 2013 I met at one of these events the founder of vector we connected instantly
founder of vector we connected instantly
founder of vector we connected instantly and I felt that this is the right leader
and I felt that this is the right leader
and I felt that this is the right leader the person who is able to take a complex
the person who is able to take a complex
the person who is able to take a complex new project to life
new project to life
new project to life he was the missing puzzle in my ideal
he was the missing puzzle in my ideal
he was the missing puzzle in my ideal team so I decided to post all my idea
team so I decided to post all my idea
team so I decided to post all my idea and my business plan and I joined his
and my business plan and I joined his
and my business plan and I joined his team as a co-founder this adventure
team as a co-founder this adventure
team as a co-founder this adventure lasted for three years during which we
lasted for three years during which we
lasted for three years during which we designed manufactured and sold worldwide
designed manufactured and sold worldwide
designed manufactured and sold worldwide an innovative product vector was
an innovative product vector was
an innovative product vector was recently acquired by hardware startup
recently acquired by hardware startup
recently acquired by hardware startup that became the worldwide leader in its
that became the worldwide leader in its
that became the worldwide leader in its industry so this got me wondering what
industry so this got me wondering what
industry so this got me wondering what were the key factors that made this
were the key factors that made this
were the key factors that made this entrepreneurs go beyond beyond their
entrepreneurs go beyond beyond their
entrepreneurs go beyond beyond their fears their uncertainty the lack of
fears their uncertainty the lack of
fears their uncertainty the lack of knowledge or energy I came up with three
knowledge or energy I came up with three
knowledge or energy I came up with three ideas and the first one is to build a
ideas and the first one is to build a
ideas and the first one is to build a strong team and network the first thing
strong team and network the first thing
strong team and network the first thing my founder did when he started his
my founder did when he started his
my founder did when he started his wearable business was to build a team
wearable business was to build a team
wearable business was to build a team with specialists who had
with specialists who had
with specialists who had interdisciplinary skills that in
interdisciplinary skills that in
interdisciplinary skills that in complementary skills that could help to
complementary skills that could help to
complementary skills that could help to design and build the product but this is
design and build the product but this is
design and build the product but this is not enough you can have amazing
not enough you can have amazing
not enough you can have amazing co-founders and talented co-founders but
co-founders and talented co-founders but
co-founders and talented co-founders but they should be totally immersed in the
they should be totally immersed in the
they should be totally immersed in the hardware industry so if you are building
hardware industry so if you are building
hardware industry so if you are building a watch for example you should dream
a watch for example you should dream
a watch for example you should dream talk and breathe watches so you should
talk and breathe watches so you should
talk and breathe watches so you should have all your network your advisors in
have all your network your advisors in
have all your network your advisors in this area to help you immerse in this
this area to help you immerse in this
this area to help you immerse in this industry even if you are not experienced
industry even if you are not experienced
industry even if you are not experienced in this field so you have to go where
in this field so you have to go where
in this field so you have to go where your industry is from visiting Chinese
your industry is from visiting Chinese
your industry is from visiting Chinese suppliers to international fairs or just
suppliers to international fairs or just
suppliers to international fairs or just discussing with distributors and
discussing with distributors and
discussing with distributors and founders worldwide you have to be ready
founders worldwide you have to be ready
founders worldwide you have to be ready to jump on a plane F
to jump on a plane F
to jump on a plane F timer an opportunity pops up and you
timer an opportunity pops up and you
timer an opportunity pops up and you have to face the unknown this takes us
have to face the unknown this takes us
have to face the unknown this takes us to the second key factor that means to
to the second key factor that means to
to the second key factor that means to go international I remember the first
go international I remember the first
go international I remember the first time when I visited the Chinese
time when I visited the Chinese
time when I visited the Chinese factories we were under a huge time
factories we were under a huge time
factories we were under a huge time pressure and our project was tucked
pressure and our project was tucked
pressure and our project was tucked because our lack of understanding of the
because our lack of understanding of the
because our lack of understanding of the manufacturing processes and even though
manufacturing processes and even though
manufacturing processes and even though we were doing everything possible
we were doing everything possible
we were doing everything possible we were watching online videos from the
we were watching online videos from the
we were watching online videos from the factories we were doing a lot of
factories we were doing a lot of
factories we were doing a lot of research we were still not sure that we
research we were still not sure that we
research we were still not sure that we were picking the right solution so when
were picking the right solution so when
were picking the right solution so when we presented this to our former CEO at
we presented this to our former CEO at
we presented this to our former CEO at that time he just told us his time for
that time he just told us his time for
that time he just told us his time for you to go to China and visit the
you to go to China and visit the
you to go to China and visit the suppliers he’s not negotiable he said
suppliers he’s not negotiable he said
suppliers he’s not negotiable he said you’ll pack your things and you you will
you’ll pack your things and you you will
you’ll pack your things and you you will take the next plane this cell may sound
take the next plane this cell may sound
take the next plane this cell may sound precipitated but for us it was the best
precipitated but for us it was the best
precipitated but for us it was the best thing that we did it helped us save
thing that we did it helped us save
thing that we did it helped us save months from the development process but
months from the development process but
months from the development process but this is not the only thing that the good
this is not the only thing that the good
this is not the only thing that the good startup founders are doing going to
startup founders are doing going to
startup founders are doing going to China or other countries to visit 20
China or other countries to visit 20
China or other countries to visit 20 possible suppliers is not enough the
possible suppliers is not enough the
possible suppliers is not enough the good startup founders don’t ignore the
good startup founders don’t ignore the
good startup founders don’t ignore the numbers and thus a general rule
numbers and thus a general rule
numbers and thus a general rule everybody knows that making hardware
everybody knows that making hardware
everybody knows that making hardware products physical products is expensive
products physical products is expensive
products physical products is expensive you need to consider the manufacturing
you need to consider the manufacturing
you need to consider the manufacturing cost the shipping the distribution but
cost the shipping the distribution but
cost the shipping the distribution but in the world housing but also the yealt
in the world housing but also the yealt
in the world housing but also the yealt loss and return rate after sales ideally
loss and return rate after sales ideally
loss and return rate after sales ideally the manufacturing price should not be
the manufacturing price should not be
the manufacturing price should not be more than 20% from the total retail
more than 20% from the total retail
more than 20% from the total retail price so if your factory is not able to
price so if your factory is not able to
price so if your factory is not able to give you a reasonable price then you
give you a reasonable price then you
give you a reasonable price then you should work together to find solutions
should work together to find solutions
should work together to find solutions to cut down costs or search for a
to cut down costs or search for a
to cut down costs or search for a different supplier
different supplier
different supplier I recently met a former client of mine
I recently met a former client of mine
I recently met a former client of mine who dreams to build a local factory he
who dreams to build a local factory he
who dreams to build a local factory he was about to invest his lifetime savings
was about to invest his lifetime savings
was about to invest his lifetime savings in this and he was speaking with so
in this and he was speaking with so
in this and he was speaking with so energy so much energy and enthusiasm
energy so much energy and enthusiasm
energy so much energy and enthusiasm about his sustainable business approach
about his sustainable business approach
about his sustainable business approach I want to build products that could last
I want to build products that could last
I want to build products that could last for 10 years not only for 2 years as it
for 10 years not only for 2 years as it
for 10 years not only for 2 years as it happens now and I’m sure that we can
happens now and I’m sure that we can
happens now and I’m sure that we can build cheaper products but good quality
build cheaper products but good quality
build cheaper products but good quality and have reasonable growth rate and
and have reasonable growth rate and
and have reasonable growth rate and margins not like all these big
margins not like all these big
margins not like all these big corporations who only dream about
corporations who only dream about
corporations who only dream about profits Wow
profits Wow
profits Wow what a noble goal I say how can we do
what a noble goal I say how can we do
what a noble goal I say how can we do that after we analyze together the
that after we analyze together the
that after we analyze together the numbers we realize we have no idea on
numbers we realize we have no idea on
numbers we realize we have no idea on how to achieve this idealistic approach
how to achieve this idealistic approach
how to achieve this idealistic approach it’s very easy to get enthusiastic about
it’s very easy to get enthusiastic about
it’s very easy to get enthusiastic about the concept and forget about the numbers
the concept and forget about the numbers
the concept and forget about the numbers actually it’s in our nature to seek for
actually it’s in our nature to seek for
actually it’s in our nature to seek for all the reasons that help us support our
all the reasons that help us support our
all the reasons that help us support our ideas and because of this we might be
ideas and because of this we might be
ideas and because of this we might be miss the opportunity to see the
miss the opportunity to see the
miss the opportunity to see the potential pitfalls in a business plan
potential pitfalls in a business plan
potential pitfalls in a business plan creating a sustainable business it’s all
creating a sustainable business it’s all
creating a sustainable business it’s all about positive financial results and
about positive financial results and
about positive financial results and despite all the value that we want to
despite all the value that we want to
despite all the value that we want to drink and the fact that we want to make
drink and the fact that we want to make
drink and the fact that we want to make the world a better place we should just
the world a better place we should just
the world a better place we should just keep this simple thing in our mind this
keep this simple thing in our mind this
keep this simple thing in our mind this sounds scary right well let me tell you
sounds scary right well let me tell you
sounds scary right well let me tell you a thing despite all the efforts the
a thing despite all the efforts the
a thing despite all the efforts the uncertainties and the realistic approach
uncertainties and the realistic approach
uncertainties and the realistic approach there are not many things out there that
there are not many things out there that
there are not many things out there that could give you so much satisfaction as
could give you so much satisfaction as
could give you so much satisfaction as building a launching innovative product
building a launching innovative product
building a launching innovative product and we have so many good examples around
and we have so many good examples around
and we have so many good examples around us so if you have a valuable idea don’t
us so if you have a valuable idea don’t
us so if you have a valuable idea don’t ever miss the opportunity to bring it to
ever miss the opportunity to bring it to
ever miss the opportunity to bring it to life and make a difference in the this
life and make a difference in the this
life and make a difference in the this world thank you
”
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