The Third Stage in the Journey of an IoT Developer
In our previous post in this series, we explored the second stage of IoT development: Design & Planning. This post explores the third stage of the IoT developer journey.
Ask a developer about their prototype and undoubtedly you’ll get a smile. Of course, the type of smile depends on where they are in the development journey. If they’re just getting started, you might get a skeptical smile, as if prototype is a distant point, far beyond their horizon. Developers in the design phase may offer a twisted grin, a smile that is equal parts excitement and frustration. Excitement for what’s possible, frustration that it’s not coming fast enough. And from those who have taken products to market, you’ll get a nostalgic nod, accompanied by an anecdote of how their first prototype was such an embarrassment. Still, they’ll speak of it with great pride.
The prototype is where your vision comes to life. Where your dream becomes a reality. The good news is that there are tons of resources. The Intel® Developer Zone for IoT features instructions for assembling your Intel® Galileo or Intel® Edison board, as well as links to instructables* for everything from designing and 3D printing your microcontroller enclosure to creating a smart kitchen. SparkFun* and AdaFruit* provide all sorts of developer tools. Everything from chipsets and boards, to sensors and robotics. You’ll even find tutorials, instructional videos, and active forums with other like-minded tinkerers.
The Execution & Build stage is one of the most memorable of the developer journey, because it provides validation. A functional prototype is the initial proof point that your concept works. For the first time, you have something tangible to touch, test, and tear apart. And, it leads to one of the most important steps in a product’s life-cycle.
The demo.
Nothing activates prospective customers, partners, and investors more than a great demo. It quiets the naysayers, excites the believers, and energizes the team. A great demo is like a crystal ball; it provides a glimpse of the future.
Once you have a functional usable prototype, look for ways to reduce cost, increase efficiency, and improve the user experience. Identify which features are useful and which are extraneous. Talk to people and get feedback. Go to local Meetups and Maker Faires. The natural tendency is to demonstrate what you’ve built and defend it at all costs. Instead, use this stage to watch how people interact with your prototype and listen to what they say. Zero in on what’s most valuable.
Getting early market feedback will also put you in a better position to raise capital. Traditionally, the first money into any startup has come from friends and family, angel investors, or venture capital funds. In the last few years, alternative sources of capital have become widely accepted. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter* and IndieGogo*, can be effective tools for raising non-dilutive capital while simultaneously building your customer base. Sites like Angel List* can connect you with accredited investors and even potential team members. If your application has a social mission, Crowdrise* has a community of socially-minded donors interested in funding charities and causes.
Building a prototype allows you to begin executing on a plan. Now is the time to think more critically about your product’s viability, study the competition, and come up with a go-to-market strategy.
Next up: Stage 4: Go-to-Market & Scale
Previous: Stage 2: Design & Planning
Start inventing today with the Intel® IoT Developer Program, which offers knowledge, tools, kits, and a community of experts to quickly and easily turn your innovative ideas into IoT solutions.
Dream it, build it with the Intel® IoT Developer Kit for the Intel® Edison and Intel® Galileo platforms. These kits are versatile, performance-optimized, and fully integrated end-to-end IoT solutions supporting a variety of programming environments, tools, security, cloud connectivity, and hardware.
For more resources and to learn how the new Intel® IoT Developer Kit v1.0 can help streamline your IoT projects:
- Download the Intel® IoT Developer Kit
- Visit the Intel® Developer Zone for IoT
- Attend one of our roadshows for hands-on training in creating your own IoT projects