1. Go get some users for which your device stops pain. Get them to sign NDA's if necessary, and pay them a small stipend for their time.
2. See if your design really works. You can tell this if they do not want to give the device back.
3. Iterate.
Once you have something that is really valuable then get the patent. We made the mistake of getting designs done way too early and it cost us heaps in terms of ability to iterate and money.
Customers don't care what it looks like as long as it works. We had the most "customer success" with a grey $2 box when prototyping. Iterate early.
1. Go get some users for which your device stops pain. Get them to sign NDA's if necessary, and pay them a small stipend for their time.
2. See if your design really works. You can tell this if they do not want to give the device back.
3. Iterate.
Once you have something that is really valuable then get the patent. We made the mistake of getting designs done way too early and it cost us heaps in terms of ability to iterate and money.
Customers don't care what it looks like as long as it works. We had the most "customer success" with a grey $2 box when prototyping. Iterate early.