Navigating the design to manufacture journey: Investment and Funding

Turning an idea into a scalable, commercial product is a challenge that faces many entrepreneurs, innovators and SMEs. Developing a new product, new functionality or new customer experience can be difficult, and the design to manufacture process must be given careful consideration to ensure that development costs and timelines are managed effectively.

Navigating this process can be daunting and good communication between stakeholders is vital. By understanding what designers and manufacturers care about, it will be easier to establish the good relationships and processes that will avoid costly, time consuming changes further along the development process.

The KTN in partnership with Product Design Scotland have curated and exciting and informative a lunchtime programme – join us each week for an opportunity to hear from representatives across the design to manufacture space. Experienced innovators and specialists will give their own perspectives on the challenges and important considerations that should inform early stage product development.

Grab a tea and a sandwich and join Abi Hird and Alastair McInroy each Wednesday for expert insights, stimulating debate and an opportunity to join our diverse and vibrant community collectively focused on navigating the design to manufacture journey.

What to expect

Our aim is to build community. Attendees are expected from across the innovation, consultancy and contract manufacturing space.

• Innovators – SMEs, spin-outs, academics
• Technology providers/systems integrators
• Design consultancies
• Contract manufacturers
• Investors

Each one-hour online meeting will include three presentations from thought leaders on a specific aspect of the design to manufacture journey. This will be followed by an interactive Q&A session and an opportunity to connect. Across the whole series we will be using meeting mojo to facilitate connections enabling relationships to flourish. Grab a coffee and come and join us!

This Week’s Investment and Funding Theme

Critical to getting any product to market, careful consideration of funding and investment is of particular important to physical product start-ups due to the scale of the costs associated with manufacture and distribution. Awareness and insights can make all the difference. This week our speakers offer invaluable perspectives on the landscape and how best to approach it.