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This was my first attempt at fully going from a concept to a product out on the market. I was out on a run in November of 2017 with my friend from high school, Matthew. I spent a fair amount of my free time in high school developing a portable speaker system to be used during our cross country practices, so Matthew asked me if I'd be able to help him out by designing a product.
The problem being solved was that a lot of people's phones were dying while they were out, but most portable chargers were too inconvenient to include in their everyday carry. We started off with the idea of a portable charger in a bracelet, but decided to put out a survey with a couple different options. The results of that survey led us to start working on a portable charging wallet. The thought behind a portable charging wallet was to provide a solution for people's phones dying while out and about. Given that most people carry their phone, wallet and keys, we figured it'd be best to combine the portable charger with a wallet.
Version 1
Version 2
Over the following month we researched wallet types, portable chargers, and portable charging wallet companies to understand our competitive landscape. Starting in January, Matthew took over most of the business aspects of this venture, and I began prototyping. I was paralyzed with indecision, so I decided to just make the most crude wallet I could, just to get the ball rolling (see version 1 above). It was nothing pretty, but I was able to start understanding the composition of a wallet.
I then spent a LOT of time researching wallets, and building prototypes. I simultaneously tested out 10 - 15 different samples from various suppliers off of alibaba.com. Eventually, I discovered that we didn't have to develop our own power bank, as we could just buy an "off-shelf" power bank, and have our logo pad printed onto the outside of the unit. That proved to be the best option, as it freed up time to work on developing the aesthetics and functionality of the wallet. To the left, version two has an attached power bank, and a thumb slider for quick access cards
So, using what I'd learned from my previous iterations, I began developing what ended up being the final prototype. This one incorporated the new portable charger, as well as the thumb slider. I added a new strap to store the user's cash. Given that our brand name was Pioneer Creek, I wanted to incorporate some of that "outdoorsiness" into the design, with a magnetic walnut laminate cash strap
So, using what I'd learned from my previous iterations, I began developing what ended up being the final prototype. I combined all of the knowledge from my previous iterations to create the best minimum viable product (MVP) I could!
However, I don't particularly want this article to be focused on what I learned from an engineering sense, but what I learned in terms of lifestyle. I was 18 years old when I started this project. I'd just started college, was full of energy, determination, and drive. That was all really good. However, I was consuming a lot of media in the realm of "hustle culture". For those of you who are unfamiliar, hustle culture is a culture that essentially encourages you to work every possible minute you can. It has short term value, in that you will get a lot done, but it is not sustainable long term. I was eating up all of that content. I would go to classes during the day, and work on this project for a few hours each night, then would work on my homework. I was only sleeping 4 - 6 hours each night. I will say, living my life like that really toughened me up, however it wasn't good for my health, grades or social life. I wasn't putting time into relationships around me, and just living life like an 18 year old kid. I was so focused on working, and building something for myself. By not sleeping, I wasn't able to perform well in school, and as a result, grades were suffering. I ended up pulling them back up, but I learned a valuable lesson about working sustainably. You've got to prioritize sleep, eating healthy, working out, and keeping up relationships around you. If you don't, it WILL catch up to you. I guarantee it.
In the end, we entered into an entrepreneurship competition, and were rejected in the first round. As difficult as that was, it forced us to re-evaluate how much the consumer really needed this product. With the world moving towards digital payment, and battery technology improving, it didn't make sense to put this product out. Looking back, I'm so glad we were able to make that decision before we put any serious money into it. I don't even carry cash anymore! The product likely would've become outdated within about 3 years, before we could've even paid off our fixed costs. Looking back, it was an excellent, and very necessary learning experience. If you're interested in learning more, please see our pitch video below, or send me an email!
Version 3 Construction
Version 3 Final Photos
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