Minaal was founded on the core principle of reducing travel drag, by offering durable gear that saves you time without sacrificing style. Co-founder Jimmy Hayes joins us this week to talk about product design, soliciting initial feedback, prototyping new models, and business lessons he’s learned along the way.

Topics Discussed:

• 03:00 – Background of Minaal, inspiration, and product lines
• 04:30 – Embracing yourself as a challenger in the marketplace
• 06:00 – Finding the niche between travel and business gear
• 10:00 – Identifying and working with your first customers
• 15:00 – Scaling back the initial concept and integrating feedback
• 17:00 – Living in Vietnam and modifying prototypes with the factory
• 19:00 – Learning about product design, components, and material
• 20:30 – Pounding the streets and getting feedback with a sample
• 22:00 – Figuring out what feedback to keep and what to discard
• 29:30 – Crowdfunding and how Kickstarter works
• 33:00 – Strategies on Kickstarter, covering your bases, and streamlining the process
• 39:00 – Benefits of having a healthy dose of ignorance starting out

Mentions in the Episode:

• Minaal
• #BALLA Passport Holder case study
• Derek Sivers
• Kickstarter

Episode Length: 41:51

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