Building a successful hardware product requires the right technology partnerships. In a recent episode of the Creations Engineered Podcast by Srushty, Teja Gadamsetty hosted Simon Fabien, founder of Wetflix, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for startups, especially when visiting India to identify tech partners. Here are five actionable takeaways from their insightful conversation.
1. Define Your Partnership Needs Before the Visit
Simon emphasized the importance of clarity in your requirements before engaging with potential partners.
“Startups often think they need a one-size-fits-all solution, but clarity on whether you need prototyping, full-scale manufacturing, or just technical expertise can save you weeks,” Simon explained.
Take time to create a checklist of what your startup needs. Are you looking for a prototyping partner? Do you need expertise in a niche field like IoT or medical devices? Answering these questions before your visit will help streamline your search.
2. Leverage India’s Unique Strengths in Engineering
India’s technology ecosystem is diverse, offering expertise in areas like IoT, AI, and hardware prototyping. Simon shared his experience of working with Indian tech teams:
“The level of engineering talent you’ll find in India is unparalleled for the cost. But beyond cost, what stood out for me was their problem-solving mindset,” he said.
When visiting India, research tech hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune, cities known for their engineering capabilities, to find the right fit for your project.
3. Focus on Cultural Fit and Communication
A successful partnership is more than just technical skills; it’s about aligning on values and communication. Teja pointed out that cultural understanding goes a long way:
“Tech partnerships are relationships. If you’re able to align on goals and communicate effectively, your collaboration becomes exponentially smoother,” he said.
Schedule face-to-face meetings or virtual calls to evaluate not just technical expertise but also how well the team aligns with your startup’s vision and work culture.
4. Visit Partner Facilities During Your Trip
One of the biggest advantages of visiting India in person is the ability to tour facilities and meet teams. Simon emphasized this point:
“Walking through the factory floor and seeing their processes firsthand gave me confidence in their capabilities. You can’t get that from an email or a Zoom call,” he said.
A visit allows you to verify quality standards, understand workflows, and ask questions about timelines and challenges they’ve solved for previous clients.
5. Build Long-Term Relationships
Finally, think beyond the immediate project and focus on creating lasting partnerships.
“The best partnerships I’ve had are the ones where we built trust over time,” Simon noted. “Having a partner who evolves with your needs is invaluable.”
Invest time in maintaining relationships even after the initial project is completed. Regular updates, collaborative problem-solving, and mutual respect can lead to a partnership that scales with your startup.
Are you evaluating a partner on cost alone? Think twice!
When Simon first started Wetflix, he quickly realized that building a smart water management device required expertise that went beyond his in-house capabilities.
“We needed someone who could help with both the hardware design and the IoT integration. It wasn’t something we could tackle alone, especially as a small team with limited resources,” Simon shared.
However, his initial attempt at finding a partner wasn’t successful. “We rushed into a partnership based on cost alone, without fully vetting their technical skills or understanding their working process. That mistake cost us six months and significant budget overruns,” he explained.
Simon learned the hard way that choosing the wrong partner can lead to delays, misaligned expectations, and even compromised product quality. “It’s critical to invest time in due diligence. Visit their facilities, ask for references, and make sure they’re the right fit for your specific needs,” he advised.
India offers an incredible opportunity for startups to find innovative, cost-effective technology partners. By following these tips, defining your needs, leveraging engineering talent, ensuring cultural fit, visiting facilities, and building long-term relationships, you can maximize the value of your partnerships.
Are you looking to create your hardware product? Here’s our Hardware Product Development Playbook that helps you get started!