Most hardware crowdfunding campaigns don't fail at the fundraising stage. They fail in the four to eight months that follow — specifically in the transition from "working prototype" to "factory-ready design." A sourcing agent with an engineering background changes this equation because they catch design-for-manufacture (DFM) issues before tooling is cut, before the money is committed.
This guide covers what actually happens between a Kickstarter closing and a shipping container leaving Shenzhen — the stages, the costs, what can go wrong at each, and where an experienced hand makes a measurable difference.
The three stages most hardware startups don't plan for
The hardware startup mental model is usually: build prototype, run campaign, ship product. The factory side is treated as an implementation detail.
In practice there are three distinct engineering stages between a working prototype and a shipping product, and each one involves a different factory relationship and different costs.
