How do you choose a prototyping platform for your startup?

If you're an entrepreneur with a great idea for a product or service, you might be wondering how to turn it into a tangible prototype that you can test, validate, and pitch to potential customers and investors. Prototyping is a crucial step in the product development process, as it helps you refine your concept, identify problems, and get feedback. But how do you choose the right platform to build your prototype on? There are many options available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your goals, budget, and skills. In this article, we'll guide you through some of the key factors to consider when selecting a prototyping platform for your startup.

1 Your prototyping goals

Before you start looking for a platform, you need to define what you want to achieve with your prototype. Do you want to test the feasibility of your idea, the usability of your design, or the desirability of your value proposition? Do you want to create a low-fidelity or high-fidelity prototype, or something in between? Do you want to focus on the functionality, the aesthetics, or the interaction of your product or service? Your prototyping goals will determine the level of detail, complexity, and realism that you need from your platform.

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Alexey Anshakov

I 🚀 your business profits by up to 40% with automation. Unlock your first workflow automation case, saving you $25k+ in just 2 weeks, with a Forbes & EU Innovation Award recipient.
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Additionally, focus on aspects: Depending on your objectives, you might emphasize different aspects of your product or service. If functionality is paramount, your prototype should ensure that core features work as intended. If aesthetics matter most, the visual design and layout should be polished. For interaction testing, the flow and user journey should be well-represented.

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2 Your prototyping resources

Another factor to consider is how much time, money, and expertise you have to invest in your prototyping process. Some platforms are more expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to use than others, depending on the features, tools, and support they offer. You need to balance the cost and quality of your platform with the resources you have available. For example, if you have a tight budget and a short deadline, you might want to choose a platform that is easy to use, has a low learning curve, and offers a free or affordable plan. On the other hand, if you have more resources and want to create a more sophisticated prototype, you might want to choose a platform that has more advanced capabilities, customization options, and integrations.

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JC Negri

Transforming businesses with game-changing solutions that drive growth and maximize results | Enterprise Sales Manager
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Before prototyping, it is necessary to know your ICP. Who are you going to direct and point this new platform or system to? For example, if budget is the main stone, research a scalable platform that can accomplish the principal objectives at the start. Then, as later the assurance of capabilities and necessities arise; it can be updated in a new version. As you’re aware, around 80% of the capabilities are usually the same across the board. It’s the 20% where you have to stand out from the pack.

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3 Your prototyping audience

The third factor to consider is who you want to share your prototype with, and how you want to communicate your idea. Your prototyping audience could be your potential customers, your investors, your team members, or your testers. Depending on your audience, you might need a different level of interactivity, fidelity, and feedback from your platform. For example, if you want to show your prototype to your customers, you might want to choose a platform that allows you to create a realistic and engaging experience, that works on different devices and platforms, and that lets you collect user data and feedback. On the other hand, if you want to show your prototype to your investors, you might want to choose a platform that allows you to create a compelling and convincing story, that highlights the value and potential of your product or service, and that lets you present your prototype in a professional and polished way.

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Avi Wolfson

Inspirational Keynote Speaker || I help students develop resilience and unlock their inner champion || Transformed lives of 300+ students || Best Selling Author
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Who to share your prototype with: Target Audience: Identify primary stakeholders who will benefit or influence your prototype. Feedback: Determine whose feedback is most valuable. Goals: Align your audience selection with prototype goals. Proficiency: Choose individuals with relevant expertise. Communicate your idea: Simplicity: Keep your message clear and concise. Pitch: Craft an elevator pitch that captures the essence of your idea. Visual Aids: Use visuals, such as diagrams or sketches to supplement text. Action Words: Use action-oriented words to describe how your prototype works and what users can achieve. Benefits: Clearly articulate the benefits or advantages. Engage the Audience: Encourage questions or further discussion.

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4 Your prototyping preferences

The final factor to consider is your personal preference and style. You might have a preference for a certain type of platform, based on your previous experience, your skills, or your comfort level. For example, you might prefer a platform that uses a visual or drag-and-drop interface, rather than a code-based one. You might prefer a platform that has a minimalist or intuitive design, rather than a cluttered or complex one. You might prefer a platform that has a large and active community, rather than a small and obscure one. Your preference and style will influence how you enjoy and use your platform, and how you express your creativity and vision.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Gijsbertus J.J. van Wulfen

Innovation keynote speaker, Number One Thought Leader Design Thinking 2024, LinkedIn Top Voice helping you and your organisation, to become amazing innovators with keynotes, workshops, and a proven innovation method.
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As innovation facilitator of 100+ projects, I advise you to EXPERIMENT BY PRETOTYPING … YOU FAKE IT BEFORE YOU MAKE IT 🤗✅. Pretotyping is a technique for testing hypotheses and validating ideas quickly and cheap, founded by Savoia. It involves creating a simplified version of a product or service to collect user feedback and understand market demand. It’s a non-working prototype. Pretotyping reduces the risk of failure by assessing market response early in the development process. A famous pretotyping story is how Tesla ‘faked’ their first electrical car, the Roadster, using a so-called ‘glider’ of a Lotus Elise to confront their potential customers with a ‘real car’, leading to 250+ launching customers who paid $ 5000,- in advance.

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How do you choose a prototyping platform for your startup?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Your prototyping goals

2 Your prototyping resources

3 Your prototyping audience

4 Your prototyping preferences

5 Here’s what else to consider

Entrepreneurship

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How do you choose a prototyping platform for your startup?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Your prototyping goals

2 Your prototyping resources

3 Your prototyping audience

4 Your prototyping preferences

5 Here’s what else to consider

Entrepreneurship

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