How do you know there’s actually a market for your new product? Join this workshop to learn more about customer discovery tools for entrepreneurs developing physical products. We’ll cover market research basics, tips and tricks, and low-barrier prototyping tools to get you collecting data faster. You’ll also hear real-world examples from professional designers on how prototyping is used to determine final product specifications.

Tech Valley Center of Gravity is a makerspace & incubator that empowers makers to connect, collaborate, and create. Their fabrication shop is ideal for individuals and startups who need access to workspace and prototyping equipment in order to test new ideas and grow their business.

Dan Falkenstrom, Operations Director, has experience as a manufacturing engineer, and helps connect manufacturing startups with resources to overcome their roadblocks.

Ignite U, powered by NYSTEC, is a nonprofit dedicated to the sustainable development of New York by building specialized programming designed to support the economic and educational initiatives of New York State.

Diane Borghoff is a professional in assessing numerous early-stage products, services, processes, and techniques in various domains. Her career spans more than 15 years with expertise building business cases, marketing plans, mentoring Lean LaunchPad techniques and go-to-market strategies. These range from ideating creative, disruptive solutions and navigating intellectual property needs to shape their advancement into the marketplace.

Fun Stuff Design, led by Julian Goldman and Dierdre Shea, is a Troy-based industrial design studio. Their focus is on biomaterials and objects that endure, with experience in sustainable supply chain, product strategy, and product development.