Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Porticos’ experience in new product development is broad and deep. We categorize every project as falling into one of four categories:

• Commercial devices are used by an organization, usually as part of a business, e.g., Bar code scanner.
• Medical devices promote human health, e.g., Heart monitor.
• Tactical devices are used by fire, police, EMT, or the military.  They are typically very rugged and versatile, e.g., Fire radio.
• Consumer devices are purchased and used by individuals, e.g.,  Hotwave.

Absolutely. A large percentage of our time is spent helping launch new ventures, developing new products, and refining strategy for smaller entities. Many of our clients are firms with less than ten employees.

No. In fact, it is advisable to delay filing until some technical details have been worked out.

New product development often includes a phase of R&D, in which engineers figure out how to achieve a technical goal. That “how” is the core of any Utility Patent. We frequently discover more than one viable approach, and those can become independent claims in your patent. That, in turn, provides for a broader patent and better protection against patent circumvention.

It is very common that patents are filed after we complete and deliver working prototypes. Patent examiners must then acknowledge that the invention has been reduced to practice.

No. The only things you need are an idea and a free consultation! Previous work (including napkin doodles) may help us get a better understanding of your vision, but they are not required. Our new product development process is flexible, and can efficiently accommodate whatever progress you have made prior to our first consultation.

You will own the final design, all documentation, and every prototype produced along the way. Computer files (CAD, schematics, etc.) will be provided to you whenever you ask. In short: every single aspect of product development engineering is the property of the client.

Porticos takes intellectual property very seriously. We even devoted an entire chapter to it in The Business of Ideas. When you work with Porticos, any intellectual property we develop automatically and immediately belongs to you. Regardless of who developed it, we keep it confidential. We insist on having a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement that protects our clients’ interests.

We insist on it. Please contact us and request our standard NDA, or provide your own and we’ll review it.

Technical Risk
Some products rely on core technology that is not fully proven in the application. Allow Porticos to perform an Engineering Investigation in order to de-risk subsequent phases of work.

Market Risk
Sometimes the market just doesn’t respond as you hoped they would. Ask Porticos to provide a high-fidelity prototype early in the project. That can be used to gauge market interest (e.g., focus groups) before committing to the expense of a comprehensive development project and product launch.

The best way to control costs is to minimize “scope creep.” Adding features or deliverables when the product development project is underway can be expensive. Beyond that, some product development tasks can be handled just as efficiently by you. We’ll help you to identify those.

Each product development endeavor is unique. It is common to start with a Time & Materials arrangement to define and de-risk the technical approach. We can transition to a Fixed Cost contract for execution and launch.

Yes. Most projects are executed in phases, paid upon completion. The product development projects that are performed under a Time & Materials contract are invoiced at the end of every month. We can, and do, predict what your monthly expense will be.

Porticos has a close relationship with Porticos Asia, who provides contract manufacturing, testing, packaging, quality control, and supply chain logistics. We are able to shepherd your project from concept through volume production by leveraging that relationship.

Yes. New product development is a creative and collaborative process. It benefits from face-to-face interactions, especially in the early stages of definition and concept generation. Working shoulder-to-shoulder in front of a whiteboard is vastly preferable to a video-call.

In later phases of the project, Porticos representatives will travel in order to demonstrate prototypes, support trade shows, and participate in system integration and field-testing.

That is our favorite question, and we’ve devoted a page to the answer: Why Porticos?

Contact Porticos to set up an initial consultation. We’ll work with you to determine if our capabilities are a good match for your project. If it’s a good fit, then we will generate a comprehensive Project Plan that enumerates the necessary product development phases, tasks, and deliverables.