Sketch to first production run. Same engineering the Tier 1 programs get.

Yes. That is one of the most common calls we get, and we take it seriously. Here is what the engagement typically looks like. We start with an NDA and a brief discovery call to understand what the product needs to do and what constraints matter most: budget, timeline, regulatory environment, manufacturing method. From there we move into concept development, which usually means two or three CAD concepts with enough detail to evaluate form, fit, and function. We pick the strongest concept together and move into full 3D CAD. If the part carries structural load or has a failure mode worth understanding, we run FEA before cutting anything. When the CAD is solid we build a prototype, either additive, machined, or a combination depending on the part. The first working prototype is usually four to twelve weeks from kickoff depending on complexity. At the end you have a physical artifact, a CAD package you own, and a set of release drawings. That is the foundation for a patent application, a manufacturing quote, or a pitch to investors. Our turnkey product development service covers the full path from idea to manufacturable hardware.

Yes. Independent inventors and early-stage startups are a regular part of our customer mix. We size the engagement to the stage. At pre-seed you might need one engineer for six weeks to validate a concept and produce investor-ready CAD. At seed you might need a full concept-to-prototype program with FEA and a working unit for demo day. We have done both. The NDA comes first. The scope comes second. We do not require a minimum engagement size.

Yes, every time. Mutual NDA is the first document on any new inventor engagement. We also work under customer-paper NDAs when that is the preferred form. The only thing we need to get an NDA signed is your name and contact information.

The customer owns all deliverables. That means the CAD files, simulation results, drawings, and any designs developed specifically for the engagement. ADAPT retains rights only to internal tooling, templates, and methodology that we built before the program started and that are not unique to your product. This is standard in every engagement, not something you need to negotiate for.

We do not publish fixed prices because scope varies too much to make a number useful without context. What we can say: a concept-to-working-prototype engagement for a mechanical consumer product at low complexity typically runs in the range of a few thousand dollars for a focused sprint to the low five figures for a full concept-through-prototype program with simulation and release drawings. Complex geometry, tight tolerances, regulated industries, and expedited timelines all push cost up. The most useful thing to do is call us. In a twenty-minute conversation we can tell you whether your idea fits our typical scope range and give you a rough order-of-magnitude before you commit to anything.