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What business would you start with $20k?
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MVP ➖ Alpha Prototype ➖Patent ➖User Feedback ➖ Beta Prototype ➖ Hardware/Software UI QA QC ➖Pre Production Unit ➖ Market
If you can build it build it as a prototype.
If you can't, design it in detail and pay someone else to build it as a prototype.
I think you should try to follow lean startup methodology and design an MVP and get feedback from potential customers to see if there’s a fit before investing a lot of money potentially into things that might be sunk costs if there’s no product market fit.
Hey. Founder of a robotics company and a tech-focused makerspace here and a consultant to people starting a hardware product startup (www.jasmeet.me). How unique is your idea? If its too unique you can spend time learning new skills and designing it from scratch yourself and if there is a chance of someone being able to copy this i'd recommend finding someone you can start developing it with as soon as possible. If you need any help, let me know.
Good Bai G! Saw your profile - nice work!
Talk to users who would be in your initial target market to validate if your product actually solves a real problem for them. That’s always step 1.
This. Talk to different stakeholder groups (those who would be affected by your product, whether they’re customers, partners, vendors, etc.) to see if it solves a problem. Then you can worry about creating a prototype. Look up something called the MVP process. My title here says EP but I’m also a founder. :)
Is it software/hardware or a physical product?
If it’s software or hardware I can help. 
A1 - you know what I meant. Stop being a dick. We have enough dicks in the world. 
Need more details...What are you looking for? Funding? Starting a business to make/sell. Is it patentable? How big is market? Assuming it's viable, are you interested in a partner to help with the business side?
I happen to be a IP attorney. I feel as though an idea that you truly believe is worth prototyping is one you might want to consider for patent protection early on. Patents can protect a wider scope of subject matter than just your initial concept. Most importantly, be sure to have an NDA in place before you reach out to a prototype shop. Otherwise, you risk losing patent rights, whether in the U.S. or in other jurisdictions, esp. Europe.
Update.
The Good - Started to build my prototype!
The Bad - As I was skimming Amazon I came across an item that is similar to my idea, but overall is trash. Poor quality, bad UI, high price. It’s not well marketed and has very few sales.
Before going any further with the prototype I wanted to get advice from this group. Do I check if this company filed a patent? If so, how? Also if so, can I still compete?
Subject Expert
Buy the product. See what comes with it, patent numbers on the product or in documentation etc. You may have a cheaper prototype than you thought (take this and use for testing with whatever mods you need - literally have used competitor products before to play with and mod for what we built and sold).
Start small, think big
Following.....
Send me your idea, if I like it I’ll fund it 😉
You can prototype, there are maker labs that have 3D printing and u can prototype and see if there is a market
Coach
Any traction on your product?