Today we’d like to introduce you to Noah McNeely.
Hi Noah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been developing products for about 25 years—everything from simple gadgets to consumer electronics, sports equipment, and medical devices. Honestly, I’ve worked on so many things at this point that I can’t even remember them all.
Growing up, I had very broad interests. I was good at both math and art, and I was always fascinated by how things work. I loved creating and building things, which naturally led me to Georgia Tech and eventually into product design. I started by studying mechanical engineering, and later went to grad school for industrial design.
On the engineering side, I do all the nerdy things engineers do—the stuff that can clear a room if you bring it up at a dinner party. I make things work, I make them manufacturable, and I make sure they’re cost-optimized. On the design side, I focus on the human elements—the fun stuff: Does it look right? Is it intuitive? Is it enjoyable to use? Will people think it’s cool? Combining these two disciplines has allowed me to create great products for clients while keeping both my inner engineer and my inner artist happy.
Early in my career, most of my work was for large, well-known brands. I developed products for companies like The Home Depot, Black & Decker, Craftsman, Procter & Gamble, and many others people would recognize. Along the way, I also had opportunities to work with startups and inventor-entrepreneurs—and I quickly realized that this was where my real passion was. I’m very entrepreneurial myself, so I naturally gravitate toward people who are deeply invested in the businesses they’re trying to build.
About 11 years ago, I made the decision to focus almost entirely on helping early-stage inventors and startups develop and launch new products, and I’ve never looked back.
Over the years, I’ve met far too many inventor-entrepreneurs who wasted their life savings—or worse—trying to bring products to market. Many simply spent money on the wrong things. Others received bad advice from engineers or product developers who didn’t understand how to properly support early-stage innovation. And unfortunately, many were taken advantage of by outright scam companies. That experience was a major motivation behind why I started Product QuickStart—to provide honest, efficient, and effective product-development support to inventors and startups. It’s also what led me to become the host of the Product Genius podcast, where I cover a wide range of topics relevant to entrepreneurs.
Over the last decade, I’ve worked with hundreds of inventors and founders. Some have gone on to major exit events. Others have successfully licensed their products. Many have built sustainable, profitable businesses around what they created. Being part of those journeys—and helping people avoid costly mistakes along the way—is what continues to drive me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a completely smooth road? Definitely not—but I don’t think that’s ever the case when you’re building something meaningful.
One of my biggest challenges early on was figuring out how to deliver truly high-quality product development and manufacturing support in a way that made sense for inventors and early-stage founders. Most of my earlier career was spent working with large, well-funded companies. That world relied on big teams, big overhead, and big budgets—and while it worked for major brands, it simply wasn’t realistic for people bootstrapping a new idea.
When I started Product QuickStart, I had to rethink almost everything about how the work was done. That meant building a much leaner, more efficient model—and learning through a few bumps along the way. Over time, that approach became one of our biggest strengths. Today, I can focus on delivering exactly what clients need without unnecessary complexity, which allows them to spend their limited resources on things like marketing, sales, and actually growing a business.
Another challenge was more personal. Early on, there’s a lot of pressure to say yes to every opportunity—especially when you’re starting out. But I quickly realized that taking on projects I didn’t believe in would go against the very reason I started the company. I wanted to be an honest, positive resource in an industry where too many people get bad advice or taken advantage of.
Learning how to say “no” in a thoughtful, constructive way was a turning point. Often that meant helping someone rethink their idea or business plan rather than pushing them forward prematurely. Most people appreciated the honesty. A few didn’t, and sadly went on to hire other product development firms that were happy to empty their wallets. But staying true to my guiding principles helped shape my reputation in this industry and build trust over time. Looking back, those early struggles were essential in defining not just the business I built, but the kind of work I wanted to be known for.
As you know, we’re big fans of Product QuickStart. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
About the Business / What We Do
Product QuickStart helps inventors and early-stage startups turn ideas into real, innovative, manufacture-ready products. At the most basic level, we make things—but doing that well means being involved throughout the entire product journey. That includes early concept development, engineering and industrial design, prototyping, pilot production, and full manufacturing coordination.
We also frequently play a “matchmaker” role, connecting clients with other startup-friendly professionals who can help move their businesses forward—investors, licensing experts, patent strategists, and manufacturing partners. Our goal is not just to develop products, but to help build viable businesses around them.
What We’re Known For / What Sets Us Apart
We offer a rare combination of deep engineering and industrial design expertise, delivered through a lean and efficient business model built specifically for entrepreneurs and startups. We’re known for being pragmatic and honest, with a strong focus on business reality—even when that means advising someone not to spend money with us.
We’re also known for actually getting products to market. Many design and engineering firms have created great concepts but have never seen their products manufactured at scale. Real-world production experience is a core part of what we bring to the table.
Who We’re Best Suited For
Our ideal clients are business-minded inventor-entrepreneurs, founders, and startups with innovative product ideas. The people we work best with understand that launching a new product is not a get-rich-quick scheme and are prepared to put in the work required to build something meaningful and sustainable.
Brand Values / What We Stand For
We try to treat our clients the way we would want to be treated. That means we’d rather say “no” to a bad project than spend a client’s money recklessly. Transparency is also central to how we operate. We don’t just explain what decisions are being made—we explain why, so clients truly understand their products, their risks, and their opportunities.
What I’m Most Proud Of, Brand-Wise
I’m most proud that Product QuickStart is seen as a firm that protects and supports inventors, rather than simply trying to profit from them. The trust we’ve built in the startup community—reflected in the number of referrals we receive—means everything to me.
What I Want Readers to Know
Launching a product business is hard—there’s no way around that. But it doesn’t have to be confusing, predatory, or isolating. Product QuickStart is here to walk that path alongside our clients. We’ve done it many times before, we know where the traps are, and we’re committed to helping inventors and founders give their ideas a real chance to succeed.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I’ve loved Atlanta ever since I came here for college in the early ’90s. There’s so much happening here that it’s honestly hard to narrow it down to just one thing I like best. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time exploring different parts of the city—Little Five Points, Virginia Highlands, Midtown, Decatur—each area has its own personality, and that variety is something Atlanta does really well.
As my kids came along, our relationship with the city evolved. Suddenly, places like the Children’s Museum, the Zoo, and the Aquarium became part of our regular routine. Atlanta also has some truly incredible resources and organizations, especially for families—Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta deserves a special shout-out. Knowing those kinds of institutions exist here adds a real sense of confidence and community.
From a business standpoint, Atlanta has been a great home base. It’s incredibly easy to get to. While I work with many Georgia-based clients, most of my clients are actually out of state—and even a few international. Being based in Atlanta makes travel simple and accessible for almost everyone, which has been a huge advantage.
What do I like least? Probably traffic—which I know isn’t a very original answer. But I also see it as a side effect of what makes Atlanta so appealing. It’s a city people want to live in, work in, and visit. Like most things, it’s a tradeoff—and for me, the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Pricing:
- Every product idea is unique – so the project we build is uniquely scoped (and budgeted) based on the individual needs of the client and their business.
- I’ve gotten some very simple products to the market for just a few thousand dollars. More complex products cost more to develop and produce, of course.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://productquickstart.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahmcneely/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/2s2YmO6aSCW8kmK24hKoT1
