He quickly but carefully started to implement his ideas for improvement.
The purchased device showed the results, but not their interpretation. So he did website. "I wondered how much organic traffic I could get with just some information and a calculator that interprets the handshake data for people. Over a thousand monthly visitors without promoting the website seemed pretty good for such a niche thing." So there was enough interest for him to continue.
He developed the app, which can be used in combination with existing handshake force measurement devices. It was gaining more and more users, which prompted him to take the next step - he started to develop your own device.
"I approached the development with the most confidence hardware-abut this is where there was a lot more work than I initially expected." It was only with the technology and knowledge of 3D printing that he was able to develop his first prototype with a small financial investment, although, as he says, "a lot of my time."
They are not close to him pitchdeck-ipresentations to investors, finding investment, credit ... He chose to grow organically, to invest his own money and time, and thus maintain his freedom to create and operate.
Nevertheless, he admits, "When I started 3D printing, I was overconfident. It took a lot of finishing touches, a lot of more or less successful attempts, at least ten different final versions, to have this after two years," he says, pointing to a device that is already on the market.
The product measures arm strength and the mobile app interprets these results. The data shows you the muscular balance of your left and right arm, and the demographics show where you are positioned in terms of age, gender and height. The first products were given to physiotherapists to test and, depending on their reactions, the final version was finalised.
So what makes its product different from other devices on the market? "The key is, of course, the easy connection to the mobile app. Other products are designed more for professional physiotherapy and don't have this connection between hardware-om and an app that is easily accessible to everyone. Then there are the finishing touches on the device, such as a good screen, an ergonomic and more comfortable grip ... So universal accessibility and much more sophisticated technology."
The product is designed for physiotherapists, kinesiologists, trainers, athletes... or anyone who is simply interested in their own fitness status.
It is a niche product in global use. So Matthew's goal is: "To get to the US market as soon as possible and have enough inventory to sell smoothly."
Sometimes an idea, however good, and an engineer, however skilled, needs support and help. When asked about this, he looks around the premises of Katapulta Ljubljana and says: "I often talk to Urban Kuhar," the owner of Grid Instruments, "and he is a great help to me, so we can exchange opinions and I get new ideas. Urban also has an electronic product. For example, when I saw the packaging he had for his product, I did it myself. Now I just see that it is really important that the product comes in nice packaging. If I hadn't talked to Urban, I don't know if he would have had such elaborate packaging."
Another important step for him was to move from prototype components to his own electronics. "In this respect, Katapult helped me with the first steps, as my mentor Jernej advised me on the design of the electronics and on ordering the PCBs themselves."
What advice would you give to those who are stuck in thinking about a business idea? "Take the first step. Try to put yourself in the end state of having a product already made and look back - think about what all has to happen to get there. Break the journey down into smaller steps and work on them. And keep adjusting the path based on the results of the development and the opinions of future clients and customers."
More on the website: www.dexdia.com
