1. Decide what actually needs to be new
The biggest cost and time driver in hardware is the physical body. New shapes need new molds, and new molds take time and money. So before you contact any manufacturer, separate your idea into two parts:
- What the user experiences — the robot’s name, character, voice, language, behavior and packaging.
- What the hardware looks like — the shape, size, materials, sensors and electronics.
If your idea is mainly about the experience, you may not need a new body at all.
2. Understand public-mold vs. new designs
In Chinese manufacturing, a public mold (公模) is an existing, openly available product design that many brands can build on — many desktop AI robots listed on wholesale platforms like 1688 use one. A private mold (私模) is a new design made only for you.
| Public-mold base | New design (private mold) | |
|---|---|---|
| Body shape | Existing, proven | Designed around your idea |
| What you customize | Name, voice, personality, language, packaging | Everything, including electronics and AI |
| Speed | Fastest route to a real unit | Longer: design, prototype, tooling |
| Exclusivity | Others can use the same body | Unique to you |
At Tecpan, the $500 Custom Sample is one unit built on a public-mold desktop AI robot, delivered in 4 weeks. A new design is the Fully New Custom Product option, from $10,000.
3. Prepare a clear brief
The more specific you are, the faster things go. A useful brief covers:
- Who the robot is for and what it does, in one sentence.
- Name, personality and tone of voice — a few example lines help.
- The language(s) it should speak.
- Packaging: your logo, colors and any text on the box.
- What you’ll use the prototype for: testing, pitching, crowdfunding or preparing a small batch.
- Your budget range and target date.
4. Sign an NDA before sharing details
Ask for a non-disclosure agreement before you send drawings or files. We sign one before any details change hands. For more, read how to protect your product idea when manufacturing in China.
5. Know when the clock starts
Prototype timelines usually start once requirements are fully confirmed, and changes after that often restart parts of the work. Settle the details up front: name, voice, personality, language and packaging for a sample, or full specifications for a new product. For a fully new product at Tecpan, the working prototype takes 4 weeks after requirements are fully confirmed.
6. Plan shipping and import
Your prototype has to travel from China to you. Ask how it will ship (express, air or sea), who handles export documents, and whether import duties or taxes apply in your country — these vary by country, so check locally. For our sample, shipping to your country is extra: [Shipping time / cost to be confirmed].
7. Use the prototype to learn
Put the unit in front of real users, investors or backers and note what they say. What comes next is your call: a small OEM batch of 50–100 units, a fully new product, or more testing.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Specific terms, prices and timelines are confirmed per project.
