Product development consulting from a team that builds the product
Our team is proud to announce that LA NPDT's founder Konstantin Dolgan, Ph.D. has been named as one of the Top 100 Louisiana's Most Influential People in Tech and Entrepreneurship by The Silicon Bayou News. LA NPDT is reshaping the concepts of tech-entrepreneurship not only in America but around the world.
Product development consulting gives founders and manufacturers an experienced engineering view before they commit money: feasibility, cost drivers, technical risk, supplier options and a realistic plan. LA NPDT reviews what you have, names what will break, and returns a staged roadmap with budgets and timelines you can act on immediately.
Product development consulting is a paid working session with engineers who take a product idea apart and tell you what it will take to build it. At LA NPDT you sit with the same people who run concept design, engineering, prototyping and manufacturing, so the advice is grounded in what the shop can actually produce.
A session covers the idea, the likely build path, the realistic cost and timeline, the tooling and compliance traps, and what to do next. You leave with a written summary, not a sales pitch. If you go on to run a project with us, the consulting fee is credited against it.
Initial Consultation
Complimentary
20–30 minutes · Zoom
A video introduction with our team. Discuss your idea, understand its potential, and learn how we can elevate the project.
- Introductory discussion
- Basic assessment of your idea
- NDA provided on request
- By application — we review every request
Most popular
Standard Consultation
$249
1 hour · Zoom
A detailed working session on strategy and market feasibility, closing with a foundational product development plan.
- Detailed discussion
- Advanced analysis with market feasibility
- Product development strategy outline
- NDA provided on request
- Cost credited to your future project
Executive Consultation
$499
2 hours + follow-up · Zoom or in person
Our deep dive: holistic evaluation, development roadmap, budgetary analysis and a tailored strategy.
- Comprehensive discussion
- Holistic evaluation with development roadmap
- Custom-tailored strategy ($99 value)
- Detailed budgetary breakdown ($149 value)
- One follow-up session ($99 value)
- NDA provided on request
- Cost credited to your future project
Consultation cost credited towards your project cost. A nondisclosure agreement is available for every tier.
Consulting tiers and what each one is for
| Tier | Format | Length | Best when | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI idea analyzer | Instant, online | 5 minutes | You want a fast, structured read on an idea before talking to anyone | Free |
| Initial consultation | Zoom | 20 minutes | You want to check fit, scope and whether we are the right shop | Complimentary |
| Standard consultation | Zoom | 1 hour | You have a defined idea and need feasibility, a build path and a cost picture | $249 |
| Executive consultation | Zoom or in person in Ruston, LA | 2 hours plus a follow-up | You are committing budget and need a roadmap, budget breakdown and risk list | $499 |
Paid sessions are credited toward your project cost if you move into development with us. Every consultation, paid or not, is covered by an NDA. Start free with the AI idea analyzer, or book time directly.
What we cover in a session
- Idea assessment. What the product really has to do, who buys it, and which parts of it are hard.
- Technical feasibility. Mechanism, materials, electronics and firmware, power budget, enclosure and assembly.
- Manufacturing path. 3D printing, urethane casting, CNC or injection molding, and when it makes sense to switch between them.
- Cost and timeline bands. What the prototype round costs, what tooling costs, and what a landed unit cost looks like at your volume.
- IP and compliance. Where a prior art search is worth running, and which certifications your category will demand.
- A next-step plan. The specific two or three moves that de-risk the project the most for the least money.
Who books consulting with us
Independent inventors who need to know whether an idea is buildable before spending on CAD. Startups preparing a raise or a crowdfunding launch who need a defensible cost and schedule.
Established manufacturers adding a product line and wanting a second engineering opinion on a design already in progress.
Companies with a stalled project that needs a diagnosis: bad tolerances, a supplier that cannot hold quality, or a design that was never drawn for the process it is being made with.
Why the advice comes from builders
LA NPDT has operated since 2015 and has run over a thousand new product development projects, from a single machined part to full turnkey programs. Products that came through this team include Stir n Go, the UP Trap, Perky Paws, MultiNix, Kool Jack and the QMS2GO digital voice recorder. That matters in a consulting session because the numbers we quote come from jobs we quoted, tooled and shipped, not from a market report. See the work in the portfolio.
After the consultation
Most sessions end in one of four directions: a concept design round to lock form and mechanics, a prototype build to prove one specific thing, design for manufacturing on an existing design, or a full end-to-end program from concept to production. You can also price a program yourself with the product development cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does product development consulting cost?
What should I prepare beforehand?+
Whatever you have: a sketch, photos of a mock-up, a competitor product, CAD files, a target retail price, or an expected first-year volume. Nothing is required, but a target price and volume make the cost discussion far more useful.
Can we meet in person?+
Yes, at our Ruston, Louisiana facility as part of the executive tier. Everything else runs on Zoom. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Central Time.
Am I obligated to build with you afterward?+
No. You own the notes and the plan from the session and are free to take them anywhere. The fee credit exists so that working with us costs you nothing extra if you do come back.
Ready to talk it through? Tell us about your product and we will match you to the right session length.
Related services
- Outsourced product development
Outsource versus hire, engagement models, and how the phase gates work.
- Digital product development services
For connected products where hardware, firmware and app ship together.
- Full Build and Launch Program intake
Start the full program: NDA, project intake and your first engineering session.
What founders say after working with us
“LA NPDT played an integral role in the development and visualization of our SAFE Camp concept. Their technical expertise and creative thinking helped us define our vision in a way that was persuasive and compelling. That communication was instrumental in securing a $100,000 grant from Walmart.”
Rob GaudetExecutive Director, Cajun Navy“Wonderful to work with. Very professional and very eager to meet your needs as a company starting up or starting a new division within your company. Could not be more pleased with our results.”
Heath CragerFounder & CEO, CPA2GO“I discovered LA NPDT when I was looking for a firm to develop a mobile app. I was really impressed with the way they listened and the way they made sure they understood what I was trying to communicate. If you have been holding back on your dream project, get off the couch and go get your dreams!”
Three reasons founders keep working with us
- 1
One team from sketch to shipped parts. Industrial design, mechanical and electrical engineering, prototyping and manufacturing sit under one roof, so nothing is lost in a handoff.
- 2
You own the work. Native CAD, drawings and source files are yours at the end of every phase — no lock-in, no re-buying your own design later.
- 3
Fixed scope, fixed price. Every phase is quoted up front with a deliverable list and a date. No hourly meters, no surprise invoices.
If you ever thought of developing a new product, don’t wait any longer. Talk with one of our experts today.
Related insights
Innovation Consulting Services: What They Deliver and What They Cost
What innovation consulting services deliver for physical-product teams, how engagements are scoped and priced, and when to hire instead of building in-house.
Product Design Consulting: What It Covers, What It Costs
Product design consulting turns a vague product idea into a defined, designed product an engineering team can build. Here is the scope, the deliverables and the fees.
Do you need a patent before you build a prototype?
Short answer: no, and building first usually makes the patent better. Here is how the two timelines actually fit together, and when to file.
Tell us about your product
Send us the idea, the drawing or the problem. We reply within one business day with the next practical step.
Ready to scope the work? Explore a partnership · Request a quote