Start with the repeated job
Define what people keep doing manually, who experiences it and what the outcome is worth.
48-HOUR OEM RESEARCH SPRINT • FOUNDING RATE OPEN
Find the finished device before you fund custom hardware.
I scan Chinese OEM supply for already-manufactured devices, reject commodity junk, and return the few products with a credible physical job, customization path and software surface.
SCAN / 2026-09-17LIVE DATASET
Finished-device candidates
01Smart ring
SDK / API stated
67
02AI recorder
Secondary dev
43
03A4 thermal printer
APP integration
25
FILTER: finished + OEM + software leverage
→
2,700offers scanned in one run
30hardware categories
165software-leverage flags
48hdecision-ready output
01 / METHOD
Most products get rejected.
The value is not a giant supplier list. It is removing the devices that a phone already replaces, generic private-label products, weak “smart” gimmicks and hardware with no meaningful software advantage.
Search manufactured supply
Scan OEM/ODM listings across multiple Chinese search terms and hardware families rather than starting from a gadget idea.
Apply hard gates
Physical necessity, existing finished device, customization route, plausible economics and a software surface that can materially improve the product.
Return decision evidence
Shortlist, supplier proof, price signals, technical questions, risks and software-led product angles.
02 / EVIDENCE
The scanner surfaces supplier evidence, not fantasy concepts.
These are examples from an internal 1688 run. Listing claims still need direct supplier verification before you depend on SDK, firmware or API access.
DeviceSupplier-market evidenceSoftware opportunitySignal
Smart ringOEM/ODM + SDK/API integration advertisedVertical app, workflow layer, custom analytics67
AI recorderPrivate-mould unit + secondary developmentDomain transcription, action extraction, system sync43
A4 thermal printerOEM/ODM + mobile-app integration advertisedWorkflow-specific templates + software automation25
PASS GATES
Finished manufactured device
Real physical job
OEM / ODM path
Software can materially improve it
Plausible willingness to pay
AUTO-REJECT
Dev boards
Generic trackers
Phone-replaceable hardware
Commodity rebrands
“AI” with no real product surface
03 / DELIVERABLE
One problem. One market. One serious scout.
The 48-hour pack is designed to answer one question: is there already a manufactured base worth adapting before you spend on custom hardware?
0110-device shortlist
Ranked against your problem, customer and rough target retail price.
02Supplier evidence
Listing, supplier, price signal, OEM indicators and exact confirmation questions.
03Software leverage map
Where app, API, AI, CV or automation can create real differentiation.
04Unit-economics sanity check
Obvious margin traps, size/shipping issues and what needs validation.
05Three product angles
Ways to reposition or combine hardware around a paid repeated job.
06Supplier question pack
SDK/API, firmware, MOQ, branding, certifications and sample terms.
04 / REQUEST A SCAN
Tell me what people keep doing manually.
Send the repeated job, target customer and any rough price constraint. If finished hardware is a poor fit, the response should say that rather than force a gadget.
$349FOUNDING RATE / ONE 48-HOUR SPRINT