Today I had a consulting call with Venture Navigator regarding Myto. I initially expected the conversation to revolve around product design and development, but most of the discussion was actually about building a business around the product. The biggest realization from the call was that Myto should not begin as a motorcycle navigation device company. It should begin as a motorcycle rider community, with products emerging from the needs of that community.

Business realities of hardware startups

• Most motorcycle accessories are still purchased through offline stores.
• Riding gear stores and accessory shops remain important distribution channels.
• Many dealers purchase inventory on credit and pay suppliers after products are sold.
• Cash flow management becomes critical because revenue is often delayed.
• Prototype development can become expensive due to electronics, tooling, testing, manufacturing preparation, and multiple iterations.
• Inventory requires significant upfront capital.
• Packaging, logistics, storage, and warranty costs are often underestimated.
• Marketing is not optional. A good product still needs visibility and distribution.

Important feedback for Myto Navi

• Build the product with a target retail price below ₹5,000 if possible.
• Higher pricing significantly reduces adoption in the Indian market.
• Explore theft protection as a possible feature area.
• Focus on solving actual rider problems instead of adding features prematurely.
• Validate demand before investing heavily in engineering.

Manufacturing and sourcing challenges

• Raw material sourcing in India may be difficult depending on the components required.
• Components may need to be sourced from China initially.
• Alternatively, a local supplier ecosystem can be developed over time.
• Bulk purchasing requirements can be expensive.
• Suppliers often require minimum order quantities (MOQs).
• Inventory commitments should only happen after demand is validated.

Customer validation before product development

One of the strongest recommendations was to validate the market before building products. Instead of relying heavily on surveys, the focus should be on direct conversations with riders.

• Talk to at least 200 riders.
• Prioritize phone calls over forms.
• Attend ride meets and riding events.
• Conduct WhatsApp and video calls.
• Look for recurring patterns in rider behaviour.
• Study real experiences instead of opinions.

Questions worth exploring

• What accessories do riders currently use?
• What was the last accessory they purchased?
• Where was it purchased from?
• How much did it cost?
• What problems occur repeatedly during rides?
• How do they currently navigate?
• What tools do they carry?
• Have they experienced theft?
• Have they experienced breakdowns?
• What workarounds have they created?

Build a rider community first

Instead of building products first and looking for customers later, the recommendation was to build a community first.

• Create a WhatsApp Community.
• Create a Telegram Group.
• Create an Instagram Broadcast Channel.
• Create a Discord Server if required.

Community goals

• First milestone: 100 riders.
• Second milestone: 500 riders.
• Long-term milestone: 1,000+ riders.

Benefits of the community

• Direct access to customer feedback.
• Beta testing opportunities.
• Product validation.
• Early adopters.
• Potential launch customers.
• A feedback loop for future products.

The goal is to have people ready to buy before the product is launched rather than launching and then searching for customers.

Talk to accessory shop owners

Riders provide individual experiences, but shop owners see market-wide behaviour across hundreds or thousands of customers.

• Visit motorcycle accessory stores.
• Visit riding gear stores.
• Visit touring equipment sellers.
• Talk to mechanics and service centres.

Questions for shop owners

• What products sell the most?
• What products sell the least?
• What products get returned frequently?
• What price ranges move fastest?
• Which brands are growing?
• What problems do customers frequently mention?

Market segmentation strategy

Myto Adventure

Products designed for touring riders, adventure riders, and enthusiasts.

• Myto Navi.
• Fog lamps.
• Toolkits.
• Touring accessories.
• Premium utility products.

Myto Daily

Products designed for daily commuters and delivery riders.

• Uber Moto riders.
• Rapido riders.
• Ola riders.
• Daily commuters.

• Phone mounts.
• Charging systems.
• Theft protection.
• Utility-focused accessories.

This creates a larger market opportunity while still serving the enthusiast segment.

Finding cofounders

• Look for people willing to work for equity.
• Find technical cofounders.
• Find electronics engineers.
• Find software engineers.
• Find business-oriented people.
• Build a complementary founding team.

The objective is to avoid building everything alone and create a team with diverse expertise.

Building in public

One recommendation was to document the startup journey publicly every day.

Content ideas

• Day 1 – I'm a riding enthusiast building a startup for motorcycle riders.
• Day 2 – Today I spoke with five riders about their biggest riding challenges.
• Day 3 – I'm looking for a technical cofounder. If you're interested, reach out.
• Day 4 – This is Myto Navi, my first MVP navigation device designed specifically for motorcyclists.
• Day 5 – I visited a motorcycle accessory shop today. Here's what I learned.
• Day 6 – Why phone navigation isn't always ideal for riders.
• Day 7 – The most common problem riders told me this week.

The purpose of content is not just marketing. It is also research, networking, community building, and founder storytelling.

Applying for grants and incubation programs

Instead of immediately seeking investors, early-stage grants and incubators can provide support while validating the business.

Potential places to explore

• Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM).
• Startup India.
• IIT incubators.
• IIM incubators.
• NID entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Government innovation grants.
• Hardware startup support programs.

Benefits beyond funding

• Seed grants.
• Mentorship.
• Investor introductions.
• Industry connections.
• Legal support.
• Product development guidance.
• Networking opportunities.
• Media visibility.
• Startup credibility.

Why incubation matters

• Creates trust and legitimacy.
• Makes fundraising easier.
• Improves access to suppliers.
• Improves access to partnerships.
• Provides mentorship from experienced founders.

Being incubated by a respected institution can dramatically improve the perception of an early-stage startup.

Documents that need to be prepared

• Pitch deck.
• Rider interview database.
• Supplier database.
• Product roadmap.
• Market validation report.
• Community growth plan.

My action plan before moving forward

• Build a rider community.
• Talk to at least 200 riders.
• Talk to accessory shop owners.
• Document everything publicly.
• Create content consistently.
• Search for cofounders.
• Apply for grants and incubators.
• Build relationships with suppliers.
• Validate demand before manufacturing.
• Create a strong pitch deck.
• Journal progress daily.

The biggest takeaway from this call was that Myto should stop being a navigation device project and start becoming a rider ecosystem. Products can come later. The immediate focus should be on understanding riders, building a community, validating demand, and creating enough momentum that customers already exist before the first product launches.