Bootstrapping a Business: How R&D Led to the Successful Launch of an Innovative Hand Control for Sim Racing.
Our entrepreneurial journey of bootstrapping a business; Focusing on research and development (R&D) to increase the introduction of new accessible products to an emerging market.
It all began with opportune meetings and open minds, a notion was born that turned into an idea of sorts. We felt the need to introduce accessible simulator hardware. From there, many development loops were conducted. This would ensure that we could cover all aspects of motorsport, and enable wheelchair users who don't have the opportunity to engage in sim sport, with off the shelf solutions made specifically for them without adaptation. Our research then needed to shift towards the investigation into how we build a successful business which could introduce these inventions to the world.
We applied for the New Frontiers Programme, an intensive business development programme, which aims to help you to understand the needs of the target customer, the business model and how to implement good business strategies. Hands on Performance was not only accepted but 6 months later, we were awarded ‘Best Business Opportunity’. We learned a great deal from this experience. It was a necessary step for me to gain the knowledge and understanding of the landscape which we are attempting to conquer. We knew that this was an underserved market, and we were determined to make a difference.
The journey of starting a business is never easy, however the journey of bootstrapping can seem like an impossible task to all but those who have achieved it. Bootstrapping means starting a business with little or no external funding, relying on personal savings and revenue generated by the business to sustain and grow it. It is challenging, but it also leaves you with complete control over the direction and pace of your business. This approach allows us to guide our company, to let it grow with the help of the community that makes up our user base without outside influence or superfluous agendas.
We are currently in the early days of Hands on Performance, we are a small team with a big vision. Our mission is to create accessible products for gaming and racing. We set our first challenge, which was to create a hand control system for sim racing that would allow people with physical disabilities to compete with able-bodied racers. Our R&D process was intense, but we were passionate about our work. We have tested different materials, designs, and technologies to create a product that was not only functional but also affordable. We have worked with wheelchair users to understand their needs and incorporate their feedback into our designs. We worked very closely with friends in the sim industry who helped us to ensure that our controls work with all major sim hardware and software providers.
After months of hard work, we finally launched our hand control system, HC1. The response was immense, people with physical disabilities were finally included and are able to compete in sim racing with controls made for them. But we knew that we couldn't stop there.
Our goal is to continue innovating and introducing new accessible products that will benefit people with physical disabilities. To build on our introductory offerings which let people compete, and introduce products which push the boundaries of technology in both sim sports and real world motorsport. To achieve this, we continue to reinvest the revenue generated by our hand control system back into R&D, expanding our testing facilities, and investing in manufacturing technologies.
Our approach to R&D is focused on solving real-world problems for people with disabilities. We continue to listen to feedback and design products that meet their needs. Hands on Performance continues to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible. Our journey of bootstrapping a business has been challenging, but it has also been incredibly rewarding. We are proud of what we have accomplished so far, and we look forward to continuing our work in making the world a more accessible place.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed learning about our journey. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.
Oh, and try to keep up!
Lorcan O’Keeffe
HOP: Inclusive Gaming, Limitless Possibilities!