Pitch to Product

Hosted by 52 Launch

Business Entrepreneurship

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Pitch to Product is the official podcast for 52 Launch - a product development company that take products, apps, and more from napkin to reality. 52 Launch is a multi-million dollar company creating products like EggMazing, with over 55 million in sales in 2020. Many of our products have been featured on Shark Tank, Home Shopping Network, and more. We have a track record of success and we don't see failure as an option. If you've got a product or idea and the drive to see it through, fill out a form: https://www.52launch.com/book

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60 recent

November 12, 20264 min

Lead Gen First, Sales Second: What Actually Builds a Business

You can’t sell anything if you don’t have someone to sell it to. In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, 52Launch Co-Founders Dan Gonyea and Peter Drakulich explain why finding the right audience comes before sales, and why the best businesses adjust what they sell to the audience they find. Is it sales first or lead generation first? Peter and Dan break down why lead gen (the “rain making”) is the hardest and most important part of starting a business, and why you shouldn’t launch until you’ve figured out both finding customers and closing them. They also share what 10 years of building 52Launch has taught them about selling without selling: how a strong brand, referrals, proof, and constant content replaced the hard pitch, and how attorneys now send them leads on a regular basis. In this episode: - Why lead gen and rain making come before sales - How to adapt your offer to the audience you find - What really sells: brand, referrals, and trust (the Michael Jordan sneaker example) - How 52Launch went from hard selling to inbound referrals over 10 years - Why people fund founders they trust, not just ideas - How employees help build the brand, and why it should keep evolving Don't delay and start your journey with us today: https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch

November 10, 20263 min

Someone Already Invented Your Product? Good! Here’s Why That’s a Green Light.

You came up with a product idea, did a quick search, and found someone already selling it. Do you quit? One inventor did, almost instantly, and we think that was the right call for him and the wrong lesson for everyone else. In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, we break down why “it already exists” is often a sign you’re on to something. We use Scrub Daddy, Google’s decision to launch a phone against Apple and Samsung, and the explosion of energy drinks after Red Bull to show why the best opportunities sit in categories where customers already know where to shop and what to look for. We also flip the question around: if your idea were truly one of a kind, you’d have to spend a fortune on advertising just to educate buyers on what the product even is. Playing in an existing space means the demand is already there, and your job is to win with a better product or a sharper vision. In this episode: - Why a competitor launching first doesn’t kill your idea - What Scrub Daddy teaches us about reinventing an everyday product - Why Google entered the phone market against Apple and Samsung - The hidden cost of inventing a category nobody understands yet - How “the haystack” works: crowded shelves like sponges and energy drinks still make room for new brands - Why the founders who quit at the first sign of competition probably weren’t the right customers for us anyway Don't delay and start your journey with us today: https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch

November 9, 202637 min

How AI Is Changing Product Validation, Buyer Behavior & Sales

Buyers now show up to product development meetings after running everything through ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI tools. Some arrive better informed. Many arrive confident but about 15 degrees off course. In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, 52Launch's Peter Drakulich and Bobby Quintero break down how AI has changed high-ticket product buying, buyer profiles, and the sales conversation for anyone bringing a product to market. In this episode: - Why buyers arrive “pre-educated” but less confident - What AI can’t do: tooling, DFM, manufacturing constraints, timelines, and the human factors behind them - Why AI can sketch your idea but can’t validate it (and why market research still means finding who will actually buy) - How AI compressed the idea stage, from napkin sketch to visual in a few prompts - Why “robot to robot” email loops stall deals, and how to break the cycle - Scope drift and sticking to your core successful product (CSP) - Why qualified buyers are increasingly discovered through AI recommendations instead of paid search - How the zero moment of truth (ZMOT) has moved, and the 3 to 5 questions that qualify a real buyer Check out our previous episode featuring two 52Launch clients: https://youtu.be/IriFgb_DaFw The 7 Questions To Ask Before You Bring Any Product to Market: https://youtu.be/L5f3miKw5AY Don't delay and start your journey with us today: https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch

November 6, 202625 min

Are You The Needle Or The Haystack? What 52Launch Looks For In Product Founders

What does "needle in a haystack" mean when it comes to 52Launch? In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, 52Launch Co-Founders Dan Gonyea and Peter Drakulich break down the kind of founder they're searching for: someone who is ready to manufacture and launch, not just someone with an idea. After 10 years and 730+ products launched, they share why most hesitation comes down to one of two things, fear or finance, and what you can do about each. In this episode: - Why 52Launch looks for founders who are ready to manufacture, not just validate an idea - "If you're not the needle, you're the haystack": What it means and how to become the needle - Fear vs. finance: The two biggest barriers to bringing a product to market - How R&D tax credits can offset the cost of the Accelerator Program - Why saving alone can lead to regret, and why betting on yourself is the best return - How Amazon and Google leveled the playing field for new product founders - Why Dan says there's no such thing as a bad idea, only a lack of commitment - How 52Launch helps founders get financing and get their products in front of investors - Why the founders who hire 52Launch usually hire within 10-25 days Don't delay and start your journey with us today: https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch

November 5, 202622 min

Every Day You Wait Pushes Your Business Launch Back A Month

Every day you wait to move on your product idea can push your launch back a month. In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, 52Launch's Peter Drakulich and Bobby Quintero break down why a lack of urgency is the number one thing that stalls inventors, founders, and first-time product creators. Don't delay and start your journey with us today: https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch

November 4, 20264 min

Why Most Invention Help Companies Won't Manufacture (But We Do)

A ship that's off course by just 15 degrees can end up at the South Pole or the North Pole. Product development works the same way: one wrong early manufacturing decision can derail everything. In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, 52Launch's Peter Drakulich and Bobby Quintero break down why 52Launch acts as the manufacturer of record and importer of record on every product, and why that responsibility is the reason inventors' products actually make it to market. In this episode: Why 52Launch became the manufacturer of record (it's not a choice, it's a necessity) The "15 degree" course correction concept and how early mistakes compound How cutting out middlemen keeps costs down without sacrificing quality The ~35 critical factors every product needs to succeed, and why no single factory covers them all How a network of 160+ manufacturers lets 52Launch match each part of your product to the right factory Why inventors should own their tooling How tooling, component sourcing, assembly, and packaging flow across factories in China, Mexico, and Canada Why most invention help companies stop at design and branding, and what it takes to stay accountable through shipping

November 3, 20264 min

The Dart Linx Story: How This Double-Sided Dartboard Made $300,000 In 57 Days

This golf-inspired, double-sided dartboard was created by an 11-year-old and his dad. It sold out an entire container and brought in more than $300,000 in just 57 days. Meet Dart Linx, where darts meet golf. One side is a classic dartboard ready for cricket or 501. Flip it over for nine holes of darts-themed golf. It’s built from professional-grade sisal fiber for everyone from basement hobbyists to serious dart players. In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, we break down how Dart Linx went from a father-and-son idea to a fast-selling product with 52Launch: - The idea: Tyler and Brian Wilcox’s vision for a real alternative to traditional darts - The challenge: building a premium product that is golf-themed but never gimmicky - The solution: a dual-sided board developed in the 52Launch Accelerator - The go-to-market strategy: paid ads, direct-to-consumer, B2B, and trade shows - The results: a sold-out container, 57 days to $300K, and 5x return on ad spend Results at a glance: - Sold out a full container at the 2025 Snowport holiday market at Boston Seaport - 50 units sold at the 2026 Northeast Golf Show - Nearly 200 units sold through paid ads in Q1 2026 - 150,000 impressions and a 5x ROAS in one month Don't delay and start your journey with 52Launch today: https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch

November 2, 20261 hr 2 min

How The Lobster Nativity Scene Went Viral

Chris Alfonso went from 52Launch’s very first high school intern to owner and operator of the Lobster Nativity Scene, a hand-painted holiday product that began as a family project and became a viral seasonal brand. In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, 52Launch's Peter Drakulich sits down with Chris to unpack how it happened, what worked, and what he would change. Chris breaks down how he sold the first set in person at a Boston holiday market, why he put $30,000 into digital billboards, and how one TikTok video from an influencer with 500K followers turned a quiet season into a week of record orders. In this episode: - How the Lobster Nativity Scene went from $225 sets sold by family to a scaled brand - Why in-person selling gave Chris instant customer feedback and word of mouth - The billboard strategy: 20 digital boards, 30 days, and how he measured results with post-purchase surveys - The risks and rewards of a seasonal product business (60 days of sales, 12 months of expenses) - Designing for retail vs. designing for online shipping - Why Chris doesn’t sell on Amazon (fees, quality control, and search term challenges) - Bundles, ornaments, and raising average order value - Shipping strategy: when to charge and when to go free - Customer service that builds loyalty, including replacing broken sets for free - Why reviews and user-generated content matter for trust - Why Chris is shifting toward online sales for the 2026 season Key takeaways for product entrepreneurs: - A product that makes people laugh is a product people share - Customer feedback should drive design changes - Reduce checkout friction wherever you can - Handle problems generously and customers become supporters for life Don't delay and start your journey with 52Launch today: https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch

October 30, 202622 min

Time Is Not on Your Side: Why Waiting Kills Product Ideas

Every day you wait on your product idea, someone else gets closer to launching it. In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, 52Launch's Peter Drakulich and Bobby Quintero explain why urgency matters when bringing a product to market, and what it costs when you hesitate. Waiting has three penalties: wasted time, wasted money, and missed opportunity. The fix is to move in increments, focus on the few decisions that matter first, and get to revenue as quickly as you can. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why a goal without a deadline is just a dream - The “gut punch” of watching someone else launch the idea you had years ago - Why there are seven major decision points before you spend money on anything else - How adding version 2, 3 and 4 features too early drains your budget - Why fear, not finances, is what stops most inventors - Why getting to revenue fast matters, and why “what are your sales?” is the first question investors ask - How a provisional patent starts a one-year clock, and why you should plan for it early Don't delay and start your journey with 52Launch today: https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch

October 29, 202627 min

Should You Launch Your Product Idea: Inside the 52Launch Venture Program

Not sure if your product idea is worth pursuing? In this episode of the Pitch to Product Podcast, 52Launch's Peter Drakulich and Bobby Quintero break down the 52Launch Venture Program, a validation package built from 10 years and 750+ product launches. It is designed to help early-stage inventors and entrepreneurs answer the biggest question first: should I do this or not? The Venture Program is a live, interactive webpage you can share with friends, family, partners, and investors. It covers whether your product can be made, whether it can be made profitably, who will buy it, and what IP is worth protecting. It costs just under $8,000, and the full amount is credited toward the 52Launch accelerator. What is the 52Launch Venture Program? It is an early-stage validation package that shows whether your product is viable, manufacturable, and profitable before you commit to patents, designers, and prototypes. It includes video input from the 52Launch marketing and production teams, and the team will join calls with your investors. How much does it cost to validate a product idea? Many inventors spend $6,000 on patents and design, then $8,000 to $10,000 on CAD and prototyping, and sometimes $20,000 or more over a year and a half with a local design firm. The Venture Program is under $8,000. What is the difference between a prototype and a pre-production sample? A garage proof of concept or 3D print shows an idea works. A pre-production sample comes from the factory process that will actually mass-produce your product, including the tooling and finishing. What do you need before launching a product? The 7-step checklist covers product confidence, whether it can be made (and made for margin), market, financing and margins, courage, drive, and risk, reward, and regret. In this episode: - How to demonstrate your opportunity to friends, family, and investors - Why AI diagrams can mislead you into unmakeable designs - Why the right manufacturer matters (the titanium spoon problem) - How to validate that a market is willing to buy - Why to define your IP before talking to a patent attorney - Why market price and margins decide whether you can launch - Why licensing deals rarely pay off - Why funding and courage matter as much as the idea Don't delay and start your journey with 52Launch today: https://bit.ly/BookCall52Launch