* Breadboard it. * Investigate the IP space and file a provisional patent. $500. * Find an OEM that can handle fulfillment. There are a ton and you don't need

* Breadboard it. * Investigate the IP space and file a provisional patent. $500. * Find an OEM that can handle fulfillment. There are a ton and you don't need to find one in China; I'm working with one in Iowa right now. I came to them with a pretty solid circuit (no microcontroller) and they made it better and cut my bill of materials by 30%. * Unless you like the idea of holding inventory, try to find a volume buyer (or maybe look at kickstarter). The point is to find a market willing to go for pre-sales, or else you're going to need deep pockets.