Who should I show my idea to?
The right contact depends mostly on how far along your idea is, not on how ambitious it is.
A vague idea and an advanced project need different first contacts
Early on, the most useful contact is often a manufacturing workshop able to quickly judge technical feasibility, without heavy financial commitment. An investor, incubator or designer don't have much to evaluate until feasibility has a first concrete answer.
Why starting with technical feasibility changes everything
Presenting an idea already validated technically, even as a simple prototype, completely changes the nature of the conversations that follow: you're no longer discussing a hypothesis, but an object that works. That makes conversations with partners, funders or potential customers far more concrete.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a patent before showing my idea?
Not necessarily at first: technical feasibility often matters more, at this stage, than legal protection.
Is an incubator the right first contact?
It's most useful once the idea is already technically framed; before that, a manufacturing workshop is more relevant.