Template Library
All the critical documents you need, organized by phase of your product journey. Each phase ends with a Reflection checkpoint to capture lessons learned and demonstrate progress to investors.
Customer Discovery
Before building, successful founders validate that the problem is real, painful, and worth solving. These templates guide you through structured customer interviews, problem framing, and value proposition mapping so you gather evidence—not guesses. Each form helps you capture insights, avoid common biases, and create artifacts that investors will view as proof of disciplined learning.
Problem Statement Worksheet (Living Document) [DOCX]
Draft your initial problem thesis and refine it after every interview. Over time, this evolves from a guess into a validated problem definition.
Persona + Value Proposition Canvas [DOCX]
Identify your target customer personas, match customer jobs, pains, and gains against your proposed features, pain relievers, and gain creators. Ensures your solution directly maps to real needs.
Interview Guide + Notes Form [DOCX]
A combined script and note-taking sheet. Use the built-in questions to guide conversations, then capture verbatim responses and insights directly in the same document.
Customer Discovery Reflection (Stage-Gate) [DOCX]
Summarize what you’ve learned: patterns, validated or disproven assumptions, and pivots. This is your milestone artifact for moving on to prototyping and builds investor confidence.
Prototype / MVP
MVP Requirements Document [DOCX]
Defines the problem, hypothesis, scope, and success criteria so the MVP stays focused on learning, not features.
MVP Test Plan [DOCX]
Outlines how the MVP will be tested, what data will be collected, and what metrics prove or disprove the hypothesis.
Build & Test Log (Prototype Rounds) [DOCX]
A running record of prototype builds, iterations, and test results that shows evidence of progress and learning.
Costed BOM (Prototype Version) [XLSX]
A detailed list of all components, suppliers, costs, and lead times needed to build and test the MVP.
MVP Reflection (Stage Gate) [DOCX]
Summarizes what the MVP proved or disproved, how customers responded, and what the next step will be.
Small Batch Production
1. FMEA (Failure Mode Effects Analysis) [XLSX]
Identifies and ranks problems to address that can come up as a result of design, vendor selection, or assembly and ranks them on importance.
2. Manufacturing Work Instructions (SOP + Traveler) [DOCX]
Step-by-step build instructions and a traveler sheet that ensure each unit is built the same way.
3. Incoming Quality Inspection Checklist (IQC) [DOCX]
Checklist for verifying incoming parts meet specs before assembly, preventing bad parts from entering builds.
4. Packaging & Labeling Spec [DOCX]
Defines how products are packaged, protected, and labeled to reduce damage and meet compliance.
5. Vendor Scorecard [XLSX]
Standardized form to evaluate and compare suppliers on cost, quality, lead times, and responsiveness.
6. ECR/ECO Templates (Engineering Change Request / Order) [DOCX]
Track and control design changes during production to avoid version mix-ups and miscommunication.
7. Small-Batch Reflection (Stage-Gate) [DOCX]
Summarizes production run results — yield, issues, supplier performance — to decide readiness for scale.
Scale
1. Production Readiness Checklist [DOCX]
One master checklist confirming people, processes, equipment, and suppliers are ready for sustained production.
2. Product Master Record (DHF/DMR/PMR) [DOCX]
Central archive of approved design files, BOMs, routings, labeling, and test procedures.
3. Process Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) Template [DOCX]
Guides teams through Installation, Operational, and Performance Qualification of equipment/processes.
4. PPAP / First Article Inspection (FAI) [DOCX]
Standard submission format for suppliers to prove first parts meet design intent before full production.
5. SPC & Capability Reporting (Cp/Cpk) Template [DOCX]
Spreadsheet for statistical process control and capability metrics.
6. PFMEA + Control Plan (Scale Version) [DOCX]
Risk analysis tied directly to control checks on the line.
7. Supplier Quality Agreement (SQA) [DOCX]
Contract template outlining responsibilities, audits, and metrics with key suppliers.
8. Regulatory Compliance Dossier (FCC/CE/UL/RoHS/REACH) [DOCX]
Template for compiling compliance reports and declarations.
9. Traceability & Serialization Plan [DOCX]
Defines how units and lots are tracked for recalls, RMAs, and data analytics.
10. Inventory Tempplate [XLSX]
Central archive of approved design files, BOMs, routings, labeling, and test procedures.
11. Scaling Reflection (Stage-Gate) [DOCX]
Investor-facing artifact summarizing validation results, yields, compliance status, and readiness to scale capacity.
Agreements
Disclaimer: These templates are provided as educational examples only. Hardware Hub is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. You should consult with your own attorney before relying on or executing any legal document to ensure it meets your specific needs and complies with applicable laws.
Mutual NDA (MNDA)
Two‑way confidentiality when both sides share sensitive info.
Protects discussions with partners, vendors, or collaborators. Covers definitions, exclusions, permitted disclosures, return/destroy, and remedies.
Purchase Order Template
Standard form for ordering parts, prototypes, or services.
Captures supplier and buyer details, PO number, payment terms, and line items. Helps hardware teams formalize orders, compare vendor quotes, and track delivery.
Unilateral NDA
Confidentiality when only one party is disclosing information.
Use this when you are sharing confidential information (e.g., with a vendor, contractor, or investor) but they are not sharing sensitive information back.
[Download]
Consultant / Independent Contractor Agreement
Agreement for engaging consultants, freelancers, or independent engineers.
Defines project scope, payment, confidentiality, and IP ownership when hiring independent contractors. Critical for ensuring IP created during consulting belongs to your company.
Attribution: Adapted from Common Paper Independent Contractor Agreement (CC BY 4.0).
Advisor Agreement
Formalizes relationships with advisors providing expertise, introductions, or guidance.
Covers scope of services, equity or stipend compensation, confidentiality, and IP assignment. Designed for early-stage startups to easily set up clear advisor terms.
Attribution: Based on the Pillar VC Advisor Agreement template (free to use).
Purchase Order Template
Standard form for ordering parts, prototypes, or services.
Captures supplier and buyer details, PO number, payment terms, and line items. Helps hardware teams formalize orders, compare vendor quotes, and track delivery.