The Product Partnership

What The Product Partnership does

The Product Partnership (TPP) is a UK-based collective of four independent creative technology agencies—Realise (product design and manufacture), Amalgam (modelmaking and prototyping), Cubik (electronic design and manufacture), and Newicon (software design and development)—formed in 2017 and headquartered in Cheddar, Bristol. TPP delivers end-to-end product development services, taking client concepts from initial ideation through design, electronics engineering, software/IoT development, prototyping, and into volume manufacture. Core capability areas include user-centred product design (Realise's "Positive Products" methodology), rapid and display modelmaking (Amalgam), ISO 9001:2015-certified electronics with IPC-A-610 standards compliance (Cubik), and design-led cross-platform software with proprietary tools such as Newicon's Neon managed SQL database platform and Agile Architecture design phase.

The company's go-to-market is consultation-led: innovation consultant Huw Robson offers complimentary scoping conversations to qualify prospects, who are then routed into structured engagement packages (Blue Sky Innovation from £5,000, Product Audit from £8,000, Discovery & Definition from £6,000, Design Sprints from £12,000) or larger bespoke multi-partner projects. TPP targets a hybrid client base ranging from early-stage startups through to large enterprises and government bodies, with named clients including Thales, Airbus, NHS, EDF, Heathrow, Aardman, Switchee, and Folium Optics. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services across four core service streams, supplemented by the 2023-launched Associate Members program that extends the partner network with curated third-party specialists.

TPP operates exclusively in the United Kingdom with no disclosed international expansion, and its collective structure aggregates 100+ professionals across the four partner agencies while each agency maintains its independent brand and client relationships. Notable flagship projects demonstrating cross-partner collaboration include the Switchee smart thermostat for social housing, the CALM®FLOOR IoT portal, the My Health Tags medical reminder system, and the IZLID military training simulator.

Name

The Product Partnership

Legal name

The Product Partnership (SW) Ltd.

Website

https://productpartnership.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Product Partnership is a UK-based collective of four specialist creative technology agencies (Realise, Amalgam, Cubik, Newicon) that together deliver end-to-end product development—from design and electronics to software, IoT, and prototyping—for clients ranging from startups to large enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Product Design Services

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (541420), Industrial Design Services (54142), Graphic Design Services (541430)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Product design services
• Electronic design manufacturing
• Software development services
• Modelmaking prototyping
• IoT product development

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheddar

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Project-Based Professional Services: The company generates revenue through fixed-price service packages and bespoke project engagements across four core service areas: Product Design, Electronics Design, Software Development, and Model-Making. Projects range from £5,000 to £12,000+ for initial phases, with full product development potentially generating higher value engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Product Partnership is a collective of four creative technology agencies that together deliver end-to-end product development services from idea to launch. Its core offering covers four specialisations: Product Design & Manufacture (via Realise), Modelmaking & Prototyping (via Amalgam), Electronic Design & Manufacture (via Cubik), and Software Design & Development (via Newicon), supplemented by structured engagement packages (Blue Sky Innovation, Product Audit, Discovery & Definition, Design Sprints).

Product overview

The Product Partnership is a collective of four independent creative technology agencies — Realise (Product Design & Manufacture), Amalgam (Modelmaking & Prototyping), Cubik (Electronic Design & Manufacture), and Newicon (Software Design & Development) — that together deliver end-to-end product development services from idea to launch. The core offering consists of four specialised service streams, supplemented by structured engagement packages (Blue Sky Innovation, Product Audit, Discovery & Definition, Design Sprints) and associate member services. The collective has delivered client projects including the Switchee smart thermostat (requiring all three of Realise, Cubik, and Newicon), the CALM®FLOOR IoT portal (Newicon), My Health Tags (Realise, Cubik, Amalgam), and IZLID training simulators (Cubik, Amalgam). TPP is not a software-as-a-service platform; all named offerings are service-based engagements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Product Design & Manufacture User-centred product design and development services delivered by partner Realise, covering concept through to prototyping and manufacture.
• Modelmaking & Prototyping Modelmaking and prototyping services delivered by partner Amalgam, providing working prototypes through to finished full-size display models in a range of materials.
• Electronic Design & Manufacture Electronic design and manufacture services delivered by partner Cubik, covering specification, design, prototyping, software development, testing, and production, with ISO 9001:2015 and IPC-A-610 compliance.
• Software Design & Development Software design and development services delivered by partner Newicon, specialising in IoT controller apps, web portals, and cloud-connected applications using Agile Architecture design processes and the proprietary Neon database platform.
• Blue Sky Innovation An initial engagement package exploring ideas through design thinking, market opportunities, and new technologies. Priced from £5,000.
• Product Audit An evaluation service assessing market readiness of an invention, identifying gaps in design, compliance, scalability, and functionality. Priced from £8,000.
• Discovery & Definition A phase that refines an idea and validates the solution, identifying key personas, analysing the product environment, and defining scope collaboratively. Priced from £6,000.
• Design Sprints A collaborative package blending design, prototyping, and technical exploration to transform a concept into reality with an actionable roadmap. Priced from £12,000.

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TPP Associate MembersminorOthers · 1 January 2023TPP Associate Membership program launched in 2023 offering status to select trusted service providers who offer valuable additional services that complement the core four partners' offerings. End-to-end product innovation extended through subject matter experts.
• NewiconcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Software Design & Development partner. Design-led cross-platform software experts specializing in ambitious IoT projects. Connects people, products and information using UX-centric Agile Architecture design phase and innovative web technology. Developed IoT apps for Airbus and SRT Marine Systems.
• Realise DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Product Design & Manufacture partner. Putting users at the centre of their design thinking, Realise takes ideas from concept through the design process to manufacture. Specializes in sustainable, responsible, progressive design with their Positive Products methodology.
• AmalgamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Modelmaking & Prototyping partner. Using a range of prototyping processes, Amalgam creates working prototypes through to finished, full-size display models in a wide range of materials. Over thirty years experience with diverse creative problem-solving makers.
• CubikcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Electronic Design & Manufacture partner. Specializes in the design and development of electrical systems from concept to volume manufacture. ISO 9001:2015 certified with capabilities in PCB design, embedded application development, and CE approval testing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Plextek: UK-based electronics and product design consultancy specialising in sensor systems, RF, and IoT — closely overlaps with TPP partner Cubik's electronics design capability and similar UK enterprise/defense client base.
• Cambridge Consultants: UK-based product development and technology consultancy with deep multi-disciplinary capabilities across design, electronics, and software for complex, regulated industries — directly comparable to TPP's integrated offering and UK customer base.
• Bresslergroup: Independent product development consultancy combining industrial design, mechanical and electronics engineering, and UX — comparable integrated product-development service model for enterprise and startup clients.
• DCA Design International: UK-based product design consultancy with strong industrial design and human factors expertise across medical, transport, and consumer sectors — directly comparable in geography, scale, and service mix.
• IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy offering end-to-end product, service, and digital design across consumer, healthcare, and enterprise verticals. Closest international benchmark to TPP's integrated design-to-prototype model.
• frog (Capgemini Invent): Global design and engineering consultancy delivering integrated product, brand, and software design for enterprise clients — comparable multi-disciplinary service model and similar enterprise customer mix to TPP.
• Ammunition Group: US-based design and product development studio spanning industrial design, brand, and digital — comparable integrated creative-technology model serving consumer and enterprise clients.
• Whipsaw: US-based industrial design and engineering firm delivering product design, electronics, and UX services to enterprise and startup clients — comparable multi-disciplinary studio model with similar end-to-end engagement approach.
• Lunar Design: Independent product design and innovation consultancy combining industrial design, UX, mechanical and electrical engineering — comparable full-stack product development offering for ambitious clients.

Emerging players

• GW Technology / Stage One: UK-based electronic design and product development firm serving IoT, industrial, and consumer clients — overlapping with TPP's Cubik-led electronics capability, though smaller in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theproductpartnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Product Partnership