Hard Stuff

🔨 “Hardware is Hard” - or is it? Around 9 in every 10 VCs / incubators we speak to leans towards software because “hardware is too expensive,” “it takes decades to pay off,” or “competition is too fierce.” From what we’ve seen so far in 2024, that’s just wrong (and Hard Stuff is proving it!). With smarter prototyping, faster testing, and better support; brilliant hardware ideas that solve real problems can launch faster and cheaper than ever. 🧪 "The only way is Deep Tech, which is way too risky" - The tech is already here, execution is the real battle. We’ve had solar panels for 50+ years, anaerobic digesters since the 1880s, and public transport that hasn’t evolved in decades. Meanwhile, consumer electronics scream planned obsolescence: thin phones you can snap with your fingertips and laptops you can’t repair (but thank god for those "AI chips" right?). There’s so much low-hanging fruit that’s begging to be scaled and improved. 💼 “It has to be fixed in policy first, not technology” – Why not both? Policy can lead or lag, but great innovators don’t wait. While seatbelts saved lives for decades before they became mandatory; solar adoption soared under the feed-in tariff then dropped off when it was scrapped. Ideally we need tech and policy working *together* to fix massive problems like e-waste, solar adoption, and the state of UK rivers and public transport. And where policy lags, innovators need to step up and snap policy into action through FOMO (Silicon Valley wasn't built by policy makers, but by entrepreneurs). ⏳ “That’s just how it’s always been done” - Famous last words, mate. Innovate, or get out of the way. I'm reminded of a16z's quote: "When the producers of HBO’s “Westworld” wanted to portray the American city of the future, they didn’t film in Seattle or Los Angeles or Austin—they went to Singapore." The world is changing, and we need bold ideas to change with it. So can we leave the whole "Hardware is Hard" nonsense in 2024, and go into 2025 with bright eyes, bushy tails, brave & bold VCs with brave & bold innovators? I'd appreciate that, ta. Matt

🔨 “Hardware is Hard” - or is it? Around 9 in every 10 VCs / incubators we speak to leans towards software because “hardware is too expensive,” “it takes decades to pay off,” or “competition is too fierce.” From what we’ve seen so far in 2024, that’s just wrong (and Hard Stuff is proving it!). With smarter prototyping, faster testing, and better support; brilliant hardware ideas that solve real problems can launch faster and cheaper than ever. 🧪 "The only way is Deep Tech, which is way too risky" - The tech is already here, execution is the real battle. We’ve had solar panels for 50+ years, anaerobic digesters since the 1880s, and public transport that hasn’t evolved in decades. Meanwhile, consumer electronics scream planned obsolescence: thin phones you can snap with your fingertips and laptops you can’t repair (but thank god for those "AI chips" right?). There’s so much low-hanging fruit that’s begging to be scaled and improved. 💼 “It has to be fixed in policy first, not technology” – Why not both? Policy can lead or lag, but great innovators don’t wait. While seatbelts saved lives for decades before they became mandatory; solar adoption soared under the feed-in tariff then dropped off when it was scrapped. Ideally we need tech and policy working *together* to fix massive problems like e-waste, solar adoption, and the state of UK rivers and public transport. And where policy lags, innovators need to step up and snap policy into action through FOMO (Silicon Valley wasn't built by policy makers, but by entrepreneurs). ⏳ “That’s just how it’s always been done” - Famous last words, mate. Innovate, or get out of the way. I'm reminded of a16z's quote: "When the producers of HBO’s “Westworld” wanted to portray the American city of the future, they didn’t film in Seattle or Los Angeles or Austin—they went to Singapore." The world is changing, and we need bold ideas to change with it. So can we leave the whole "Hardware is Hard" nonsense in 2024, and go into 2025 with bright eyes, bushy tails, brave & bold VCs with brave & bold innovators? I'd appreciate that, ta. Matt

Worst thing we’ve heard from a founder this year (and there’s not much year left 😬):  They’ve been talking to fractional CTOs, and one offered to take it on at 4 hours per week in exchange for… 15% equity AND to be paid in arrears. Our immediate response was “Tell them to f&ck off!” 😤 At Hard Stuff, we offer a fractional CTO service. We offer Pay What It’s Worth, so you only pay if it’s actually valuable. We offer Pay Later (i.e. value when needed; payment when possible.) And we don’t take equity (and definitely not for just 4 hours.)

What a fantastic time last week connecting with Damon Bonser and Julian Lee to explore the challenges and exciting opportunities in scaling planet-friendly hardware!   The energy in the room was electric as 15+ founders took the stage to deliver their 30-second pitches on the incredible hardware projects they're building. I definitely had the easier role sitting on the panel—hats off to all the innovators who shared their vision!   Huge thanks to Nick Bond and Matt Stedman at Hard Stuff for the invite and for fostering such a vibrant community where hardware innovation thrives. Proof that with the right people, hardware doesn’t have to be hard!

🌱 We’re excited to see more investors embracing impact metrics alongside financial returns. VCs, angels, and grant givers are thinking about how their backing can make the World better, not just their bank accounts. But… …the standard narrative in entrepreneurship typically focuses on chasing billion-dollar valuations. On building through “the hype” to “the exit”, while considering “the impact” as an afterthought. But here's the thing: impactful businesses don’t need to wait until they’re unicorns 🦄 to start making a difference in the world. Impactful businesses should be invaluable (🤲) while on their way to being valuable (🤑). “Impact” can be as simple as solving a problem that makes life better for someone: a real, tangible difference. And impact scales faster and earlier, even if the investment isn’t returning: Help one person, and they might be inspired to pay it forward. Build one impactful product, and it could ripple into something even bigger. At Hard Stuff, we’re here to help startups crack the tough, meaningful problems that create these ripples. We work with early stage teams to: 🔍 Prove ideas make sense and will have a real-world impact. 🔨 Turn ideas into useful products through MVPs, prototypes, and field testing. 🌍 Get the world excited about planet-friendly hardware startups through events and workshops. If you’re working on hard stuff that solves big challenges, we’d love to help you make it real. Here's a few slides we presented at our Planet-friendly Hardware event last week to summarise just that! #impact #justbuild #hardware #hardwareiseasy

Whoosh! Planet-friendly Hardware went by in a flash last night. (And the giant Colin & Connie 🐛🎂 cakes vanished in minutes!) Thanks to everyone for coming along, with over 100 guests in the room we hope you all made some brilliant connections! Huge thanks to our panellists Damon Bonser, Georgia Ware and Julian Lee. And a big thanks again to Embedism for sponsoring, and Toast Brewing & Change Please for the venue 😍 As always we had a bunch of exciting startups who brought along their prototypes (and finished products), so it was really exciting to see some of the things that people are working on. ⚙️ 🔬 ⚡ Small selection of photos from the event, including Matt Stedman and Nick Bond stage. 😀 Looking forward to next time! #justbuild #hardware #hardwareiseasy

Free on Wednesday evening? Want to come help out at Planet-friendly Hardware? Please. 😸 We need a couple of volunteers to help run the door, tick off ticketholders, and help to distribute cake. We will compensate you with beer (or drinks of your choice) and slices of cake (Colin & Connie from M&S). DM Hard Stuff, Nick Bond, Matt Stedman.

What a month for #hardware in London! Last night was the launch of BLUE GARAGE, tonight we have the second London Hardware Meetup at Makerversity. Next week gives us Planet Friendly Hardware Networking hosted by Hard Stuff with an awesome panel including Damon Bonser from the British Design Fund (and of course sponsored by Embedism). Then we finish off the month with the London IoT Meetup on the 28th! Tickets for all at https://lnkd.in/e9mMic4X #networking #productdesign #london

If you haven't yet heard about Planet-friendly Hardware next Wednesday; Hi! 👋 welcome back out from under that rock. It's in 7 days, go grab your tickets now! 🤩🤩 Here's 5 reasons that make it the best impact-focussed networking event in London: 🌱 It’s completely dedicated to the makers, investors, movers and shakers in sustainability hardware. This is THE event to come to if you’re actually in the thick of it: making our physical World better through physical solutions. 🔨 It’s where we put the hardware first: entrepreneurs will bring along their prototypes/demos to showcase, the chat is hardware, and we have the hardware experts in Rapid Innovation Group, Binding Solutions Limited, & British Design Fund offering their sage wisdom on our stage, our lovely sponsors Embedism, and of course ourselves Hard Stuff! 🚀 With over 150 awesome people coming: it’s where connections are made, jobs are found, investments explored, and ideas unlocked. This is where stuff gets done! 🍻 It’s one of the few sustainability events in London that prioritises serving sustainable drinks, in Toast Brewing’s circular beer (made from waste bread, you know!) - which is delicious! 🤩 It’s just so much fun! Tired of these boring old networking events in an expensive, dark, basement bar somewhere in the middle of nowhere? Planet-friendly Hardware is in the beautiful Change Please (a wonderful social enterprise tackling homelessness) tap room just off Regent’s Park with some of the coolest and brightest folks about. Are you one of them? 😉 20th Nov, 6:30pm til 10pm, near Regent’s Park. Tickets and further details in the comments. Oh, and if you had already heard about Planet-friendly Hardware and you've already got tickets, 👉 You're breath taking! 👈 (fancy reposting like crazy so we can get the word out, get your mates out from under their rocks too?)

With only 9 days to go until the next Planet-friendly Hardware, here are our top 5 reasons that make it the best impact-focussed networking event in London: 1. 🌱 It’s completely dedicated to the makers, investors, movers and shakers in sustainability hardware. This is THE event to come to if you’re actually in the thick of it: making our physical World better through physical solutions. 2. 🔨 It’s where we put the hardware first: entrepreneurs will bring along their prototypes/demos to showcase, the chat is hardware, and we have the hardware experts in Rapid Innovation Group, Binding Solutions Limited, & British Design Fund offering their sage wisdom on our stage, our lovely sponsors Embedism, and of course ourselves Hard Stuff! 3. 🚀 With over 150 awesome people coming: it’s where connections are made, jobs are found, investments explored, and ideas unlocked. This is where stuff gets done! 4. 🍻 It’s one of the few sustainability events in London that prioritises serving sustainable drinks, in Toast Brewing’s circular beer (made from waste bread, you know!) - which is delicious! 🤩 It’s just so much fun! Tired of these boring old networking events in an expensive, dark, basement bar somewhere in the middle of nowhere? Planet-friendly Hardware is in the beautiful Change Please (a wonderful social enterprise tackling homelessness) tap room just off Regent’s Park with some of the coolest and brightest folks about. Are you one of them? 😉 20th Nov, 6:30pm til 10pm, near Regent’s Park. Tickets and further details in the comments.