Real Talk on Hardware: Lessons in Overcoming Challenges and Scaling Innovation
Voxdale | design-driven engineering
Specialized in design-driven engineering services that ensure manufacturability and product success.
Hello, fellow hardware innovators,
The essence of our third deep dive and get-together was sharing pains and learning from the best. Captain of Industries?Bert Bruggeman?and?Jennifer Esterline?from?Loop Earplugs?shared their pains, insights, lessons, and pitfalls with our community of hardware innovators.
Bert, whose career spans legendary companies such as Tesla, Cypress Semiconductor, and The Ocean Cleanup, has transformed groundbreaking technologies into billion-dollar businesses and now helps hardware entrepreneurs achieve scalable success.
This "helping" isn't just about mentoring or generic advice—this is deep, hands-on problem-solving. Bert goes beyond high-level frameworks, diving into the actual details of your business. Every stone is turned as he works alongside you to uncover strengths, identify pitfalls, and tackle them together. We're talking spreadsheets, product specs, unit economics, team dynamics, go-to-market strategy, product-market fit, funding pathways, and introductions to top-tier companies when the time is right. His insights aren't just theoretical—they're actionable strategies that help hardware founders navigate real challenges and scale with confidence.
Looking ahead, we're excited to see hardware innovation take center stage at SuperNova 2025 and announce the new start dates for our Scaling Mentorship Program with Bert Bruggeman.
Mastering hardware growth: lessons from the best
Most startups think they can build a great product, and success will follow. The reality? Execution is everything. The best hardware founders know that details—unit economics, manufacturing bottlenecks, and team dynamics—are the difference between failure and market domination.
At our recent Hardware Get-Together,?Jennifer Esterline, the Mechanical Engineering Director at?Loop Earplugs, shared her playbook for scaling a hardware company during hypergrowth. She drew on her rich experiences at Peloton, Harry's, Fitbit, and Nokia.
She emphasized the importance of "right-sizing" processes as your company grows—using light frameworks, robust documentation, and readiness and cost analysis tools to streamline operations. Jennifer's actionable advice on tailored product development strategies, risk management, and purposeful hiring turns operational challenges into opportunities for growth.
Of course, none of this would be complete without our lineup of stellar startups and scale-ups, which tackle challenges ranging from early-stage product-market fit to scaling pains: Aqvita, Rise Global, Locinox, QustomDot, and more!
Yes! Hardware is taking the stage at SuperNova 2025 this March
We're thrilled to announce that Bert will share his expertise in scaling hardware ventures through two dynamic sessions:
At Voxdale, we've witnessed firsthand how Bert's guidance empowers startups, scale-ups, and established companies to overcome obstacles and transform ambitious ideas into reality. Join us as we shape the future of hardware together!
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Step into Hardware Growth:
NEW 'Deep Dive' Dates with Bert Bruggeman:
Scaling hardware is tough, but you don't have to do it alone. With nine hardware startups and scale-ups already on board, we invite innovative hardware entrepreneurs to join Bert's next cohort. Here's what you can expect:
Key Focus Areas: ?? Identifying the real problem you're solving ?? Creating genuine customer value ?? Capturing that value effectively
Bert's hands-on guidance has helped startups navigate challenges from early market fit to first sales. Scaling hardware comes with unique hurdles—manufacturing bottlenecks, unit economics, and supply chain complexities—but the proper support can make all the difference.
Kick-off Deep-Dives sessions: March 24 & 25, 2025 @Voxdale HQ Antwerp (Wijnegem)
What's in it for you? ? One-on-one sessions with Bert Bruggeman ? Deep dives into venture pain points: strategy, financials, go-to-market, unit economics, team dynamics, and more ? A focus on cutting through the noise to achieve real progress
Take care,
The Voxdale team