# Climate Tech Innovations and Local Manufacturing for Global Impact with Laura Teicher of FORGE

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2024-08-01
- Length: 42m
- Episode: 58
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-01-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-for-global-impact-with-laura-te
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/p8lx3wp8-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-laura-teicher

## Summary

Laura Teicher, President and Executive Director of FORGE, explains how the nonprofit helps hardware startups navigate the gap between prototype and commercialization, emphasizing the benefits of local manufacturing in New England. She details FORGE's three pillars—education, connection, and funding—and shares how targeted support, such as ruggedizing robots for BioBots, helps companies overcome technical and financial barriers. Teicher also discusses the impact of tariffs on domestic supply chains and offers career advice for entering the climate tech sector.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-01-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-for-global-impact-with-laura-te#t=3) Introduction: Laura Teicher and FORGE's Mission
- [1:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-01-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-for-global-impact-with-laura-te#t=112) Teicher's Career Path and the Hardware Gap
- [5:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-01-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-for-global-impact-with-laura-te#t=313) Why Hardware Startups Fail and the Nonprofit Role
- [9:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-01-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-for-global-impact-with-laura-te#t=582) Funding Models and the Supplier Network
- [16:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-01-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-for-global-impact-with-laura-te#t=993) The Case for Local Manufacturing and Climate Impact
- [22:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-01-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-for-global-impact-with-laura-te#t=1369) FORGE's Three Pillars: Education, Connection, Funding
- [25:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-01-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-for-global-impact-with-laura-te#t=1532) Case Study: BioBots and Ruggedization Grants
- [32:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-01-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-for-global-impact-with-laura-te#t=1954) Future Growth, Climate Tech Sectors, and Policy
- [39:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-01-climate-tech-innovations-and-local-manufacturing-for-global-impact-with-laura-te#t=2356) Career Advice for Climate Tech Professionals

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- FORGE (company)
- Greentown Labs (company)
- BioBots (company)
- Clean Crop (company)
- Synapse (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [140: Local Manufacturing for a New Hardware Invention Idea](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-09-07-140-local-manufacturing-for-a-new-hardware-invention-idea) (Product Startup)
- [T-25-008 : Justin McAfee - Mechanical Engineer to Hardware as a Service CEO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2025-06-20-t-25-008-justin-mcafee-mechanical-engineer-to-hardware-as-a-service-ceo) (TRADEOFFS)
- [S6E47 Brogan Miller | Being a Doula for Hardware Startups, Manufacturing in Asia, and How to Start Networking](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-21-s6e47-brogan-miller-being-a-doula-for-hardware-startups-manufacturing-in-asia-an) (Being an Engineer)
- [180: Hardware Startup Tips for Non-Technical Founders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-06-15-180-hardware-startup-tips-for-non-technical-founders) (Product Startup)
- [268: Reindustrialization in the Heartland, Live from +Venture North 2025](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-12-30-268-reindustrialization-in-the-heartland-live-from-venture-north-2025) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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