# 13 Reasons Why New Hardware Products Fail

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2022-11-23
- Length: 14m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-11-23-13-reasons-why-new-hardware-products-fail

## Summary

Host John Teal outlines 13 common reasons why new hardware products fail, categorized into technical, financial, and sales/marketing challenges. He emphasizes critical pitfalls such as underestimating development time, neglecting design for manufacturing (DFM), and running out of cash flow due to inventory costs. Teal also highlights the importance of validating customer demand early through crowdfunding and building an audience before launch.

## Chapters

- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-11-23-13-reasons-why-new-hardware-products-fail#t=15) Introduction and Overview of Failure Categories

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Texas Instruments (company)
- Pebble (product)
- Kickstarter (other)
- Hardware Academy (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [186: Sleeping on the Factory Floor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-02-09-186-sleeping-on-the-factory-floor) (Embedded.fm)
- [IDology #11 - Most common mistakes in product development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2023-03-28-idology-11-most-common-mistakes-in-product-development) (IDology)
- [42: Blocks of Gold with LCD Displays](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-12-42-blocks-of-gold-with-lcd-displays) (Embedded.fm)
- [Kickstarter, IndieGoGo & Ignite - Jasperated Jimswinger Jobbery](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-24-kickstarter-indiegogo-ignite-jasperated-jimswinger-jobbery) (The Amp Hour)
- [Introducing: It's only a Prototype Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-04-09-introducing-its-only-a-prototype-podcast) (It's Only a Prototype)

## Citing this page

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