# 222: Securing Grants for Scaling Up a Hardware Startup

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2024-04-18
- Length: 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-18-222-securing-grants-for-scaling-up-a-hardware-startup
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/podcast/222-securing-grants-for-scaling-up-a-hardware-startup/

## Summary

Micki Vandeloo, President of Lakeview Consulting, explains how hardware startups can secure government grants to fund scaling operations, noting her firm has raised over $250 million for clients. She distinguishes between state grants, which are smaller and easier to access, and federal programs like SBIR/STTR and the CHIPS Act, which target larger-scale facility and hiring expansions. Vandeloo emphasizes that grants require proven market validation and a detailed project design, warning founders to be conservative in their estimates to avoid clawbacks if they fail to meet specific outcomes like job creation or capital investment.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-18-222-securing-grants-for-scaling-up-a-hardware-startup#t=0) Introduction: Micki Vandeloo and Lakeview Consulting
- [2:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-18-222-securing-grants-for-scaling-up-a-hardware-startup#t=175) Defining Government Grants and Timing for Scale
- [4:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-18-222-securing-grants-for-scaling-up-a-hardware-startup#t=256) State vs. Federal Grants: SBIR, CHIPS Act, and Industry 4.0
- [7:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-18-222-securing-grants-for-scaling-up-a-hardware-startup#t=435) Market Validation and Scaling-Stage Funding Requirements
- [9:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-18-222-securing-grants-for-scaling-up-a-hardware-startup#t=577) Project Design: Activities, Budgets, and Outcomes
- [12:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-18-222-securing-grants-for-scaling-up-a-hardware-startup#t=722) Post-Award Compliance, Reporting, and Clawbacks
- [15:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-18-222-securing-grants-for-scaling-up-a-hardware-startup#t=900) Lakeview Consulting Services and Grant Readiness

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Lakeview Consulting (company)
- Mako Design (company)
- SBIR/STTR (other)
- CHIPS Act (other)
- USDA (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S1 E9: Building a Strong Capital Stack for a Hardware Product with Orin Hoffman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-07-25-s1-e9-building-a-strong-capital-stack-for-a-hardware-product-with-orin-hoffman) (The Builder Circle)
- [Global Silicon Startups Contest Catalyzes Deep Tech Innovation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-05-26-global-silicon-startups-contest-catalyzes-deep-tech-innovation) (EE Times Current)
- [S3 E4: An Impact Hardware VC's Playbook with Carlota Ochoa from Extentia](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2025-11-11-s3-e4-an-impact-hardware-vcs-playbook-with-carlota-ochoa-from-extentia) (The Builder Circle)
- [S2E51 The Hardware Academy | John Teel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-12-03-s2e51-the-hardware-academy-john-teel) (Being an Engineer)
- [S1 E7: Level Up Your Hardware Product Pitch with Haje Kamps](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-06-27-s1-e7-level-up-your-hardware-product-pitch-with-haje-kamps) (The Builder Circle)

## Citing this page

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