Every hardware project hits a wall. I identify the roadblock and help you break through it — whether you're in EVT, DVT, PVT, or staring down a mass production problem you didn't see coming.
Get in touch See how I work →Your hardware project has hit a wall. Something isn't working and you can't see why — or you can see why but don't know how to fix it. I come in, identify the specific roadblock, and help you break through it. One focused engagement, one clear outcome.
You're building something physical and need an experienced partner alongside you for the full journey — from early prototype through EVT, DVT, PVT, and into mass production. I bring the practitioner knowledge that most founding teams don't have in-house.
I'm a hardware practitioner based in Berlin with years of experience across the full product lifecycle — from first prototype through EVT, DVT, and PVT to mass production and end-of-life. I currently work as Category Manager in Supply Chain & Hardware at Voi Technology, one of Europe's leading shared micromobility operators, where I manage international supplier sourcing and hardware lifecycle across 150+ cities.
I've watched hardware projects stall at every phase. Sometimes it's a technical problem. More often it's a process problem — a gate that wasn't held honestly, a DFM issue nobody caught early enough, a supplier relationship that isn't working. I'm good at identifying exactly where a project is stuck and what it will take to move it forward.
I have deep experience with Chinese manufacturing partners across Shenzhen, Guangdong, and Jiangsu, and attend the Canton Fair annually. I know what good manufacturing relationships look like, what bad ones cost, and how to tell the difference before you've committed a purchase order.
I wrote The Hardest Hardware Lessons because I watched the same expensive mistakes repeat across hardware teams, year after year — and nobody had written them down. The book sold 45 copies in its first week through word of mouth alone. The problems it describes are real, and widely felt.
I take on a small number of advisory engagements where I can make a genuine difference. If your company is navigating hardware development or China sourcing and needs an experienced outside perspective, I'd like to hear from you.
Every phase of a hardware product's life — from first prototype to end-of-life — with the specific mistakes named, the financial costs quantified, and the decision frameworks made explicit. The unpublished version of hardware development, written down.
Get the book → Follow the daily SubstackI take on a small number of engagements at a time. If your hardware project is stuck — or you want an experienced partner for the prototype to mass production journey — reach out directly.
hans@thehardesthardwarelessons.com