Hardtech Development:

Failing Fast and Other Misconceptions

Hardtech Problems are Different. Czero CEO Guy Babbitt was hosted by Ken Hayes and Ryan Hoover from Cleantech Open to explore how to thoughtfully apply “fail fast” principles to hardtech development, where long lead times, high costs, and safety risks often make rapid iteration more complex.

Based on over twenty years of experience in early-stage energy tech, we’ve learned that speed doesn’t have to come at the cost of excellence. From simulation and analysis-led design to smart planning and Techno Economic Analysis (TEAs), these are our go-to practices to accelerate development and reduce risk.

✅ Utilize a technology development roadmap
✅ Clearly define the goals for each prototype
✅ Lead with engineering analysis, not guesswork
✅ Use simulation to de-risk and move faster
✅ Build flexible, testable designs
✅ Think about controls and DAQ from day one
✅ Instrument heavily - capture the data, use it
✅ Incorporate TEAs early

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