GeekWire Seattle’s history of hardware heartbreak: Big raises, high hopes, hard landings
Nov 13, 2025
Seattle's consumer hardware scene is facing harsh realities, as companies like Glowforge and Rad Power Bikes grapple with struggles. The conversation dives into the challenges of hardware versus software, highlighting issues like long development cycles and supply chains. They trace a history of local hardware failures, examining the impact of the pandemic on consumer behavior and funding. The hosts discuss risks tied to founder departures and the implications of overscaling, ultimately stressing that while hardware is tough, the experiments remain worthwhile.
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Hardware Demands Different Economics
- Hardware requires more capital and longer development cycles than software.
- Physical products face supply-chain and replace-the-atom constraints that software updates can't fix.
Pandemic Tailwinds Were Temporary
- Many COVID-era hardware winners were riding temporary behavior changes.
- When pandemic behaviors reversed, demand for some niche consumer hardware sharply declined.
Rad's Costly Support Network
- Rad Power Bikes built mobile mechanics and retail shops to support customers.
- Todd and John noted that building that service infrastructure is expensive and operationally complex.