How Hardware Startups Handle Component Obsolescence

Hardware Startups with Fexingo: Devices, Robotics, and Manufacturing Tech Companies · Jul 28, 2026 · 7m · transcript

When a critical chip goes end-of-life, a hardware startup can lose months and thousands of dollars. This episode walks through a real-world example: a medical device startup that lost nine months when its analog-to-digital converter was discontinued. Lucas and Luna discuss how to set up obsolescence monitoring, negotiate last-time buys, and design for multiple sourcing from day one. They also share data from a 2025 IPC survey showing that 60% of startups face at least one critical obsolescence event during their first product lifecycle. Whether you're prototyping or scaling production…