Hardware Startup Guide: Stop Using VC Money for CapEx, Leverage Debt Financing for Non-Dilutive Capital

MarvinTBaumann · x · 2026-08-07

This thread explores how hardware startups can utilize debt financing to optimize their capital structure. The author notes that global debt markets are 75 times larger than VC markets but are often overlooked. A core mistake founders make is using valuable equity to pay for capital expenditures like CNC machines or robots. Experts suggest that if a company has raised €10M in equity, it can typically secure an additional €1-3M in equipment finance without further dilution.

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