Early-stage hardware companies operate in an environment where technical ambition must align with execution reality.
Recognizing this challenge, NexPCB and ATUM Ventures jointly created Raise The Bar — a program built to support deep-tech teams at a critical point in their development journey.
A shared perspective on early-stage challenges
NexPCB has spent two decades working closely with hardware teams across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain execution. Through this experience, one pattern is consistent: early decisions have long-term consequences.
ATUM Ventures brings a complementary investment perspective, focused on evaluating long-term potential, execution capability, and structural readiness.
Raise The Bar brings these perspectives together into a single program.
A focus on real readiness
Rather than emphasizing pitch performance alone, Raise The Bar centers on readiness:
- Technical feasibility
- Execution planning
- Scalability considerations
- Investment structure and evaluation
The goal is not acceleration for its own sake, but clarity — helping teams understand what it truly takes to progress to the next stage.
It is also important to consider the manufacturer's production capacity. Ensure that they have the capacity to handle your desired order quantity within your specified timeline. This will help prevent delays and ensure that your PCBs are delivered on time.
Designed for teams ready to move forward
Raise The Bar is intended for early-stage deep-tech and hardware teams who are preparing for formal investment evaluation and long-term growth.
By combining NexPCB’s execution-focused insight with ATUM Ventures’ investment process, the program reflects the realities teams will face beyond the early prototype stage.
👉 Program overview:
https://www.nexpcb.com/raise-the-bar
