Breaking the FOAK Barrier: How Startups Finance Capital-Intensive Innovation

This webinar addresses the critical challenge faced by hardware startups in securing financing for capital-intensive innovation, often referred to as the 'First of a Kind' (FOAK) barrier. Traditional venture capital models may not align with the unique funding needs of such ventures, making it difficult to transition from prototype to production. This session aims to equip founders and investors with practical strategies to navigate this complex landscape.

What to expect

• Understand the FOAK gap and why hardware startups struggle with traditional VC logic
• Learn from real-world examples, such as Depoly, on how they financed their showcase plant
• Identify various capital sources applicable at different stages of development
• Discover proven strategies to bridge the FOAK gap and scale hardware startups successfully

Who should attend

This webinar is ideal for founders, investors, and professionals involved with hardware startups and capital-intensive innovation, seeking to understand and overcome financing challenges.

About the host

The Swiss Startup Association (SSA) is an independent, non-profit organization supporting startups in Switzerland through networking, education, and advocacy. Zürcher Kantonalbank is a leading Swiss cantonal bank and an active investor in early-stage and scale-up startups, providing financing from CHF 300,000 to CHF 15 million.