S3 E8: Navigating and Managing Contract Manufacturers with Peter Russo

Peter Russo, entrepreneur and hardware mentor who has founded and sold multiple companies, shares decades of hard-won wisdom on working with contract manufacturers. With 15+ brands created, 2,000+ SKUs launched, and $250M in retail sales under his belt, Peter reveals the strategies, pitfalls, and creative approaches that separate successful hardware partnerships from costly disasters.

What You'll Learn:

• How to structure contracts that protect your IP while enabling collaboration

• The cultural fit factors that make or break CM relationships

• Why startups are "crappy customers" and how to overcome it with storytelling

• Exclusivity negotiation strategies that work for both parties

• Exit planning from day one: ensuring you can transition suppliers when needed

• How to avoid being trapped by tooling, know-how, or single-source dependencies

• The power of treating suppliers as partners, not vendors

Episode Sponsors:

Jiga - Professional hardware sourcing with direct access to vetted manufacturers and reliable capacity from prototype through production. Communicate directly with machinists, maintain supplier relationships, and get consistently reliable quality. Visit jiga.io

Onshape - The only cloud-native product development platform combining professional-grade CAD with built-in PDM and real-time collaboration tools. Through the Onshape Startup Program, eligible hardware startups receive free access to Onshape Professional for one year, including integrated CAM. Apply at onshapepro/the-builder-circle

Connect & Learn More:

• Follow the show's Substack for hardware tools, frameworks, and tips: https://substack.com/@thebuildercircle • Reach out to our LinkedIn Page if you have topics you'd like us to deep dive!

DISCLAIMER Creators of this show are independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by any other company. All views expressed are solely those of the guests. Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or any professional advice. Listeners are responsible for their own decisions and should consult qualified professionals. By listening, you agree we are not liable for any outcomes.