<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="true">Balancing tech debt and new features is a key challenge in product management.Tech debt is not just a technical issue but also a product risk affecting delivery to users and market response.Resource allocation framework recommended: 70% new feature development, 20% technical debt & platform health, 10% innovation/experiments.Shift to 60% strategic feature delivery and 40% platform health when tech debt affects roadmap delivery.Allocate time intentionally for tech debt reduction while still delivering value.Communicate tech debt benefits in terms of speed, support, and scaling to engage non-technical stakeholders.Integrate platform work into strategic themes and create a 'Platform Investment' theme quarterly.Balancing tech debt and new feature delivery is essential for sustainable growth.Tech debt, if managed well, can provide freedom to grow.Balancing tech debt with new features requires intentional allocation and communication.The correct balance can lead to improved delivery, reduced support tickets, and faster scaling.Allocating resources strategically can help in managing tech debt and ensuring business outcomes.Tech debt, like credit card debt, compounds if ignored but offers growth freedom if managed effectively.