Adam Benzion is the co-founder of Hackster, a global community for hackers equipment and starters. A former Microsoft and a hardware entrepreneur, Adam moderates Startup group material on LinkedIn.
The scores endless boom of emerging software companies in the last decade has triggered accelerators around the world for support. Now that the start-up of equipment are joining the game, a new race of accelerators comes to life to meet their unique needs.
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But with hardware already a fairly high-risk game, you will need to separate the true leaders of supporters connected to get the support you need. So how do you decide which organization is right for you?
In my recent research and hands on work experience as an entrepreneur equipment and co-founder of Hackster , I found at least 50 hardware accelerators on six continents. No doubt many of them are great, and some will grow up to be the main contenders.
The five listed here, however, are the real "Top 5", which I say is based both on the reputation of peers and personal experience with the people who planned, created and run these accelerators.
If you do not or can not go with one of them, look for the criteria they all share: the commitment-roots leadership, location, access to mentors, access to capital and longstanding least 10 years in the manufacturing of material before creating their programs.
If the construction material be your next act of voluntary madness, here are the people who can help you survive asylum:
Highway1
Perhaps the best known brand in the industry, this accelerator is supported by San Francisco PCH , one of the major contractors in manufacturing the world. Combine this unique relationship with an impressive team of materials experts engaged and a Bay Area location, and it is easy to understand how Highway1 is able to attract an incredible range of startups and mentors.
Here is some of the best industry, VP Brady Forrest, founder of Ignite, mentors like Scott Norman, a rocket scientist to SpaceX and Jennifer McCormick who leads one of top UX enterprises in the Bay Area.
The Highway1 program, which provides investments of about $ 50,000 in exchange for shares, accepted 12 startups during his last batch for four program month, which includes a trip to Shenzhen manufacturing. The teams focus on consumer segments, but not exclusively.
HAXLR8R
HAXLR8R is one of my favorite programs for starting materials for two reasons. First, people who join the program are extremely committed, flexible, and even adventurous, which is appropriate given advance effort on them. After all, a program that requires you to drop everything and move to China for 16 weeks is self-selection of the kind of people who will not give up a dream.
The second is the balance sheet. Take Spark a company that started with consumer electronics. graduate HAXLR8R, Spark has become a development platform for IoT technology, and is doing very well.
The HAXLR8R commitment to the community and the mission is embodied in the members of the team as Ebersweiler Cyril and Benjamin Joffe living in Shenzhen to run the program there hands on (seeking their words regularly displayed wisdom Slideshare. )
There is no better place to learn the ropes in Shenzhen, opposite the world's largest market for electronic components. Relocation is necessary, $ 100k investments is offered in exchange for a 9 percent, and up to 15 startups per class join its 111 days program in Shenzhen.
Bolt
Bolt is designed for venture capital equipment. One of the best places to build more targeted your material dreams, Bolt works mainly with B2B companies and consumer products with recurring revenue. It provides seed funding, a high-end prototyping workshop, supported by a staff of engineering and design and assistance to manufacturing and marketing full time.
led by Ben Einstein and f founder of Dragon Innovation and CEO, Scott Miller, Bolt has much to offer. Relocation is preferred but not mandatory and companies are often in residence for 6 months to a year. With a killer team that aspires to be more partners than mentors, Bolt is another option.
Lemnos Labs
Lemnos Labs is a little less well known, but for those in the know is considered an a-Lister. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Eric Klein, a founding member of a long history of advanced building materials and software (Palm, Bungee Studios, Nokia) and his passion, concentration and authenticity really captivated me.
Like its peers, Lemnos sports a state of the art facility and a world-class team of experts. His San Francisco-based program offers up to $ 250K in funding with a 10 percent admitting to 12 starts per year, focusing on aerospace, robotics, transportation, agriculture and IoT (both consumer and B2B).
LabIX
This organization supported Flextronics is actually more of a hardware business eco-system as an accelerator. The team has invested over $ 10M in two of their portfolio companies, and most of their portfolio sees between $ 500K- $ 1M.
LabIX also focuses more on technology platforms that finished products. Led by a group of manufacturing, risk and product experts in the heart of Silicon Valley veteran investor as Lior Susan Rich Sheridan and manufacturing expert, has an impressive track LabIX launch strong hardware startups.
applications are open all year for B2C and B2B products. It sports super impressive equipment that only companies like Flextronics can afford and an impressive workspace. Its roots go back to help Powermat off and keep some of the newer companies like Edyn.
Honourable mentions
not living in the United States, Silicon Valley or not feeling love Shenzhen? There are many other places for you to explore. In Europe, there is an excellent arrived in Estonia called Buildit.EE , Germany Hardware.co , and my hometown in Seattle Microsoft Ventures supports hardware startups with a strong presence in India, China, the United States and of course Israel.
Tech Stars NYC R / GA Accelerator is also a back and just launched pad for equipment.
Your options are many. But the material is still material, and as you probably already know, it can be difficult to build, sell and profit. D o you a favor and choose one of the best hardware accelerators to reduce your risk, helping you succeed and yes even have fun while you're there!
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