While in recent years the tech industry has largely turned its attention to software and new ways of making the world a more digital-friendly place, while other companies have chosen to focus on making huge advancements in hardware.
For software and digital processes to run most efficiently, our hardware must continually adapt to offer increased capabilities that will be effective now and moving forward. And with the exciting opportunities that IoT and healthcare technology have presented, there has never been a more important time for hardware pioneers to emerge.
Producing new hardware, however, can be a challenging and expensive endeavor. Because of this, incubators and accelerators in the Bay Area are offering founders and small teams the opportunity to receive funding and network with the people who can help bring their hardware developments to market.
Hardware Incubators in the Bay Area To Know
- Alchemist Accelerator
- HAX
- Lemnos
- Radicand
- ReadWrite Labs
- Silver Lake Partners
- TheraNova
Founded: 2012
Location: San Francisco
What they do: Alchemist Accelerator focuses on enterprise ventures dedicated to making change across the IoT, fintech and digital health verticals. From next generation healthcare machines to better tracking technology, Alchemist Accelerator wants to make it cheaper and faster to connect tech on a global scale, making an impact on industries like agriculture, power, construction, oil, gas, transportation and healthcare.
Portfolio includes: MeToo Kit, Acoustic Wells, Zenith Aerospace, Tarsier, Lightbox VR, Cruz Foam and IoTrek.
Founded: 2011
Location: San Francisco
What they do: HAX is a two-part hardware-based venture capital program that takes place in both Shenzhen, China and San Francisco. The company offers a hands-on approach to helping startups move through every stage of the production process. Part one in Shenzhen allows founders to workshop protocol from sourcing through manufacturing, while the San Francisco leg provides an education in marketing, growth and networking.
Portfolio includes: Vue Smart Glasses, Particle, Ex Machina, Elephant Robotics, Bowl and Berkeley Ultrasound.
Founded: 2011
Location: San Francisco
What they do: Lemnos invests in pre-seed and early-seed hardware startups to provide backing in the moments when every dollar and hour counts. Focused on engineering, manufacturing, marketing and financial capital, Lemnos draws from its expertise and global network to solve hardware challenges alongside founders.
Portfolio includes: Swift Navigation, Path Robotics, Marble, Lumeo, Duality, Quartz, Spire and Simbe Robotics.
Founded: 2013
Location: Redwood City
What they do: Radicand specializes in growing companies who are taking a first-of-its-kind approach to developing cutting-edge hardware. The accelerator takes founders and teams through engineering consulting, rapid prototyping, design strategies, workshops and training, led by Stanford and Y Combinator-trained workshop leaders, imparting crucial knowledge on maximizing ROI, manufacturing processes and more.
Portfolio includes: Osmo, Panasonic, GoogleX, Powerade, Stanford University, Avails Medical and Aperia Technologies.
Founded: 2013
Location: San Francisco
What they do: ReadWrite Labs is an IoT-focused incubator providing funding, networking opportunities and crucial insights to companies who want to make advancements in how our devices stay connected. A four-step process allows ReadWrite Labs to bring founders from day one of their IoT business journey through necessary marketing initiatives for their products, with events hosted consistently to put startups in the hands of the right investors willing to help them grow.
Founded: 1999
Location: Menlo Park
What they do: Silver Lake Partners pursues large-scale investments in tech and tech-enabled companies to receive extraordinary risk-adjusted returns. Though Silver Lake does not exclusively back companies focused on hardware, the firm has made a number of investments in companies making strides with automotive, healthcare and wellness products.
Portfolio includes: Alibaba, Dell Technologies, Waymo, Oak View Group, Equinox, Twitter, WP Engine and GoodRx.
Founded: 2005
Location: San Francisco
What they do: TheraNova works to develop both solutions and companies that are ready to make a noted impact in medical device research. In addition to performing its own research in engineering, prototyping and management, TheraNova incubates companies with the potential to improve outcomes for patients, expand access to healthcare and reduce costs for patients or payers.
Portfolio includes: Piccolo Medical, Respirix, EM Kinetics, Potrero Medical, Gravitas Medical, Esculon and Channel Medsystems.
