PCH International today launched its new Incubator program - Highway1 (www.highwayone.io). The program for early hardware startups will focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, with the vision of mentoring and assisting hardware makers to build first-class companies. Applications open today for the four month program, which consists of:
- A four month educational curriculum taught in San Francisco, starting late September at Lime Lab, in San Francisco's Mission District before moving to PCH's new US headquarters in the Potrero Hill District upon opening;
- A two week module taught in Shenzhen, China with an exploration of the vast consumer electronics supply chain in the Pearl River Delta, the main hub of China's manufacturing industry;
- Up to US$20,000 in seed capital for a 3-6% equity;
- Access to office and product prototyping facilities with equipment valued over US$3 million;
- One-on-one engineering, design and mentoring expertise;
- Access to a mentor network, with high-profile technology leaders.
Highway1 will recruit ten hardware startups who want to build a company, not just a product. PCH encourages entrepreneurs to register for the incubator program at www.f6s.com/highway1 before 11th August 2013.
This exciting adventure for entrepreneurs, inventors, innovators, and builders of all kinds will be based at PCH's new US headquarters, at 135 Mississippi Street in San Francisco's Potrero Hill District. Commenting on today's announcement, Brady Forrest, PCH's Vice President of Highway1, said, "Highway1 will help startups go big and make their idea a reality. We're looking for big thinkers with big ideas who are ready to devote themselves to four months of intense focus on their hardware product and company. We'll take startups through an intensive educational course where we'll share our manufacturing expertise, enabling them to bring their products to market."
Highway1's curriculum is focused on manufacturing, supply chain, inventory and pitching. It will equip startups with the knowledge and know-how to de-risk and become a hardware company that investors want to invest in. Participants will learn how to turn their prototype into a product that is ready to manufacture and achieve scale.
PCH International creates, develops, and delivers the world's best products for the world's best technology brands. The launch of Highway1 represents PCH's continued investment in the hardware of the future.
Liam Casey, CEO PCH International, said, "We're delighted to announce the launch of Highway1. We want to work with companies that are passionate about design, about their brand, and about the consumer experience. We're committed to hearing from all entrepreneurs, and we look forward to supporting them and their product development ideas."
Highway1 will give startups the knowledge and access to approach investors and select participants can advance to PCH's established Accelerator program which will give them access to the same skills, resources and processes currently used by the world's leading brands. PCH Accelerator assists startups to rapidly and efficiently develop their qualified hardware product concepts and bring them to commercial readiness with access to the broad range of expertise within PCH Solutions companies such as Lime Lab, a Silicon Valley-based product development consultancy, and TNS Distribution, a leading global distributor of products.