GET READY: HARDTECH INNOVATION BATCH 4

THE HARDTECH INNOVATION ACCELERATOR IN A NUTSHELL

Exciting times ahead as we prepare for Batch 4 of our Hardtech Innovation Accelerator. Explore how this program guides startups through every stage of development, from ideation to investor readiness.

Exciting times ahead as we prepare for Batch 4 of our Hardtech Innovation Accelerator. Explore how this program guides startups through every stage of development, from market validation to investor readiness.

Just 2.5 months ago, we celebrated the successful completion and impressive developments of our third batch of the Hardtech Innovation Accelerator during the latest Demo Day. As the saying goes, every end marks a new beginning. Now it’s that time of the year again: in only 15 days, the next application phase starts, marking the beginning of a new and exciting journey with many new faces, ideas, and a lot of innovative and creative energy.

Haven’t heard of our Hardtech Innovation Accelerator yet? It’s a unique program for early-stage climate tech hardware startups. The program offers a distinctive combination of prototyping facilities and comprehensive startup expertise, making it an ideal launchpad for transforming innovative ideas into tangible, impactful products and startups. Over the course of the 7-month program, participants advance from a basic idea to a validated mid-fidelity prototype ready for market entry, gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to pitch their product with confidence and passion.

“Specially designed for early-stage hardware climate tech startups, this program is unique—you won’t find anything like it in Berlin. It provides all the facilities and knowledge needed to build a hardware product,” says Mariann Egressy, Head of Accelerator & Ecosystem at MotionLab.Berlin.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE PROGRAM

Since its launch in 2021, the Hardtech Innovation Accelerator Program has undergone significant transformations. We have refined the approach to better meet the evolving and specific needs of startups in the hardware sector. These major development areas define the program’s evolution:

Curriculum. The program’s curriculum has undergone three transformative iterations, each more finely tailored to the specific needs of startups. This ongoing refinement ensures that participants receive advanced resources and valuable support, as well as getting the most relevant and up-to-date knowledge and skills.
Mentors. Lead mentors, who are also seasoned hardware founders, have played a pivotal role in the program’s success. They bring a wealth of practical experience, blending business development insight with hands-on prototyping expertise. Each startup accepted into the program is paired with a lead mentor responsible for addressing ongoing issues, providing direct feedback, and pushing the team forward. Together, they establish a roadmap for the program’s duration. Each mentor, as a fellow founder, understands the teams’ needs deeply.
Community Collaboration. Involving founders, makers, experts and other players in the ecosystem has allowed us to foster a dynamic and collaborative environment. This approach enables continuous refinement of the program’s strategy based on real-world insights and experiences. But the experience extends beyond professional development. Program participants become integrated into the community, actively engaging with one another and building strong relationships. And by connecting with like-minded individuals, they gain additional support and inspiration.

“The program really helped us to get where we are today. We had done another program in the past, but it was not particularly hardware-focused. For us, it was incredibly important to learn the hardware-specific aspects of running a startup. Also, the community here is amazing: we met so many people whom we could ask for advice, whether it was finding out how to approach a problem, who the best supplier was, or simply having a brainstorming session together. Everyone is right here in this space. You can’t find this anywhere else,” shares Dr. Katharine Shapcott, a program alumna.

LEARNINGS ALONG THE WAY: THE ACCELERATOR ROADMAP

The comprehensive program is designed to support hardware startups starting from the very early stages of development, covering key topics in four distinct phases from ideation to investor readiness. Developed with the help of experts from various fields and continuously refined through past batches, this structured approach ensures startups are well-prepared at each stage of their journey.

“The Hardtech Innovation Accelerator Program is uniquely focused on the needs of companies building physical products and hardware-enabled services. If your business has a physical element, your fundraising and go-to-market paths require even more rigorous de-risking due to limited capital availability and generally slower iteration speeds. The program helps teams understand the unique risks in their businesses and prepares them for success by focusing on solving problems for their customers from day one,” Daniel Flynn, one of the mentors.

The tailored knowledge and skills acquired will increase the chances of success in the competitive hardware market, even beyond the end of the program. Here are the topics we are going to cover:

Phase 1: Ideation & Exploration

The focus of the first phase of the accelerator program is on establishing a strong foundation. By validating the market and exploring potential solutions, participants build a solid basis for their development and next steps. The key learnings include the following topics:

Market Validation: Identify target markets, understand customer needs, and validate demand through customer interviews and surveys.
Problem-Solution Fit: Clearly define the problem and brainstorm innovative hardware solutions.
Exploration: Explore various aspects of potential products, including technical feasibility and regulatory requirements.

Phase 2: Business Development

In the third and fourth months, participants will develop a robust business model tailored to the unique needs of the hardware sector. They will learn how to manage:

Business Model Development: Create sustainable and scalable business models.
Market Entry Strategies: Select the right market entry strategy through guidance and case studies.
Financial Modeling: Forecast revenue, expenses, and profitability, including budgeting and cash flow management.

Phase 3: Product Development

After building a solid foundation and a robust business model, teams will develop new skills and expertise in product development. They will learn how to create their low-fidelity prototype and master various prototyping disciplines. With the help of workshops, masterclasses, and direct support from mentors and experts, all startups will further develop their prototypes and products. Topics to be covered in this accelerator phase:

Prototyping Basics: Learn about different types of prototypes and their purposes through hands-on workshops.
Multidisciplinary Development: Collaborate across disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, and software engineering.
Iterative Design Process: Create, test, and refine prototypes quickly using iterative design and rapid prototyping principles.

Phase 4: Investor Readiness

In addition to focusing on product development, preparing for investors is crucial for the sustainable growth of a startup beyond the end of the accelerator program. Therefore, in months four to seven, participants will not only focus on their products but also learn how to prepare for follow-on investments by refining their pitches and understanding the investor landscape.

Pitch Deck Creation: Workshops on creating compelling pitch decks that effectively communicate value propositions and financial projections.
Pitching Practice: Practice pitches in front of mentors, peers, and mock investors, incorporating feedback for improvement.
Investor Landscape: Learn about different types of investors and what they look for in hardware startups, including term sheets and valuation techniques.
Commercial Activities: Build and maintain investor relations, including networking strategies and follow-up communication.

KEY DATES & BENEFITS

As we prepare for the fourth batch, here is some key information you need to know:

Key Dates for Batch 4:

Application: 15th August to 15th September 2024
Interviews & Selection Phase: 16th September to 1st October 2024
Announcement of the Participants: 1st October 2024
Accelerator Duration: 4th November 2024 to 31st May 2025

Key Benefits:

Financial Support: €2,200/month per founder + in-kind support.
Access to Resources & High-End Machinery: Full access to prototyping machinery, support in grant and IP applications, certification, and other business-relevant knowledge.
Community & Office Space: Opportunity to join our inspiring hardtech community and work from a dedicated program office at our Alt-Treptow campus.
Individually Tailored Mentorship: Hardware and business coaching tailored to your specific needs with industry experts from our ecosystem.
Visibility & Marketing Support: Strategic support to raise visibility in the broader market.
Access to Knowledge, Workshops & Masterclasses: Hands-on learning through professional workshops, masterclasses, events, and bootcamps.

Coming soon: Access to our newest service, the Databank—an online platform offering members access to the MotionLab.Berlin ecosystem, an extensive network of contacts, and valuable knowledge resources. The Databank serves as a collaborative digital directory featuring industry experts, startups, investors, suppliers, manufacturers, professional service contacts, ecosystem partners, and more. Additionally, it provides useful templates and various other informational assets.

OUR HARDTECH INNOVATION PROGRAM

IS SUPPORTED BY

EMBARK ON YOUR OWN HARDTECH JOURNEY

As we are about to open the applications for our next accelerator batch, we invite you to become a part of this journey. “MotionLab.Berlin and its diverse community hold a special place in our hearts. The mix of engineers, makers, artists, and business minds creates a unique dynamic in the Berlin startup ecosystem. There’s a certain magic in a space where people unite to create tangible solutions. The level of creative problem-solving and collaboration here is unmatched,” says Colette Wasielewski, a program alumna.

We are really looking forward to all the great applications, innovative ideas, and passionate individuals that will join us. We’re excited to embark on this journey together with you, starting in November, and look forward to seeing the incredible progress you’ll make here at MotionLab.Berlin and within the Hardtech Innovation Accelerator Program. Register your interest here and take the first step toward turning your hardtech idea, vision, and passion into reality.

The Hardtech Innovation program is supported by funds from the European Union (European Social Fund) and the State of Berlin.