A global community and accelerator for entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and makers dedicated to the creation of innovative hardware products and companies.
HARDWARE.co is no longer active. This page is preserved as an archive of the community, the accelerator program, and the 40+ startups that came through our doors between 2013 and 2017. The hardware community lives on.
The Story
HARDWARE.co began in 2013 as a small & informal meetup in Berlin for hardware entrepreneurs, makers and enthusiasts to exchange advice, questions and answers, and stories of success and failure.
The group quickly grew too large for its own meetups and pitch events. The organisers realised that interest in hardware technology and products flourished, both in Berlin and worldwide. In order to keep the community-drivenness, yet become professional enough to serve more people, they partnered with the founders of betahaus and established HARDWARE.co.
HARDWARE.co ran its first accelerator program in 2013 and established itself as the go-to place for hardware expertise in Berlin — supporting every stage of hardware development, from ideas to prototypes to investments and beyond.
An intensive 14-day free program. One-on-one sessions with 40+ mentors including investors, lawyers, designers, manufacturers, and engineers. Zero equity, no IP taken.
24/7 access to the HARDWARE.co Electronics Lab at betahaus — fully equipped for prototyping and electronics development, powered by Conrad Electronic.
Regular community gatherings in Berlin connecting founders, engineers, designers, and investors building the next generation of hardware products.
An online platform keeping the global community active and connected — sharing resources, advice, and opportunities long after the program ended.
The Program
An intensive two-week acceleration. We made sure to pack as much networking, expertise and workshops into these weeks as possible. Selected startups got one-on-one interaction with over 40 mentors — and we took zero equity and no intellectual property. No strings attached.
Startups at any stage from ideation to finished prototype were welcome. Travel costs for foreign startups were partially covered.
We selected teams we could accelerate fast — not only those with amazing products, but those who added quality to the overall hardware community.
Two weeks of intensive workshops, open meetup events, personal meetings with industry partners, and one-on-one mentor sessions.
A public Demo Day where startups showcased to potential industry partners, investors, and HARDWARE.co alumni.
Participating startups became part of the community permanently. Connections made during the program often formed the basis for growing their company.
Alumni
Hardware founders from around the world who came through HARDWARE.co between 2013 and 2017.
Heats liquids directly in the vessel, eliminating excess water heating. Simply fill your cup, place it on the induction base and immerse the rod.
Replaces graphical UIs by turning everyday objects like dials and surfaces into haptic user interfaces. Their Nuimo controller went on to Y Combinator.
A wearable metronome — the Pulse — letting musicians feel the beat through vibration rather than hearing it.
A compact, pocket-sized camera stabilizer for smartphones and action cameras. Successfully crowdfunded and distributed internationally.
Building next-gen cargo drones — 350kg payload, 2,500km range — to make same-day international delivery possible.
Hybrid drone combining rotary-wing and fixed-wing systems for 10kg payload over 500km range. Used for humanitarian aid and logistics.
IoT platform for global asset tracking, compliance monitoring, and logistics management.
Pocket-sized smartphone-connected network testing tools for IT professionals. Founded in Berlin 2014.
Autonomous cleaning robot platform for remote property maintenance operations.
Brings vein recognition into wearables for seamless payment and authentication without a phone.
Helps bicycle fleet managers and city planners get the data they need to build sustainable bikesharing infrastructure.
Wireless drone charging pads. Charging is as easy as landing — wide landing area, works with any compatible drone.
Light, short-range electric vehicles for city use with a safe, futuristic user experience and minimal environmental footprint.
Integrates online marketing with out-of-home advertising via digital billboards on car rooftops. Real-time targeted campaigns.
Controls small fishing boats currently unmonitored and heavily subsidised — sustainable and ethical fishing tracking via IoT.
IoT device that analyses and learns day cycles, user behavior and occupancy changes of commercial buildings for energy optimisation.
Wearable device bringing back an extra sense for the visually impaired by translating sonar echo into tactile feedback.
Makes homes smarter by turning prosaic household objects into objects of desire. Smart, beautiful home automation hardware.
A glowing wrist wearable reminding people with diabetes of their last blood glucose level measurement.
A DIY robotics kit helping children build real working robots from unwanted junk. Educational hardware for the next generation.
Innovative outdoor gear for cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate high-quality equipment that performs and lasts.
Making the flexible distribution of electricity in homes and offices more aesthetically pleasing and accessible.
Creating the future of early-stage education with embedded technology cubes that communicate with each other.
System turning any car into a car-sharing vehicle. Cardless access, parking integration, and fleet management.
IoT platform creating a connected network of motorcycles by abstracting vehicle diagnostics into actionable insights.
Wireless in-vehicle entertainment system generating revenue while delighting passengers.
Extreme ultra high-power flashlight connected to your smartphone for intelligent, app-controlled lighting.
The easiest phone to use, designed especially for elderly people and their caring relatives.
Hardware and software solutions increasing the efficiency of operating and maintaining unmanned systems and drones.
Enables you to tell and share stories easily with grandkids, friends, and family through voice and connected hardware.
World's first intelligent waste bin with auto-recognition software for sorting Pfand bottles and recyclables automatically.
Connected hardware product from the early HARDWARE.co community — an early IoT startup from the Berlin maker scene.
Building CivicNet — a computing ecosystem, platform, and client devices delivering radically open infrastructure.
Beacon hardware and platform for indoor proximity marketing, analytics, and location-based experiences.
Security vulnerability scanner for ethical hackers — continuously scans internal networks for vulnerabilities.
Car connectivity hub integrating mobile equipment with vehicles in a smart and simple way.
Portable stereoscopic headset running 3D simulated versions of historic sites, bridging past and present through VR.
Motorcycle helmet attachment turning any helmet into a music-capable, vibration-based audio system for riders.
Hardware and software solution helping healthcare providers and patients manage medical data and care more efficiently.
Blends AI and brain training into a neurotech product. Won the betahaus award at Batch 4 Demo Day.
Partners & Sponsors
For us at Conrad, the passion for hardware and technology inherent at HARDWARE.co makes it a great partner. By working together, we are able to identify great hardware startups and projects. Success stories such as WunderBar, OptoForce or KIWI.KI demonstrate how Conrad and such hardware startups work towards a common goal, such as launching products or enabling services.
Blog
Stories, learnings, and news from HARDWARE.co batches, alumni, and the Berlin hardware scene.
Last Monday, our two-week intensive accelerator program with Batch 6 came to an end with a beautiful Show & Tell event. 8 Startups working to improve our qualit
After Hardware.co’s last batch of startups pitched mobility and logistics solutions with practical applications for some of the world’s toughest social and econ
Hardware.co is back with a new accelerator program running from July 17th to the 31st! With the world in mind this batch is themed Quality of Life, and we’re lo