Website : https://nextfabventures.com/
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/nextfab-ventures
NextFab Ventures is the investment arm of NextFab, a Philadelphia-based network of makerspaces and innovation hubs that support hardware, IoT, and physical product startups. If you’re building something tangible—whether it’s a smart device, robotics platform, consumer product, or advanced materials technology—NextFab Ventures is one of the few U.S. programs built specifically for you.
With its Product Development Seed Fund, NextFab offers a unique blend of hands-on prototyping support, workspace access, and early-stage capital, all focused on helping hardware founders go from prototype to scalable product.
Who Should Apply to NextFab Ventures?
NextFab Ventures is ideal for:
- Hardware startups at the prototype or early production stage.
- Teams working on consumer electronics, smart devices, IoT, robotics, medtech, or other physical technologies.
- Founders who need funding + fabrication resources, not just pitch decks and mentors.
- Startups who want to de-risk manufacturing, iterate on design, and validate with early users.
You don’t need to be fully venture-ready to join—but you should have a clear vision, working prototype, and some understanding of your manufacturing or go-to-market path.
Program & Investment Details
- Equity Taken: Case-by-case, typically via SAFE notes.
- Investment: $25,000–$50,000 per startup from the NextFab Product Development Seed Fund.
- Support Includes:
- Free or subsidized access to NextFab’s makerspaces (CNC, laser cutting, 3D printing, electronics labs, etc.)
- Engineering and design support
- Help with early manufacturing strategy and sourcing
- Mentorship from product development, IP, and venture experts
- Location: Philadelphia, with strong ties to the Mid-Atlantic hardware startup community.
- Focus: Go-to-market readiness, manufacturability, and seed-stage fundraising.
Why Choose NextFab Ventures?
Hardware is hard—and traditional accelerators often aren’t equipped to help founders navigate supply chains, DFM (design for manufacturing), and capital efficiency. NextFab Ventures fills that gap by combining physical infrastructure, expert guidance, and early capital into a hardware-native accelerator model.
If you’re grinding on your Gen-2 prototype, trying to figure out cost-effective production, or preparing to raise money for your first production run, NextFab Ventures is an excellent strategic partner.