PCH International, an Ireland-based consumer products manufacturer with China-headquartered operations, has launched Highway1, an incubator for seed stage hardware start-ups.
Highway1 is seeking to recruit ten start-up companies in which PCH will invest up to US$20,000 in seed capital for a 3%-6% equity stake. Prospective entrepreneurs have been requested to register by 11th August 2013. The four month curriculum, taught in San Francisco, is focused on manufacturing, supply chain, and the building of a sustainable business model. The course includes a two week module taught in Shenzhen, China with an exploration of the consumer electronics supply chain in the Pearl River Delta, the main hub of China’s manufacturing industry.
Select participants from Highway1 will be able to advance to PCH’s established Accelerator programme.
Aymerik Renard, vice president of PCH Accelerator, says: “We’ve had huge demand around PCH Accelerator, and we’ve interviewed over 200 start-ups in the first 18 months of the program. We’ve also seen a surprisingly large demand from seed stage hardware companies needing heavy assistance. To address that market need, we’re launching Highway1, an incubator for seed stage hardware start-ups, as the early-stage complement to PCH Accelerator.”