Announcing EF+HAX — funding the world’s best hardware founders
Entrepreneur First (EF) exists because the world is missing out on some of its best founders. We’re a talent investor: we support exceptional people whatever they want to build.
When we started EF in 2011, this almost always meant software. But that’s changing. Increasingly, extraordinary people want to transform the world of atoms, not just bits — whether that means space lasers or submarines, nanofilters or wearables.
That’s why we’re delighted to announce that we’re partnering with HAX, the world’s leading early stage hardware investor. We’ll work together to find and co-invest in hardware talent in a joint EF+HAX program.
From an applicant’s perspective, applying for this program is exactly the same as any other EF program. We’ll select and fund exceptional individuals, before they have a company. At the end of the team-building phase of our programme, EF and HAX will then jointly select hardware teams to invest in. Successful hardware teams will receive a joint investment from both programs and receive access to HAX’s facilities in Shenzhen, China to build out their prototype and accelerate development of their technology. All teams chosen will receive $180,000 USD in cash and $75,000 USD of resources. Huge thanks to Duncan Turner at HAX and Joe Ros at EF for putting this together.
Yesterday we held our fourth Asia demo day and showcased the first four companies entering the joint EF+HAX program. We couldn’t be more excited about these companies’ vision and scale of ambition:
- AIMS (http://aimotionsports.com) digitizes youth sports education through motion capture and artificial intelligence
- BIOPSIN (http://biopsin.com) is transforming microbial diagnostics by enabling real-time detection of pathogens
- Neptune Robotics’ (http://nept.io) underwater drones and data solutions reduce fuel consumption and safeguard the voyage of every ship
- SEPPURE (http://seppure.com) creates a new generation of nano-filters to revolutionize chemical separation and purification
The joint EF+HAX programme is currently available in our Asia sites (Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangalore) and we expect to roll this out to Europe soon. If you’d like to join Entrepreneur First to build a hardware company, apply now.
Matt Clifford is Co-Founder and CEO at Entrepreneur First (EF.) EF runs full-time programmes that fund the most talented individuals to find a co-founder, then helps those teams grow their businesses and raise funding.
We currently run programmes in Bangalore, Paris, Berlin, Singapore, Hong Kong and London. You can apply here.
