The HardTech Project Funding Program
Hardware startups are undercapitalized, receiving only 3% of venture capital funding. With a government grant, FORGE and the HardTech Project aim to show that reducing hardware investment risk is the key to attracting more capital to fund hardware innovation.
We will use this grant to provide tools and services that reduce hardware startup investment risk for both founders and investors. A select number of startups will receive no-cost manufacturing, marketing, and business expertise and fundraising resources. We will give the startups and their potential investors third-party validation of the startups’ productization processes and plans to scale production, as well as assurance that the startup has retained the right manufacturing expertise to execute. Participating startups will use crowdfunding for at least a portion of the raise.
The program will test whether reducing investment risk by giving these startups access to the right resources at the right time, particularly providing a manufacturing readiness assessment, will make hardware investment more appealing to investors.
What eligible startups get with the HardTech Project Funding Program
Personalized introductions to Massachusetts manufacturing experts and/or suppliers to enhance the founding team
Manufacturing expertise to improve the startups’ supply chain resilience
A third-party manufacturing readiness assessment from these experts, which will give founders reliable information on productization costs and processes and provide investors with a better understanding of both the costs and technical risks behind productization
Marketing and business support from a marketing/PR agency and experienced investors to help position hardware risk reduction efforts for an effective funding round
Who’s eligible for support from HardTech Project and FORGE?
Startups are eligible if they:
- Have a working prototype that incorporates both mechanical and electronic hardware components
- Have proven market validation which requires funding to achieve specific milestones
- Are willing to utilize a crowdfunding platform for at least a portion of a financing round in 2026
- Are already working with or willing to work with Massachusetts-based contract manufacturers and/or suppliers
Receive updates about hardtech crowdfunding
If you’re interested in learning more about the HardTech Project Funding Program and would like to be notified when applications open, sign up here.
Icons from Noun Project: Education by Icon Queen, Introduction by Safitri, Crowdfunding by ahamdwil, and Report by mimumi.