HAXLR8R

The aftermath: it took us that long to get back home and finally post something about the end of the first program :-) It was THAT good. We'll be back with some more substance but if you want to know more about what happened, have a look on Forbes. And for a great write up on startups and their potential, go to Xconomy.

We'll be back with pictures, write-ups, videos and surprises in a bit.

HAXLR8R, the first accelerator program for startups building physical products, announced the addition of Dragon Innovation, a Boston and Hong Kong based product design and manufacturing firm, as a new operational partner.

Startups participating in the program will now be able to leverage Dragon Innovation's 200+ years of combined experience in DFMA and high volume manufacturing, boosting best sellers such as the Zeo Sleep Manager, Nanda Home's Clocky, and the Sphero Robotic Ball (Orbotix). As the former team behind iRobot’s Roomba and Scooba robots, Dragon Innovation provides firsthand insight into the inner workings of product development and manufacturing.

Cyril Ebersweiler, founder of HAXLR8R, says “the program was standing on its feet… now it can run!”. “Dragon Innovation is thrilled to be part of this great adventure and share our experiences in Far East manufacturing,” added Scott N. Miller, CEO of Dragon Innovation.

HAXLR8R friends and laboratory mice "B-Squares" are shipping their awesome products and people from all over the world are taking notice.

Here is a nice shout from Tree Hugger: B-Squares' Brilliant Plot to Take Over Electronics With Lego-Like Gadgets

HAXLR8R is not only the first hardware accelerator program, but it's also the first real international one: gathering startups from all over the world and putting them into a completely different environment for a few month is something never seen before in the short history of tech startups.

Scary? Fun? Scary fun? Well, just fun fun fun really. It will take you a few weeks to get used to your new life as we've done the experience in the past through Chinaccelerator with companies such as Buz (Ireland), eProf (Canada) and few others. Ask them what they thought about it.

On our side we've been working with partners from all over the world to create this melting pot of startups. Our "Glocal Partner" in the Middle East is "Wamda", a platform that empowers entrepreneurs in the MENA region and takin a 360 degree approach to providing the support that entrepreneurs need in the emerging MENA ecosystem. 

Wamda is spearheaded by Habib Haddad, founder of Yamli.com and YallaStartup and Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum. And of course, now mentor at HAXLR8R.

For those who can't think about a hardware startup coming from this part of the world on top of their head, check out Littlebits and just enjoy. 

Boonsri from Business Insider is talking about us today, with a great quote from our mentor Ben Rubin: "Hardware is a bitch". More to read here.