E14 News: Time of the Hardware Startup

Has anyone else noticed that there are more and more hardware startups being formed, and becoming successful? I’ve seen a significant change in the focus at many of the events I’ve attended in 2013 and am excited for what is on the way! My recent Element14 article shares exactly what I mean:

…..Given all of the challenges above, why the migration from hardware aversion to hardware appreciation, especially among sources of capital such as VC firms?  First, the feedback loop is getting shorter and shorter. Falling prices of decent rapid prototyping tools like 3D printing, PCB fab and assembly, and the rise of hardware development boards like those sold by chip manufacturers, adafruit, and sparkfun a startup can get a prototype working at very little cost.  Early prototypes can be designed for hackability, making hardware revisions a simple use of common tools such as wire, soldering irons, a drills, and a hobby knife.  Further speeding hardware development is the significant growth in digital hardware such as microcontrollers and FPGAs.  As digital chips swallow up more hardware functions, the development is shifted to into the realm of being able to change a design with a firmware update.  Finally, the uncertainty of market demand when preparing for manufacturing can be mitigated with preorders enabled by crowdfunding.  Fast following customers will still have to wait for the second production run, but manufacturing planning for early adopters gain the benefit of matching supply to demand on the first run……

Read The Full Article Here!


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