Fast track your hardware technology and business.

NextCorps’ Manufacturing Accelerator helps startup companies reduce the risk, waste, and cost associated with getting a hardware product from prototype to mass production.

Program Benefits

Financial Assistance

Access local/state grants and potential investors to raise funds

Expert Advisors

Optimize your manufacturing roadmap with engaged mentors

Product Partners

Connect with vetted manufacturers, designers, and supply chain experts

Instructional Sessions

Strengthen all aspects of your business

If your early-stage company is more than a year old, based in the Finger Lakes Region of New York, and moving hardware technology from a proof-of-concept prototype into production, the Manufacturing Accelerator can help speed your product commercialization.

Meet Our Startups

Get to know the companies advancing their hardware at the Manufacturing Accelerator.

Key Dates

The Manufacturing Accelerator accepts six startups for its half-year program.

November 2021-January 2022: Applications Accepted
January 2022: Cohort Selected
Late January 2022: Program Start
July 2022: Program End

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The Manufacturing Accelerator utilizes the U.S. Department of Defense Manufacturing Readiness Level metrics, along with materials derived from the U.S. Department of Energy Build4Scale curriculum and additional materials developed by NextCorps and the program partners below. The program also uses Product Realization: Going From One to a Million by Anna Thornton as part of the instructional materials.

Program Partners

“The beneficial connections we’ve made through the program have changed our manufacturing strategy. It’s opened the door to finding a high-quality contract manufacturer that can build our boards, so we don’t have to do it ourselves.”

Rhonda Staudt

Combined Energies, LLC

“The structure provided is really useful. It hasn’t slowed us down. Rather, it’s helping us address gaps that could impact our manufacturing readiness, costs, and quality.”

Ron Wexler

WexEnergy

Accelerate Your Manufacturing Timeline

Participants in the Manufacturing Accelerator will get hands-on support to complete essential activities.

Perform an initial Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) assessment
Create Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Bill of Materials (BOM), and Bill of Process (BOP) documents
Tour manufacturing sites to meet potential partners, view capabilities, and gain an understanding of processes, contracts, typical terms and conditions, time frames, and first sample and production elements
Conduct individualized site visits to engage vendors for specific needs
Develop a Manufacturing Roadmap to advance from your current MRL toward MRL 8 / mass production
Apply for project funding (up to 80% of project costs) through Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
Get ongoing support to resolve challenges and progress toward production