#22: Hear from the hot new graduates of the Nextfab RAPID Hardware Accelerator

Please join us, starting at 5:00pm on December 13th, for our first Meetup following the success of the Philly Maker Faire. Note the new location!

Come meet the four teams graduating from NextFab's RAPID Hardware Accelerator program's (https://nextfab.com/grow/accelerator/) fifth cohort.

This event will be the culmination of NextFab's twelve-week program focused on helping entrepreneurs jump-start hardware businesses. The four presenters are:

-- Dustyn Roberts who will be presenting Sage Smart Garden (IoT enabled automated irrigation systems);

-- Josh Israel of HAVA Health (smartphone connected vaporizer to wean people off of their nicotine addiction);

-- Ben Stack of Sublight Dynamics (six-axis joystick which makes for a radically intuitive way to control motion in games, robotics, CAD and VR); and

-- Jack Crowley of APO Technologies (affordable, electronic alignment platform for prosthetics that standardizes documentation in the lab and for the full life of the patient's use of their device).

The program, networking and gourmet pizza will kick off at 5:00 with a table-top showcase featuring the presenting companies and sponsors. Others showing will include NextFab alumni, InstaHub, Kapsul and Play Pattern.as well as, BFTP, the Maker Faire and Upenn's FulPhil. We will also be listening to renowned musician Phillis Chapell.

During this time, fabrication expert Matt Bell, of NextFab, will be on hand. to provide consultation on the development and prototyping of all manner of 'hardware' products. NextFab will also be raffling off a free community-level membership.

The formal program will begin promptly at 6:30 with an introduction of the showcase participants and sponsors, followed by community announcements. Are you looking to fill a hire or two? Have a product launch on the horizon? Want to alert your colleagues to other important events or developments? This will be your chance to let the community know.

The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion hosted by NextFab CEO (and local maker hero), Dr. Evan Malone.

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW VENUE. We will be meeting at the Venture Cafe, within the new Science Center building located at 3675 Market Street. Learn more about it below.

The Science Center is sponsoring the space and drinks (including beer).
While Arrow Electronics continues to let me charge the best pizza I can find to their corporate credit card. Other regular sponsors include NextFab and Duane Morris.

Thank you also to our volunteers, Bruce Willner, Laura Chenault, Jim Mergen and Brett Strouss. If you'd like to help with future events (including the Faire), or even just recommend topics/companies to feature, please reach out to me, marvin@innovationfactory.com

More info on our presenters and sponsors can be found at the following links:

https://arrow.com/
https://nextfab.com/
https://www.duanemorris.com/
https://sciencecenter.org/discover/venture-cafe/
https://getinstahub.com/
https://playpattern.com/
https://havahealth.com/
https://sublightdynamics.com/
https://apo-technologies.com/
https://sage.garden/

About NextFab

Founded by Dr. Evan Malone in 2009, with three locations in the mid-Atlantic region, NextFab is the premiere destination for makers, artisans, and hardware entrepreneurs. NextFab provides the tools, training, consulting, and capital required for innovators to turn ideas into products, and products into businesses

About the new VENTURE CAFÉ:

In addition to its physical expansion at 3675 Market, Quorum will expand its programming by joining the Venture Café Network, a global network founded by CIC, with partner organizations in eight cities around the globe. The Science Center will host Venture Café powered by Quorum, a weekly occurrence focused on connecting, educating and community building. Hosted every Thursday beginning in Fall 2018, Venture Café will give the Greater Philadelphia region’s innovation ecosystem an additional opportunity to convene, connect and spark new ideas.