9th San Jose Hardware Meetup @ DraperU Ventures | Robotics

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We're excited to be hosting the next meetup at Draper with the theme of Robotics.

​With so much happening in the space from new AI models to new form factors, there's so much to cover.

​​​Hardware Meetups happen in over 30 cities around the world, bringing together hardware professionals to collaborate, network and learn from each other.

## ​Speakers

• ​​Thunder Zhang, CEO and Co-Founder of NexPCB, is a serial entrepreneur spanning the US and China. He co-founded startup community cafés and maker spaces as well while pursuing a Master’s in Embedded Systems from Sweden and an EMBA from CEBIS. He'll be sharing about developing smart components, designing connected devices, and custom pcb design.
• Nate Padgett is founder of informal, a freelance collective helping top robotics companies develop and scale their solutions. He will be going over unique use cases like Aescape's massage robot discussing how there are new market opportunities given the latest advancements in the space.

​Agenda

• ​6:30-7:00 - Arrival, mingle, grab refreshments
• ​7:00-7:05 - Welcome and introduction
• ​7:05-8:00 - Guest talks and audience Q+A
• ​8:00-8:30p - Community open mic

​​ Anyone will have the chance for a 30 second pitch to demo a prototype or talk about what they are working on.

• ​​8:30-9:30p - Mix + mingle

## ​Thank you to our host!

• ​DraperU Ventures is an early-stage fund dedicated to emerging tech startups, we get involved from Pre-seed to Pre-Series A, & are part of the wider Draper Ecosystem. Our average check size is $100,000.

## ​Thank you to our sponsors!

• ​​​NexPCB is dedicated to accelerating IoT innovations into scalable global businesses. As a long-term product realization partner, they empower robotics startups with end-to-end manufacturing solutions, including DFX, tooling, supply chain management, and global logistics, to deliver consistent, high-quality hardware products at cost-effective prices.

## ​Thank you to our community partners!

• ​**informal** is a freelance collective for the most talented independent professionals in hardware. Whether you're looking for a single contractor, a full-time employee, or an entire team of professionals to work on everything from product development to go-to-market strategy, the informal collective has the perfect collection of people for the job. Learn more.

​If you want to help support the next meetup, please reach out to [nate@informal.cc](mailto:nate@informal.cc) for sponsorship inquiries.
​See you soon!