Hardware Startups to watch in 2021



November 25, 2020

Newsletter, November 2020

Let the games begin

Happy Thanksgiving week all!

There are a few items we cherish at NPA, amongst them are friends, family and excellent food. For these, we have much to celebrate later this week.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! Here is to using innovative and fun ways to connect with our families and friends that might not be able to visit in person this year. Teach your Grandma how to use Snapchat filters, it's hilarious.

Oh, and don't forget to put your Thanksgiving pants on.

And in sincere Thanksgiving spirit, I have a request for you this month.

If there is something that you love about this newsletter, pass it on, share this newsletter with your colleagues and friends.

Every month we send this newsletter to thousands of people and we'd love to further grow our audience. Sharing it is also one of the most direct ways for you to influence this newsletter. More readers and comments help us to improve its quality and energy.

AND NOW SOME OPERATIONS NEWS

This Operations Update is provided with generous support from.

The State of Manufacturing

The overall PMI Index of 59.3% in October recovered from last month and shows some continuous encouraging growth signals.

New Orders increased by almost 8% , Prices are increasing by 2.7% and Production is steadily growing by 2.0%.

The Supplier Deliveries index keeps increasing, meaning Suppliers are struggling to make deliveries which supports the trend of the past few months, longer lead-times in both the electronics and some of the metal commodities.

Average production material lead time is at 62 days.

Logistics and Transportation

Containers are the "the new gold"

All of us have experienced some supply challenges in the past few months but it is not yet getting better.

Latest reports are that the Trans-Pacific eastbound cargo might be capped by container availability. This will surely also impact Air Cargo. Better get your Christmas presents now.

Our monthly survey

What are your favorite company give aways?

Tumbler

Polo Shirt

Cool Socks

Alexa Echo Dot

Power Bank

Bag / Tote

Backpack

Water Bottle

Fleece

Alexa Smart Plug

STARTUP STUFF

It's that time of year..... the countdown for the

NPA's Hardware Startups to watch in 2021

has started.

STARTUPS- Pitch to us why you should be included as one of the BEST HARDWARE STARTUPS TO WATCH IN 2021. If selected, you will get free monthly advertisement and an opportunity to share major news with our thousands of industry and social media contacts. Final submissions are due by December 18th. Apply here.

SUPPLIERS / CORPORATIONS- secure the Prime Advertisement Spot of the year. This campaign and its regular updates get consistently massive ad engagements. Be part of innovation and some super exciting companies. Contact us for more info here .

Last month was great for Hardware Startups!

Boston startups and tech firms raised a total of $5.1B

Here are the notable Hardware standouts:

The BIG one Whoop (a 2020 NPA Startup to watch), the health care startup behind the eponymous fitness tracker reached "Unicorn" status with their latest $100M Series E round.
Sea Machines, the makers of the electric marine engines raised $5M in a second tranche of its Series B round.
AeroShield, Boston Materials (also a 2020 NPA Startup to watch), Blackburn Energy & Transaera all received $100k investment from BRIDGES.
Heila Technologies raised a $2.5M seed round.
ZwitterCo which uses nanofiltration membranes to filter wastewater raised $1.9M in equity in a 3.5M funding round.
Realtime Robotics raised $2M in equity in a $10M round.
actnano, which makes safe nanocoating for printed circuit boards raised a $12M Series A round.
WiTricity (also a 2020 NPA Startup to watch) which makes wireless charging stations for electric vehicles closed a $34M round.

Read more about which companies received funding last month here. (Source: BOSTINNO)

NPA's Boston Hardware Startups to watch in 2020

Latest news of the hottest Boston Hardware Startups.

Altiostar and NEC demo a commercial end-to-end Open Fronthaul interface based on O-Ran specifications at the O-RAN Alliance plugfest. Find out more here .(Source: RCR Wireless News)

Figur8 raised a $6.2M in equity in a $8M funding round to accelerate growth of their wearable fitness sensors. More on this here. (Source: SEC)

Locus Robotics announced that it passed a quarter billion (250,000,000) units picked volume level with its autonomous mobile robots (AMR). More on this here. (Source: PR Newswire)

Nuvotronics announced they will add 150 jobs at their Durham, NC facility. See more in the WRAL TV announcement here .(Source: WRAL)

Markforged appointed Shai Terem as President and CEO as founder Greg Mark is transitioning to the role of Chairman. More details here. (Source: TCT Magazine)

Owl Labs' meeting Owl Pro was named to TIME's List of 100 best Inventions of 2020. Read more about this here. (Source: PR Newswire)

Whoop raised $100M Series E round, including several pro sports athletes, at a $1.2B valuation and reached "Unicorn" status. Find out more here (Source: PR Newswire)

WiTricity secured a new $34M investment by Stage 1 Ventures and Mitsubishi to continue to develop their wireless charging technology for electric vehicles (EV). More on this here. (Source: Forbes)

Zippity which provides on-site car maintenance raised an additional $1.9M in additional funding. More on this here . (Source: SEC)

Need Supply Chain or Engineering help?

We are here to help!

ICYMI

Need a kidney fast? You better be in Italy- Special delivery by the Italian police with a Lamborghini Huracan. I so badly need a job at the Italian police. NoLimits (Source: Robb Report)

So, you always wanted to see the Titanic, here is your chance. Be the first one to visit the famous cruise ship in the past 15 years. Every night in my dreams

I see you, I feel you (Source: Bloomberg)

Some of the best How it's Actually made videos - if you are an engineer, you'll definitely be sucked right into this video. CandelsandsomeBricksarecalledPricks (Source: You Tube)