I am trying to determine the best location for my hardware startup. Looking around the US, there doesn't seem to be much around NYC or SF areas for startups who need to prototype, build, and manufacture products more complicated than RGB sunglasses and IoT watering systems for pets. Austin seems like a possibility with access to all the necessary skills and tools but I'm unfamiliar with the area. I also know of companies with tangentially similar manufacturing requirements (e.g. System76) are located in Denver.
Our product is niche for industrial customers, not intended for the general public. Usage of plastic is essentially a non-requirement beyond early prototypes, where the final needs stainless steel and some soft metals to attain product ratings/certifications. In our case the final assembly for the product must be done by one or more specialized (certified well beyond ISO 9001) outsourced contract facilities - so supply-chain/logistics and shipping weight are bigger factors in the deciding location. Another major consideration is that we don't have a strong need to be in close physical proximity to our potential global customer base, only talent and tooling nearby.
I understand that prototyping and production are two very different activities with very different needs. Where are some good options for those who want to prototype devices without relocating later for manufacturing ramp-up / inventory / tax purposes? If you are a HW company - niche or otherwise (or considering building one) - why did you choose your location?
I haven’t really felt constrained by location when doing HW startup work. Prepare for a decent sized shipping budget (overnight shipping adds up) but it’s a drop in the bucket relative to salaries.
> In our case the final assembly for the product must be done by one or more specialized (certified well beyond ISO 9001) outsourced contract facilities
If you have ultra specialized requirements that only a few facilities can meet, I’d start by vetting those potential partners.