This hardware firm is shaking up China's manufacturing industry

Shape Prototype aims to position itself as the manufacturing partner for start-ups in China, reports Tech in Asia

Hardware manufacturing can be a painful, long, and expensive process. Factories may be experts at producing 10,000 copies of something, but what if you just need one? For start-ups eager to dip – but not dive – into the world of hardware production, options can be few and far between. It’s an even more pressing challenge these days as start-ups rush to Kickstarter or Indiegogo with their gadget ideas, and need a prototype to show off.

That problem provided the inspiration for Shape Prototype, which is based in Shenzhen, China’s manufacturing hub.

“We see ourselves as the manufacturing partner for start-ups,” says Shape Prototype co-founder Amanda Hsu. “We listen and take into account all aspects of the process that need to be thought through as well as provide manufacturing advice and solutions.”
 

The company has its sights set on hardware and Internet of Things (IoT) start-ups in the country.
 

Chinese manufacturing partners have been blamed for several high-profile Kickstarter failures. The entrepreneur behind the failed Kreyos smartwatch documented a long and complex nightmare that allegedly involved the factory taking over $1.5 million in cash and producing only lousy prototypes. Incompetence on the part of new start-ups is also a factor – but clearly the OEM process is a minefield.
 

Shape Prototype hopes to redeem Chinese manufacturing in the eyes of start-ups. The company offers a bevy of manufacturing options, from one-off plastic or metal prototypes to injection molding production for orders of up to 100,000 units.
 

By embracing everything from the smallest prototyping order to sizable mass-production clients, Shape Prototype is aiming to differentiate itself as a uniquely start-up-friendly manufacturer.

This is an excerpt from Tech in Asia. You can read the full article here.