Program for selected EU-based Hardware Startups with a need for plastic production
On this page, you can find the legacy information about the specific Match Startup Program executed with AQ Anton.
The video below is a short highlight video from the project.
About the program
The program offers a non-equity, no-cost unique engineering learning experience for 3 selected EU-based hardware startups, led by AQ Anton. One of the three selected startups will be offered a contract from AQ Anton at the end of the Bootcamp for revenue-sharing-based plastic production.
The selected startups will receive an invitation for a one-week-long, hands-on education Bootcamp in October, taking place at the factory of AQ Anton (in west-Hungary), travel and accommodation costs fully covered. During this one week, you can be part of a unique engineering learning experience, improve on operational areas such as cost reduction and production that will help you upscale your business. And eventually, one of the three selected startups will receive a contract from AQ Anton at the end of the Bootcamp for revenue-sharing-based plastic production.
The plastic division of AQ Anton is processing 1800 tons of plastic raw material per year. About 30 t/year of recyclable technical plastics are generated from production scrap and waste. Innovative ideas to potentially use these resources for your own products will be seen as an advantage in the selection process. The selected startups will have the chance to improve and showcase their engineering skills through one-to-one mentoring, hands-on production techniques by the dedicated AQ Anton team.
For one selected winner from the Bootcamp, the program will evolve into a collaboration with AQ Anton. As program leaders, AQ Anton will use their expertise to fill in the gaps in engineering, production, and other operational areas in order to assist in the launch of the final product to the market.
The selection journey will include other valuable services from external partners as well.
About AQ Anton
AQ Anton is an engineering & production company, part of AQ Group AB, based in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. Their multidisciplinary team, armed with leading technology, experience and a customer driven mindset has been continuously improving processes to serve global clients in the Aerospace, Defense, Energy, Power Tools, Automotive and Medical industries since 1992.
Learn more at www.anton.hu
Basic requirements and important dates
In order to be eligible for consideration, the applicants should meet a few basic requirements:
Be a hardware startup that has a need to work with plastics.
A clear vision of the product development - the product should be beyond the conceptual stage
Operational company - the startup should be already on the market (MVP to scale phase)
Be incorporated in the European Union
Sum-up: European Union-based startups with market-ready hardware product ideas, which are beyond the conceptual stage. They may have engineering, manufacturing, scaling, quality, cost reduction difficulties.
The Selection Journey
Stage 1 - Application
Application submission and selection of startups.
All approved applicants, who meet the expectations of the program will receive a package containing:
A voucher for books at Amazon
Udemy course support
Tickets to Absolvo’s startup webinars
Fundraising for scale-ups: international investors on board, co-investors, KPIs to meet, etc.
B2B sales and business development in an engineering environment. How to sell to and get listed at international enterprises?
Tickets for high-end conferences
Pitch decks will be introduced to a selected network of investors and acceleration programs
Invitation to one of the closed, invite-only networking events of Global Startup Awards
Three Chosen Startups will be invited to the Bootcamp - the next level of the program.
Stage 2 - Bootcamp
This stage focuses on basic training in certain engineering fields, related to processing plastic, where you will be able to showcase your skills and innovative ideas through a case study on each subject.
You will gain tangible knowledge and hands on experience in:
Injection Molding (plastic)
Product Design (plastic)
Cost Calculation
Tooling
In case of physical presence, the program will be held in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary and it includes:
Accommodation and meals for 2 people (per startup)
Social media communication and content package
Closing dinner
From the three startups, one will be chosen depending on overall performance.
Stage 3 - Collaboration
From the three startups, one will be chosen depending on overall performance and will get the opportunity to collaborate with AQ Anton.
The chosen startup will receive a package, which includes:
Office usage at AQ Anton premises
Industrial product design support
Detailed manufacturing cost calculation, product pricing support
Dedicated project manager from AQ Anton to handle the cooperation
Access to 3D prints or rapid tool
Design for manufacturing
Serial tool manufacturing with fine tuning
External partners: e.g. electronics, testing, decoration, transportation
Final product production, quality and logistics support
Advanced communication and content package
Profit & Product Ownership based on negotiations
The duration of the project is 12 months, which lasts from the start of development to the first market sale. Some of the important milestones are:
Market research
Select a product or formulate a new product idea
Product design Startup
Tool design / manufacturing
Product manufacturing
Market introduction, sales