Makers Boot Camp

Makers Boot Camp is a hardware startup accelerator and venture fund located in Kyoto, Japan, operated by Darma Tech Labs. The organization aims to support IoT hardware startups, helping them navigate the challenges of the Design for Manufacturing 'Valley of Death' and gain access to high-quality Japanese small-lot manufacturing. With a focus on the 'Monozukuri' philosophy, which emphasizes craftsmanship in manufacturing, Makers Boot Camp provides not only funding but also essential services such as design for manufacturing support, business model coaching, and supply chain connections. The accelerator operates the Kyoto Makers Garage, a community maker space, and hosts Monozukuri Hub Meetups to foster ecosystem building. Their fund, MBC Shisaku No. 1 Investment LP, has a target of ¥2B (approximately $17.5M) and primarily invests in early-stage, working-prototype IoT hardware startups across Japan, North America, and Europe.