⚙️ Can We Build a World-Class Hardware Hub in a Remote Location?
When most people think of hardware innovation, they think of cities: Shenzhen, Berlin, London, San Francisco. But what if the next great hardware startup didn’t come out of a city at all?
What if it came from a converted barn, warehouse, or old mill, repurposed into a cutting-edge makerspace—in a quiet village, coastal town, or post-industrial fringe?
We’re exploring that question now. And the timing feels right.
Why Now?
Hardware is having a renaissance, but cities are pricing out the people who actually build things. Startups still need:
- 💸 Cheap space to tinker, fail, and iterate
- 🛠️ Physical access to tools, materials, and labs
- 👥 A local crew of like-minded weirdos
- 📡 Decent internet and delivery infrastructure
And yet the rent for a 1,000 sq ft unit in London or Berlin makes that kind of experimentation nearly impossible—unless you’re venture-backed from day one.
Meanwhile, you can buy or lease whole buildings in remote areas for less than the price of a Zone 1 hot desk.
The Vision: A Remote Hardware Foundry
We want to create a hardware R&D hub in a low-cost location—somewhere with:
- A large, flexible industrial building (or cluster of buildings)
- Space for CNC machines, laser cutters, electronics benches, and light assembly
- On-site or nearby coliving for residents, fellows, or long-term builders
- Access to nature, quiet, and creative headspace
- Strong enough logistics for Amazon/electronics delivery and parts resupply
Think:
🔩 Shenzhen meets Skunkworks meets the Shire.
Could Founders Actually Live There?
That’s the key question. Would founders—used to London, Berlin, or SF—choose to spend 3–12 months building hardware in a remote village, coastal zone, or island?
We think the answer is yes, if:
- There’s a tight community of other brilliant builders
- The cost savings extend their runway dramatically
- There’s shared ownership or equity in the space/project
- The environment inspires deep focus, not just retreat
It’s not for everyone. But for certain stages—early prototyping, version 1.0, creative sabbaticals—it could be exactly what’s needed.
Who This Is For
- 🧠 Hardware founders building climate tech, robotics, wearables, IoT
- 🧰 Indie inventors and engineers in need of serious shop space
- 🧪 SaaS founders who want to integrate physical components
- 🔩 Artists and creative technologists who prototype IRL
- 💡 Remote-first teams looking for off-site R&D
Want to Help Build It?
We’re currently looking at locations in:
- Southern Europe (Canary Islands, Azores, rural Portugal)
- UK countryside (Wales, Cornwall, Northumberland)
- Post-industrial sites in Eastern Europe
We’re seeking:
- Affordable buildings to lease or acquire
- Builders and founders interested in relocating (short- or long-term)
- Partners in manufacturing, shipping, or tooling
- Investors who want to support the real-world side of innovation
→ If this resonates, let’s talk, DM me. And add yourself to the mailing list