Humanmade Founder Session - Beyond the Prototype

Join us for an insightful session on preparing hardware for manufacturing and production! 🚀

A prototype proves that an idea can work, but building a product that can be manufactured reliably, affordably, and at scale is a different challenge. This Founder Session will explore what it takes to bridge that gap.

What to Expect:

• Real-world experience: Our speakers will share lessons from bringing hardware products into production.
• Manufacturing decisions: Learn how to navigate the complexities of manufacturing and avoid common pitfalls.
• Expert insights: Featuring Steve Dussé, VP Engineering for SPAN.IO, who has extensive experience in transforming ideas into high-volume, low-cost manufacturing across various sectors, including consumer electronics and IoT devices.

Topics May Include:

• Designing for manufacturing and repeatability
• Choosing manufacturing processes and production pathways
• Working with suppliers and manufacturing partners
• Understanding cost, quality, and scalability trade-offs
• Common production challenges—and how to avoid them
• Audience Q&A

This event is part of the 2026 Humanmade Hardware Accelerator, supported by a grant from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, and is open to the broader startup and hardware community. Whether you're building your first hardware product or just curious about the manufacturing process, you're welcome to join us! 🤝

Schedule:

• 4:30 PM — Doors open, networking
• 5:00 PM — Founder Session
• 6:00 PM — Audience Q&A
• 6:30 PM — Networking

📍 Location: 655 Bryant St, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA