Avnet to preview new initiative announced with Kickstarter and Dragon, plus showcase its communities and tools available to support makers in the technology product lifecycle
Avnet (NYSE: AVT),
a leading global technology distributor, today announced its activities
as a presenting sponsor at Maker Faire Bay Area beginning tomorrow at
the San Mateo County Event Center.
Avnet will participate in a live presentation on the Make: Live stage
about the collaboration announced earlier this morning by Kickstarter
PBC, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. The new
initiative from Kickstarter, Dragon Innovation, a leading provider of
manufacturing software and know-how, and Avnet is designed to help
hardware makers design products and plan ahead for manufacturing before
they launch on Kickstarter.
Avnet also will feature its online communities and labs designed to help
makers and engineers develop their ideas throughout the technology
product lifecycle, from idea to design and from prototype to production
in its Maker Faire booth in Zone 2.
Through this new collaboration with Kickstarter, Avnet and Dragon
Innovation, makers small and large will be able to launch their hardware
crowdfunding campaigns with support from Kickstarter, and have access to
services and benefits to help them get to “production-ready”. The
companies are launching Hardware Studio, an initiative that will give
makers access to expertise, tools and resources to supply, design build
and deliver their ideas to market.
The Hardware Studio is comprised of two elements: the Hardware Studio
Toolkit, a community site where designers can participate in tutorials
and live webinars with industry experts before launching their
Kickstarter projects; and Hardware Studio Connection, a more selective
program that will give makers access to hands-on support from Avnet and
Dragon engineers as well as discounts on components and services.
“Resources once reserved only for professional designers are now widely
available to anyone with an idea. However, moving an idea into a bona
fide product requires expertise, tools and a multitude of resources,”
said Avnet CEO William Amelio. “Our work in collaboration with
Kickstarter and Dragon Innovation is an example of Avnet’s continued
commitment to help the maker community. Today, we’re bringing our
extensive design chain and supply chain experience to the Hardware
Studio Initiative as the experts in guiding today’s innovative ideas
through the technology product lifecycle.”
Furthering Avnet’s commitment to the maker community, Avnet will
showcase the following communities in its Maker Faire booth:
-
element14
:
Ben Heck, an American console modder and host of The Ben Heck Show
on YouTube and the element14 Community, will join Avnet in Zone 2 to
inspire makers and talk through their projects. His weekly show has
recorded more than 33 million views worldwide.
-
Hackster.io
:
Attendees can explore Avnet’s Hackster.io online community, where
users can learn how to design, create and program Internet-connected
hardware.
-
Makersource.io
:
Avnet’s MakerSource.io online resource directory provides
individuals and startups with access to a comprehensive ecosystem of
resources needed to turn a pioneering new product vision into a
marketable reality. Maker Faire attendees can explore the services
available through this online community.
Avnet also will host free hands-on labs to enable makers to quickly
connect multiple devices wirelessly using Raspberry Pi sensors and
Python, an interactive IoT application. Starter kits for demonstrated
products will be available for sale to help makers explore in the
comfort of their own workspace. Avnet will also feature on their stage
demos by key partners, including: Dragon Innovation, Google, Intel,
Mentor Graphics, micro:bit and Microsoft.
More information on the Kickstarter collaboration and an email sign-up
form are at: kickstarter.com/hardwarestudio.
The Hardware Studio Initiative is scheduled to launch this September.
Follow Avnet on Twitter: @Avnet
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with Avnet on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/avnet
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with Avnet on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AvnetInc
All brands and trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are the properties of their respective owners. Avnet disclaims any
proprietary interest in marks other than its own.
About Avnet
From idea to design and from prototype to production, Avnet supports
customers at each stage of a product’s lifecycle. A comprehensive
portfolio of design and supply chain services makes Avnet the go-to
guide for innovators who set the pace for technological change. For
nearly a century, Avnet has helped its customers and suppliers around
the world realize the transformative possibilities of technology. Learn
more about Avnet at: www.avnet.com.
Avnet
Maureen O’Leary, 480-643-7499
Maureen.OLeary@avnet.com
or
Brodeur Partners, for Avnet
Jamie Ernst, 480-308-0286
jernst@brodeur.com