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Whipsaw’s Spring 2026 Accelerator: A Gateway for Hardware Founders

On December 15, 2025, Whipsaw, a leading product design and engineering firm renowned for its iconic physical products, announced that applications are now open for its Spring 2026 cohort of The Workshop, its specialized hardware startup accelerator. Entrepreneurs in the hardware domain are invited to join this immersive program aimed at transforming early-stage concepts into investor-ready prototypes. This 10-week initiative is meticulously designed to offer hands-on support from Whipsaw's team of senior designers, engineers, and product strategists.

The Workshop will be accepting six to seven companies for its Spring 2026 cohort, providing them with unparalleled access to Whipsaw's expertise in various sectors, including industrial design, technical strategy, and brand storytelling. Whipsaw’s impressive track record includes more than 1,000 successful product launches across consumer, medical, industrial, and robotics sectors, making it an ideal partner for startups looking to innovate in hardware development.

Dan Harden, Whipsaw’s CEO and Founder, expressed the necessity for specialized support in the hardware sector, stating, "Hardware founders deserve a place that speaks their language. Most accelerators are optimized for software. Building physical products demands a different kind of expertise, one that blends technical rigor, design excellence, and manufacturability. That’s why we built The Workshop."

This program aims to streamline the process of product development for its participants. It condenses hundreds of hours of traditional design and customer discovery into a single, intensive program. Founders will engage in defining their product, exploring its architecture, feasibility, functional prototyping, and user testing—all essential elements for successful hardware development. At the end of the program, each team will leave with a design prototype, a clear build path, and essential materials for fundraising.

In addition to technical guidance, participants will receive comprehensive support in business development. This includes coaching on fundraising tactics, go-to-market strategy, and stakeholder engagement. The program culminates in a Hardware Demo Day, where founders will showcase their prototypes to a selection of hardware-focused investors, angel networks, and corporate innovation teams.

Cole Derby, Whipsaw’s Director of Industrial Design, noted the achievements of the previous cohort, highlighting the benefits of collaboration between ambitious founders and seasoned designers. "When you combine ambitious founders with designers who know how to ship real products, you accelerate everything. That’s what makes this program different—it’s hands-on, technical, and deeply collaborative," he remarked.

New for Spring 2026: Dedicated .edu Track

For this upcoming cohort, Whipsaw is introducing a dedicated track for student and academic startup founders with .edu email addresses. This initiative is aimed at nurturing talent emerging from universities, research centers, and maker communities, acknowledging the vital role these institutions play in fostering innovation.

Anne Van Itallie, Whipsaw’s Vice President of Client Relations, emphasized the importance of this new track: "Universities are producing extraordinary talent and breakthrough technologies, but student founders often lack access to real-world design expertise and hardware-specific guidance. We want to bridge that gap."

Program Benefits

Participants in The Workshop will enjoy numerous advantages, including:

• - Integrated design, strategy, and brand development
• - Hands-on collaboration in fundraising and industrial design
• - Rapid prototyping capabilities in Whipsaw’s model shop
• - User experience and early-stage brand development
• - Comprehensive fundraising preparation and pitch development
• - Access to Whipsaw's extensive network of investors, suppliers, and technical mentors
• - Participation in a specialized Hardware Demo Day showcasing their products to potential investors

Application Details

Founders of early-stage, pre-seed hardware startups, spanning consumer products, medical devices, robotics, sustainability, or frontier hardware are encouraged to apply. Applications opened on December 12, 2025, and will remain open until January 19, 2026.

For more information and access to the application portal, please visit Whipsaw's official site.

About Whipsaw

Whipsaw is a distinguished product design and experience consultancy located in San Francisco. For over 25 years, they’ve been creating breakthrough products and experiences for various global brands in sectors like consumer electronics, medical devices, and robotics. With more than 350 design awards, Whipsaw prides itself on blending creativity with technical expertise to bring pioneering ideas to life.