Intel launches accelerator to support Chinese entrepreneurs

The Mass Makerspace Accelerator Program will be open to the full spectrum of prospective entrepreneurs, from makers (part-time technology enthusiasts) and students to developers and start-ups. The program was announced at the Intel Developer Forum in Shenzhen at which the company announced numerous investments and collaborations.

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said the company wants to work with the developer community to provide leading- edge technologies to China across areas such as data centers, PCs, mobile devices, wearables and the internet of things (IoT). He also emphasized the importance of the maker community in developing new generations of computing and connected solutions.

"Intel remains focused on delivering leadership products and technologies in traditional areas of computing, while also investing in new areas and entrepreneurs - students, makers and developers - to find and fuel future generations of innovation with China," Krzanich said.

Intel Capital, the company's venture capital unit, last year launched the $100 million Intel Capital China Smart Device Innovation Fund. It is Intel Capital's third China vehicle. The $500 million Intel Capital China Technology Fund II, which was launched in 2008, is active in areas such as data centers, cloud infrastructure, big data and analytics, software and manufacturing.

Shenzhen is emerging as a start-up hub in its own right, with a particular focus on hardware. The likes of SOS Ventures-backed accelerator HAXLR8R and Seeed Studio, which helps makers manufacture and distribute their creations, are already active in the city.

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• Topics
• Early-stage
• Venture
• Greater China
• Technology
• Technology
• TMT
• China
• seed
• Venture
• Intel Capital