Build-only focus
You build. We remove friction by providing you with the access, intros, and infrastructure you need — and then get out of your way.
Factory for builders
The new hardtech revolution is here.
Faktor(!) is a place for ambitious founders to commit to real, physical solutions.
No distractions. No excuses. Just execution.
- Duration
- 8 WK
- Location
- TAMPERE, FI · AUSTIN, TX
- Cohort
- ≤10 TEAMS
- Next batch
- FALL 2026
- Fee
- €0 PROGRAM FEE
- Investment
- CASE BY CASE
Who this is and isn't for.
+ For you
- You're building something physical or highly technical
- You'd rather debug at 2 AM than pitch at 2 PM
- You're self-driven and autonomous
- You're obsessed with your idea, ready to give it your all
− Not for you
- You're building another CRM, dashboard, or AI wrapper
- You're optimizing your pitch deck instead of your prototype
- You need hand-holding and playbooks
- You're juggling three other projects
Manifesto
A place to go all in on hardtech.
The world is full of problems: environmental crises, cyber threats, antibiotic-resistance, you name it. To solve these, we need driven builders who execute, not just lousy talkers. Starting is easier than ever, but building something that works is still hard.
Have you ever felt like your surroundings are slowing you down? We have, too. Your environment matters more than any specific tool. That's why you shouldn't be solving massive problems alone.
We don't care about your background. What matters is whether you are capable of executing and going all in on your vision. We take your current direction as a bigger factor.
“Faktor(!) gathers ambitious builders into one place. One factory.”
What you get.
Deep tech fluency
We speak your language — firmware, supply chain, model architecture, tolerance stacks. Not "synergy" and "go-to-market frameworks."
Peer network of operators
Founders who've soldered, deployed, broken and rebuilt things. Real investors for when you're ready to raise.
How you get in.
01
Apply
Tell us who you are and what you're building.
02
Interview
We meet and talk through your project. We may ask you to complete a short task.
03
Batch
Each batch runs for 8 weeks, fully local. You work on-site with the rest of the cohort.
What Batch 1.0 includes →Summer Founders Program 2026
Building through the summer for 8 weeks.
From Tampere, to San Francisco, and back.
Validation · Tampere
Two and a half weeks under one roof, validating visions and pushing projects forward. Food, mentoring, and workshops handled so founders can focus on what matters.
Learning · San Francisco
Learning from successful startup founders, operators, angel investors, and VCs. Bringing back a culture of intense execution, together with real contacts, customers, and investors.
Building · Tampere
Continuing to build under one roof, with ongoing mentoring and community support, putting lessons learned into practice.
What it includes.
Environment
Same room as other founders and builders for eight weeks. No remote days, no hybrid. Just the factory floor and the people in it.
Necessities
Food, bed, and workspace taken care of. Everything set up so you can spend your time building, not arranging logistics.
Workshops & prototyping
Shared bench space and hardtech infrastructure. Built for physical products, not laptop-only solutions.
Demo day
Every batch concludes with a demo day. You show what you've built, meet investors, and open real conversations about funding.
Investment
For selected founders, investment can already happen during the batch. Terms are discussed individually based on what you ship, not a standard check size or equity template.