mHUB
mHUB is a Chicago-based 501c3 nonprofit operating the largest independent U.S. hardtech innovation center, providing 80,000+ sq ft of coworking, 11 prototyping labs with $6M+ of equipment, a 6-month accelerator investing $200K for 6.5% equity, and a seed venture fund serving early-stage physical-product startups, corporate partners, and investors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What mHUB does
mHUB is a 501c3 nonprofit innovation center headquartered at 1623 W. Fulton Street in Chicago, Illinois, operating the largest independent hardtech prototyping facility in the United States. Founded in 2017, the organization occupies an 80,000+ sq ft building on a 2-acre site equipped with $6M+ of specialized equipment across 11 laboratories spanning 3D printing, cold and hot metals, electronics, finishing, laser cutting, plastics, software, testing, textiles, water work, and woodworking, plus a micro-factory for low-volume production runs. mHUB serves early-stage hardtech startups, corporate innovation teams, contract manufacturers, and investors through an integrated platform combining coworking/workspace memberships (Co-working $335/mo, Reserved Desk $450/mo, Dedicated Office $1,350+/mo, Shop Membership $450/10-pack, Social $125/mo), an application-based 6-month accelerator offering $200K investment for 6.5% equity, a 4-month sponsored pre-accelerator (mPOWER), a nine-month technical fellowship, R&D consulting (HardTech Development Services), corporate innovation partnerships with industry leaders, and an associated seed-stage venture fund (mHUB Ventures Spark Fund I at $15M closed, $20M Fund II targeted).
The business model is hybrid: recurring membership dues provide baseline revenue; accelerator equity stakes and follow-on venture investments in 61 portfolio companies provide long-duration upside; corporate partnerships with Baxter, GE HealthCare, Endeavor Health, Generac, Equinix, HPE, Salesforce, Marmon, Panduit, Constellation, Invenergy, and others co-fund cohorts and pilots; philanthropic grants (Rockefeller Foundation $1M in 2026, Landis Family Foundation, Christopher Family Foundation, Bank of America) and federal/state funding (U.S. Department of Commerce $778K, U.S. Department of Energy prizes, Illinois DCEO $590K, Illinois state $675K) support programs; and event space rental plus HardTech Summit sponsorship (1,200+ attendees) generate auxiliary revenue. Go-to-market is multi-modal: self-serve online applications for membership and mPOWER, inside sales for accelerator cohort recruitment (now including a global call for the Energy Tech Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort), enterprise account management for corporate innovation, and referral channels via 12+ community partners including 1871, NSBE-Chicago, Polsky, MATTER, and Chicago:Blend.
mHUB's strategic position is reinforced by its role in federal and regional technology coalitions — including the EDA-designated Bloch Quantum Tech Hub, Heartland Climate Tech Partnership, Wells Fargo IN2 Channel Partner program, and MachH2 hydrogen alliance — and by its impact metrics (cumulative $2.33B capital raised by member startups, 1,852 products launched, 627 patents, 7,251 jobs created, 60,000+ community members). The center has scaled its thematic focus from a single accelerator track into three specialized cohorts (Energy Tech, MedTech, Smart & Sustainable Manufacturing) plus emerging verticals in quantum hardware (via the IQMP On-Ramp Program), data center sustainability, and industrial water technology, positioning it as the anchor node in the Midwest's hardtech commercialization ecosystem.
mHUB firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- mHUB
- Legal name
- mHUB
- Website
- https://mhub.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- mHUB is a Chicago-based 501c3 nonprofit operating the largest independent U.S. hardtech innovation center, providing 80,000+ sq ft of coworking, 11 prototyping labs with $6M+ of equipment, a 6-month accelerator investing $200K for 6.5% equity, and a seed venture fund serving early-stage physical-product startups, corporate partners, and investors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
mHUB industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hardtech Innovation Center
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- R&D / Prototyping & MPW Shuttle Foundries (HDAHACAI)
Keywords
Where mHUB is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
mHUB business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership Dues (Co-working, Reserved Desk, Dedicated Office, Social, Shop): Recurring monthly membership revenue: Co-working $335/mo, Reserved Desk $450/mo, Dedicated Office $1,350+/mo, Social Membership $125/mo, Shop Membership $450/10x punch card. Plus customizable Associate/Group Memberships for corporate and community partners.
- Accelerator Investment (Equity in Cohort Startups): $200,000 initial investment in each selected accelerator startup ($100K cash + $30K cash reimbursement + $70K in-kind services) for 6.5% equity. ~30% of fund capital reserved for follow-on investments. Functions as a seed-stage venture investment vehicle.
- HardTech Development Services (R&D Consulting): Professional services revenue from contracted R&D, product development, prototyping, and engineering work for manufacturers and corporates; has generated $2M+ in member contractor income and worked with 60+ unique clients (startups to Fortune 500).
- Event Space Rental & Sponsorship: Revenue from renting 5,000+ sq ft of premier event space (Main Event Space seats 220, classroom seats 60, conference rooms) and corporate sponsorship of the HardTech Summit, Fourth Revolution Awards, Demo Days, and Community BBQ.
- Philanthropy, Grants & Program Sponsorship: 501c3-supported via grants and program sponsorships: $1M two-year grant from The Rockefeller Foundation; $2.8M with 1871 for job creation; $778K U.S. Dept. of Commerce; $675K Illinois State funding; two DOE prizes; Landis Family Foundation; Christopher Family Foundation; Bank of America mPOWER sponsorship.
- mHUB Ventures LP Management & Carry (Future/Existing Fund): mHUB Ventures is the investment arm of mHUB, raising a $20M second hardtech fund (2025) after closing a $15M Spark Fund I. Revenue/return generated through venture LP economics: management fees on AUM and carry on exits from portfolio companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Co-working / Shared Workspace membership — $335/mo |
| — | — | Reserved Desk membership — $450/mo |
Go-to-market motion6 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels11 records
mHUB product offering
Product offeringCore offering
mHUB operates an 80,000+ sq ft hardtech innovation center at 1623 W. Fulton Street, Chicago, combining an 11-lab physical prototyping facility with $6M+ of equipment, a 6-month accelerator program offering $200K-for-6.5%-equity investments across Energy Tech, MedTech, and Sustainable Manufacturing tracks, and a seed-stage venture fund (mHUB Ventures Spark Fund I & II). The center sells coworking and dedicated office memberships, runs an annual HardTech Summit and Fourth Revolution Awards, and delivers contracted HardTech Development Services (R&D consulting) to manufacturers and corporates.
Product overview
mHUB operates a single integrated platform — a physical hardtech innovation center at 1623 W. Fulton Street in Chicago — composed of multiple interconnected programs and modules rather than a single discrete product. The core offering is the mHUB Innovation Center, which combines physical workspace (Coworking, Reserved Desk, Dedicated Office, and Shop Memberships), the 11-lab Prototyping Lab with $6M of equipment, and the mHUB Accelerator — the 6-month flagship accelerator with $200K-for-6.5%-equity investments. The Accelerator branches into three thematic sub-programs: the Energy Tech Accelerator (with the upcoming Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort), the MedTech Accelerator, and the Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing Accelerator. Earlier-stage founders enter through the mPOWER pre-accelerator, while technical specialists can apply to the Landis Family Hardtech Development Fellowship. The mHUB Ventures Spark Funds sit alongside the accelerator as the venture capital investment arm. Supporting services include HardTech Development Services (R&D consulting), Corporate Innovation Programs (industry partnerships), Community Partners, and the HardTech Summit and Fourth Revolution Awards flagship events. Since 2017, mHUB has supported over 1,100 entrepreneurs, raised over $2B in capital, launched 1,852 products, awarded 627 patents, and helped create nearly 7,000 jobs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- mHUB Ventures: Investment arm of mHUB managing the mHUB Spark Fund I, Spark Fund II, and mHUB Product Impact Fund for early-stage hardtech startups.
- mHUB Product Impact Fund
- Landis Family Fellowship
- mPOWER
- mHUB Accelerator
Products and services
- mHUB Innovation Center The nation's largest independent hardtech and manufacturing innovation center, located at 1623 W. Fulton Street, Chicago, IL. Over 80,000 sq ft with 11 prototyping labs, $6M of equipment, and shared workspace supporting over 270 startups at any time across sectors including medical devices, energy, sustainability, and smart manufacturing.
- mHUB Accelerator A 6-month, hands-on application-based accelerator program providing $200,000 initial investment ($142.5K cash + $60K services/programming/hardware) for 6.5% equity, with 18 months of follow-on support. 100+ hours of expert-led workshops, 50+ industry-leading mentors, and access to $6M of state-of-the-art equipment across 11 prototyping labs. Branches into Energy Tech, MedTech, and Sustainable Manufacturing tracks.
- Energy Tech Accelerator (Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort) 6-month accelerator fast-tracking early-stage startups through hands-on product development for hardtech solutions in renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture & sequestration, energy storage, vehicle-to-grid, distributed energy resources, and the compute-energy nexus. Upcoming Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort (2026-2027) supports startups in data center efficiency, grid resilience, and sustainable power systems.
- MedTech Accelerator 6-month accelerator for MedTech startups developing solutions in medicine delivery, remote patient monitoring, wearables, sensing and diagnostics, chronic disease management, connected therapeutic devices, surgical instruments, minimally invasive monitoring, robotic healthcare devices, and improved drug delivery methods. 46+ MedTech startup investments made to date. Industry-led by Baxter, Endeavor Health, and GE HealthCare.
- Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing Accelerator 6-month accelerator for early-stage startups developing hardtech solutions in smart and sustainable manufacturing, including IoT, predictive maintenance, machine-to-machine learning, edge computing, robotics, automation, quality control, equipment & warehouse monitoring, and circularity. Most recent cohort (April 2026): Sustainable Water Tech Accelerator with Current.
- mPOWER Pre-Accelerator Application-based 4-month pre-accelerator program designed to fast-track early-stage idea-stage startups through the discovery phase. Sponsored 4-month membership at mHUB with shared workspace, access to $6M prototyping equipment, dedicated mentor support, networking opportunities, speaker series, and eligibility for a microgrant. No fee to participate.
- Landis Family Hardtech Development Fellowship Nine-month fellowship granting innovators access to mHUB's innovation center to test and cultivate technical and professional skills. Provides $500 monthly stipend, complimentary reserved desk membership, access to prototyping labs with training, portfolio development, and free technical and business development workshops.
- mHUB Prototyping Lab Rapid prototyping lab in Chicago with over $6M of equipment, 11 specialized labs including 3D Printing, Cold Metals, Electronics, Finishing, Hot Metals, Lab Benches, Laser Cutting, Plastics, Software, Testing, Textiles, Wet Labs, and Woodworking. Provides access to design/development software (Fusion360, Autodesk, Solidworks, CAD), one-on-one training, fabrication and 3D printing services, and a micro-factory for low-volume production runs.
- mHUB Ventures (Spark Funds) Investment arm of mHUB, founded in 2020, investing in early-stage hardtech companies across Smart & Sustainable Manufacturing, MedTech, and Energy Tech. Operates Spark Fund I and Spark Fund II, with 61 startups invested to date. Targets initial investments of $200K through Spark Funds and the mHUB Accelerator program, with approximately 30% of fund capital reserved for follow-on investments.
- Corporate Innovation Program Bespoke corporate partnerships connecting industry leaders with early-stage innovators to develop and commercialize new products. Offers corporate investment in early-stage innovation, expansion of internal corporate innovation teams via mHUB HardTech Development services, and visibility within a global innovation community. Corporate partners include Baxter, GE HealthCare, Endeavor Health, Generac, Marmon, Panduit, Avnet, Constellation, Invenergy, Nicor Gas, Ingredion, Exelon, Equinix, HPE, Salesforce, Bank of America, Milwaukee Tool, Comcast, Kirkland & Ellis, Cooley, and others.
- mHUB HardTech Development Services Consulting service providing manufacturers access to engineers, industrial designers, and developers with diverse backgrounds to support R&D, product development, and process improvement. Since a 2018 pilot, has worked with over 60 unique clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies, developed more than 75 new products, and has provided over $2 Million in income to mHUB members.
- mHUB Memberships Multiple membership options for the mHUB coworking and prototyping space, including Co-working/Shared Workspace (~$335/mo), Reserved Desk ($450/mo), Dedicated Office ($1,350+/mo for teams of 2-30), Associate/Group Membership (price varies), Social Membership ($125/mo), and Shop Membership ($450/10X punch card). Benefits include access to prototyping labs, mentor network, design/CAD software, and event spaces.
- HardTech Summit Annual flagship event bringing together top hardtech entrepreneurs, startups, investors, and industry leaders to celebrate innovation in the Midwest. The 2026 Summit (March 5, 2026) featured 50+ mHUB companies, 35+ startup founder pitches, and a keynote from Larry Gies (Founder & CEO of Madison Industries), attracting more than 1,200 entrepreneurs and public/private sector professionals.
- Fourth Revolution Awards Annual awards ceremony honoring innovators, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers driving hardtech technologies and businesses that define the future of industry. 2026 categories include Community Empowerment, Excellence in Engineering, Innovation of the Year, Rising Star, and Small & Medium-Sized Manufacturer of the Year, plus Honorary Industry Awards (Manufacturer of the Year, Corporate Champion).
Companies that use mHUB
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
mHUB technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
mHUB partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
57 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Equinix FoundationflagshipIndustry partner of mHUB's 2026–2027 Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort (Energy Tech Accelerator) along with Generac, HPE Foundation, Marmon, and Salesforce. Provides funding, mentorship, and pilot opportunities for startups at the compute-energy nexus.
- GeneracflagshipIndustry partner of mHUB's 2026–2027 Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort; Generac's VP of Strategy and Development, Jeff Pontius, and Senior Sales Engineer Tim Pulliam serve on the accelerator team.
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise FoundationflagshipIndustry partner of mHUB's 2026–2027 Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort; HPE's Global Head of Social Impact, Fred Tan, serves on the accelerator team.
- Marmon HoldingsflagshipIndustry partner of mHUB's 2026–2027 Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort; long-standing mHUB corporate partner across the accelerator and corporate innovation programs.
- SalesforceflagshipIndustry partner of mHUB's 2026–2027 Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort providing corporate connections, mentorship, and pilot opportunities for energy tech startups.
- Evergreen Climate InnovationscorePartner of mHUB's Energy Tech Accelerator. Also part of the Heartland Climate Tech Partnership, alongside mHUB, Centrepolis Accelerator, and Spark Innovation Center.
- Norton Rose FulbrightflagshipLegal partner of mHUB's Energy Tech Accelerator (Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort). Supports early-stage startups developing technologies at the intersection of compute and energy, addressing energy demand from data centers, AI, and digital infrastructure.
- Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP)flagshipPartnership with mHUB to host the IQMP On-Ramp Program, allowing quantum technology companies to access four specialized labs (cryostats, control electronics, lasers, optical tables) at mHUB's 1623 W. Fulton facility while the 128-acre permanent park (broken ground fall 2025; first phase 2027) is under construction. Illinois DCEO provides grant support for renovations.
- Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2)coremHUB joined Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) as a Channel Partner in collaboration with Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University in Michigan, to advance and share programmatic resources for manufacturing readiness to support energy startups.
- 1871flagshipTech hubs mHUB and 1871 jointly received $2.8 million to create jobs in Chicago. 1871 is also a community partner that provides discounted mHUB membership access.
- Heartland Climate Tech Partnership (HCTP)coreCoalition of Evergreen Climate Innovations, Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University, mHUB, and Spark Innovation Center, with project affiliates Chain Reaction Innovations (Argonne National Laboratory) and Innovation Crossroads (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), plus the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, to address urgent energy innovation while creating Midwest manufacturing jobs.
- Bloch Quantum Tech Hub (Chicago Quantum Exchange)flagshipmHUB is a member of The Bloch Hub led by the Chicago Quantum Exchange as part of the U.S. Economic Development Administration Tech Hubs program, with the potential to drive U.S. global quantum leadership and generate over 30,000 new jobs and $60B in revenue.
- MachH2 (Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen)coremHUB is part of the MachH2 alliance committed to growing the Midwest regional hydrogen value chain to deliver climate and community impact; clean hydrogen production powered by the region's carbon-free energy.
- Baxter InternationalflagshipIndustry partner leading mHUB's 2025 MedTech Accelerator cohort (along with Endeavor Health and GE HealthCare); multiple Baxter executives (Steve Daley, John Ranz, Jessica Tam, Evan Mosley) serve on the accelerator team. Long-standing mHUB partner across the corporate innovation program.
- GE HealthCareflagshipIndustry partner leading mHUB's 2025 MedTech Accelerator cohort (along with Baxter and Endeavor Health); John (Jay) Hill, VP Advanced Technology at GE Healthcare, serves on the accelerator team.
- Endeavor HealthflagshipIndustry partner leading mHUB's 2025 MedTech Accelerator cohort (along with Baxter and GE HealthCare); Justin Brueck and Brad Bennett from Endeavor Health serve on the accelerator team. Endeavor Health also a corporate partner.
- PanduitflagshipIndustry partner across mHUB's accelerator cohorts (CTO Brett Lane quoted in support of mHUB) and corporate innovation program; long-standing mHUB partner.
- AvnetcoreIndustry partner across mHUB's accelerator programs; Bill Ogden, Director of Supply Chain at Avnet, serves on the Sustainable Manufacturing accelerator team.
- ConstellationflagshipIndustry partner of mHUB's accelerator and corporate innovation program; Colleen Wright, VP of Strategy & Growth at Constellation, is a past HardTech Summit speaker.
- InvenergycoreIndustry partner across mHUB's accelerator programs; Sunny Elebua, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer at Exelon, is a past HardTech Summit speaker.
- Nicor GascoreIndustry partner across mHUB's accelerator and corporate innovation programs.
- IngredioncoreIndustry partner of mHUB's Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing Accelerator; event sponsor.
- Current (powered by GE)flagshipCo-led the 2026 mHUB & Current Sustainable Water Tech Accelerator cohort, supporting startups developing technologies for industrial water use, reuse, monitoring, and infrastructure.
- Perkins CoiecoreLegal partner of mHUB displayed on the About page; provides legal services to the mHUB community.
- Cooley LLPcoreLegal partner of mHUB displayed on the corporate innovation page.
- Kirkland & ElliscoreLegal partner of mHUB displayed on the corporate innovation page.
- Chicago:BlendcoreNonprofit headquartered at mHUB building a more diverse VC industry for Chicago; fellows have full access to mHUB membership resources.
- Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (University of Chicago)coreCommunity partner that extends mHUB access to hardware companies based at the Polsky Exchange by providing complementary equipment resources for product development innovators.
- NSBE-Chicago (National Society of Black Engineers - Chicago)coreCommunity partner offering mHUB chapter members 50% off of Shared Workspace membership.
- MATTERcoreCommunity partner supporting development and commercialization of medical device companies by combining space and resources with mHUB.
- Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce (GECC)corePartnered with mHUB to create the Clean Tech Innovation Network (CTIN) supporting manufacturing-based innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation focused on energy infrastructure for grid modernization.
- Argonne National LaboratoryflagshipStrategic partner; mHUB Board Director Megan C. Clifford is Argonne's Associate Laboratory Director for Science & Technology Partnerships and Outreach. Chain Reaction Innovations at Argonne is a Heartland Climate Tech Partnership affiliate. Argonne is a technology partner providing members access to research, tools, and testing.
- JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)flagshipmHUB Board Chair Meredith O'Connor is Int'l Director, Co-Chairman of Headquarters Practice Group at JLL; JLL is also an event sponsor.
- 1871 (Kevin Willer)flagshipmHUB Board Director Kevin Willer is Founder and CEO at 1871 and Partner at Chicago Ventures. 1871 is also a community partner and co-recipient of $2.8M for job creation.
- Madison IndustriesflagshipmHUB Board Director Shelli Nelson is Managing Director of Talent Acquisition at Madison Industries. Larry Gies, Founder & CEO of Madison Industries, delivered the keynote at the 2026 HardTech Summit.
- VerizonminorEvent sponsor of mHUB's 2026 event season.
- Rush University Medical CentercoreEvent sponsor and clinical partner; mHUB Board Director Garth N. Walker, MD, MPH is Chief Medical Officer at Rush Health.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of IllinoisminorEvent sponsor of mHUB's 2026 event season.
- Comcast BusinesscoreLong-standing mHUB corporate partner and event sponsor.
- KPMGcoreProfessional services partner of mHUB; mHUB Board Director Travis Hunter is Managing Partner, Chicago, KPMG LLP. KPMG is also an event sponsor.
- ExeloncoreIndustry partner of mHUB's Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing Accelerator; Sunny Elebua, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, is a past HardTech Summit speaker.
- University of ChicagocoreUniversity partner supporting mHUB's energy innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development programs alongside the U.S. Department of Energy.
- BoschminorPartner represented on the mHUB Sustainable Manufacturing accelerator team (Deborah Brown, Manager, Mobile IoT).
- Keysight TechnologiescoreTechnology partner providing mHUB members with access to software, research, tools, and testing equipment.
- UL (Underwriters Laboratories)coreTechnology partner providing mHUB members with access to research, tools, and testing equipment.
- Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological UniversitycoreCo-member of Heartland Climate Tech Partnership; co-recipient of Wells Fargo IN2 Channel Partner funding to advance programmatic resources for manufacturing readiness to support energy startups.
- Spark Innovation CentercoreCo-member of the Heartland Climate Tech Partnership alongside mHUB, Evergreen Climate Innovations, and Centrepolis Accelerator.
- Chain Reaction Innovations (Argonne National Laboratory)coreProject affiliate of the Heartland Climate Tech Partnership.
- Innovation Crossroads (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)coreProject affiliate of the Heartland Climate Tech Partnership.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)coreProject affiliate of the Heartland Climate Tech Partnership.
- Future FounderscoreCommunity partner building the nation's largest inclusive community of young entrepreneurs; provides mHUB access to its network.
- GET Cities ChicagominorCommunity partner building relationships to enhance, support, and scale Chicago's inclusivity efforts; committed to narrowing the gender gap in tech.
- West Side ForwardminorCommunity partner committed to driving the economic revitalization of Chicago's West Side.
- Fem Poder HubminorCommunity partner dismantling obstacles and empowering women of color to bring their fempreneurial visions to life in Chicago.
- BWISE (Black Women in Science and Engineering)minorCommunity partner that facilitates visibility of hardware entrepreneurship and product development techniques and technologies.
- Revolution InstituteminorCommunity partner dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap and creating cooperative business ownership programs.
- Chicago Inventors AssociationminorCommunity partner providing positive, affordable, credible resources to inventors whose products range across all markets.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
mHUB competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Greentown Labs: The largest climatetech incubator in North America, operating a hardware prototyping facility in Somerville, MA with a seed venture fund. Directly comparable to mHUB as a hardtech/cleantech-focused innovation center that combines prototyping infrastructure, a structured accelerator, and a venture fund for early-stage startups.
- Rev1 Ventures: Columbus, OH-based startup accelerator and venture fund that combines coworking, prototyping, and seed/Series A capital. Comparable to mHUB as a Midwest-anchored innovation center with an integrated facility-plus-fund model serving hardware and life sciences startups.
- MassChallenge: Global nonprofit accelerator offering equity-free programs and corporate partnerships. Comparable to mHUB's nonprofit, corporate-partnered accelerator model, though MassChallenge is more software/consumer-leaning while mHUB is hardtech-specific.
- Bolt: Hardware-focused seed-stage venture fund and founder-support platform with a prototyping facility. Comparable to mHUB Ventures + Prototyping Lab as a hardtech-specialized capital-plus-infrastructure model.
- Innovation Works: Pittsburgh-based seed-stage venture fund and accelerator (including the AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear hardware programs). Comparable to mHUB as a regional innovation center combining accelerator, seed fund, and a hardware-specific program track.
Broad incumbents
- Techstars: Global accelerator network with industry-specific programs including Techstars Sustainability and hardware-adjacent verticals. Comparable to mHUB as a structured accelerator offering mentorship and seed investment, though it is broader and software-leaning rather than hardtech-specific.
- Y Combinator: The world's largest startup accelerator, now running industry-specific programs including hardware-adjacent tracks. Comparable as a structured accelerator with seed investment, though YC is software-first, remote, and orders of magnitude larger than mHUB's cohorts.
Regional players
- 1871: Chicago's premier tech hub and mHUB's named community partner / co-recipient of $2.8M in 2021 job creation funding. Closely related as a Chicago-based innovation center with coworking and programming, though focused on software/enterprise rather than hardtech prototyping.
- Chain Reaction Innovations (Argonne National Laboratory): U.S. Department of Energy-funded accelerator at Argonne National Laboratory supporting energytech and hardtech startups with mentorship and lab access. A Heartland Climate Tech Partnership affiliate of mHUB; comparable as a national-lab-affiliated hardtech accelerator with overlapping energy tech focus.
Emerging players
- Lemnos Labs: Early-stage venture fund focused exclusively on hardware startups, investing in pre-seed and seed rounds. Comparable to mHUB Ventures as a hardtech-specialized seed investor, though Lemnos is capital-only and lacks the physical facility component.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
mHUB social profiles
Digital presencemHUB financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
mHUB leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
mHUB subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
mHUB funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds14 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
mHUB M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments58 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about mHUB
What does mHUB do?
mHUB operates an 80,000+ sq ft hardtech innovation center at 1623 W. Fulton Street, Chicago, combining an 11-lab physical prototyping facility with $6M+ of equipment, a 6-month accelerator program offering $200K-for-6.5%-equity investments across Energy Tech, MedTech, and Sustainable Manufacturing tracks, and a seed-stage venture fund (mHUB Ventures Spark Fund I & II). The center sells coworking and dedicated office memberships, runs an annual HardTech Summit and Fourth Revolution Awards, and delivers contracted HardTech Development Services (R&D consulting) to manufacturers and corporates.
Is mHUB a public or private company?
mHUB is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was mHUB founded?
mHUB was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is mHUB based?
mHUB is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does mHUB make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues (Co-working, Reserved Desk, Dedicated Office, Social, Shop) is the primary driver. The others are accelerator Investment (Equity in Cohort Startups), hardTech Development Services (R&D Consulting), event Space Rental & Sponsorship, philanthropy, Grants & Program Sponsorship and mHUB Ventures LP Management & Carry (Future/Existing Fund).
Who are mHUB's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Greentown Labs, Rev1 Ventures, MassChallenge, Bolt and Innovation Works. Broad incumbents are Techstars and Y Combinator. Regional players are 1871 and Chain Reaction Innovations (Argonne National Laboratory). Lemnos Labs is listed as an emerging player.
Does mHUB have an API?
No public API is recorded for mHUB.
What industry is mHUB in?
mHUB's product category is Hardtech Innovation Center. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAC, Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios), with a secondary code of HDAHACAI, R&D / Prototyping & MPW Shuttle Foundries. Its NAICS code is 541715 and its SIC code is 8731.