Many founders arrive in Shenzhen and start with a month of our Lab Rat Recruit membership. And for some, especially seasoned veterans of China’s supply chain. it’s absolutely the right choice. But if you’re new to hardware, or even if you’ve built before but are tackling something more complex this time, a Recruit membership may leave you navigating the hardest part of Shenzhen entirely on your own: Knowing who to trust. If you’re building a product that improves lives, not just a prototype, you need more than tools. You need trusted intros, expert backup, and flexibility when plans change. Discover why starting with a 3-month Lab Rat Rebel plan isn’t a cost… it’s your fastest path to shipping with confidence.
Get your product ready your way
At TroubleMaker you can build your product yourself, work together with our freelancers, or outsource the development and manufacturing to our team.
How we work together at TroubleMaker.
Because clarity is the base of successful cooperation

Ethos
This page summarizes what we have learned from almost 10 years of operating TroubleMaker. It provides guidelines of how we believe people should interact with each other and in which way our shared facilities can be used to the benefit of everyone.
Ethics play a big role in the success of TroubleMaker. Understanding this summary is essential for your participation, so it's written in a straightforward and easy to understand tone.
We update the text on this page every time we learn from our experience or from you directly. We are extremely grateful if you could share your feedback on the content on this page in the comments section at the bottom.
Our sharing principle
At TroubleMaker, we share resources with each other. We started this concept in May 2016 and little has changed. Sharing is beneficial for everyone if it's done right.
TroubleMaker allocates your membership fees towards
- the expansion and maintenance of a shared prototyping lab in Huaqiangbei
- legal contract templates
- courses and training programs
- an active community with founders, freelancers, agencies, and manufacturers
Setting up your own lab, paying law firms the full price, or engaging with consultants doesn't always make sense. Let's share these investments in a responsible way to save cost and learn from each other.
For prototyping, developing, and manufacturing your product
As a product developer, you get to use high-quality equipment at a top ranked location close to the supply chain without having to invest in real estate and without the need to purchase tools and machines.
When you ask, er mentor you how to source and assess reliable suppliers and manufacturers based on years of working experience. Compare this to the trial & error method most inventors use when building their supply chain.
Plus, you get to enjoy feedback and support from peer developers and a small army of volunteers without having to engage with self-proclaimed coaches or expensive agencies.
So, how does this work?
We have several labs at TroubleMaker. A machining workshop, a room for electronics prototyping, a 3D printing area, and a mini assembly line. Scheduling machine time is easy. Just log into your account, select the station you want to use, and lock it down for the period you need.
You can also schedule time with one of our team members to discuss your current challenges and have the right people introduced to you who can help you overcome your roadblocks. Be it designers, engineers, sourcing heroes, legal advisors, marketers, manufacturers, or other specialists. These people all live in China and have years of experience under their belt.
A virtual desk, for when you are not in China (yet)
Landing in China without being prepared wastes time and money. It is more effective to select your supply chain visits long before you arrive. Instead of lab access, you might need translators, negotiators, quality specialists and sourcing agents. We have them!
We can also store your samples at TroubleMaker and ship them to you as a single shipment to save hundreds of dollars while preventing damage during transportation.
Lab safety
Your limbs, eyes, and ears are important. So, before you can operate potentially dangerous machines, you pass a safety test. This test is free for members. There is no man overboard if you fail the test. We work with experienced trainers who can get you up to speed in no time. The cost per training varies per machine and you enjoy member discounts. Alternatively, you can hire a certified operator who can handle the machines for you.
Inclusivity
Inclusivity means way more than "everyone is welcome". It also means you can expect everyone else at our facilities, both offline and online, to respect you. This includes your privacy, your belongings, your opinion, your beliefs, your appearance, your self-identification, and your mental and physical health.
And even though this is not always easy or straightforward in a multicultural, interconnected world, we do not tolerate disrespectful behavior. Yes, we are TroubleMakers. And yes, we sometimes are mischievous. But always in a respectful manner. It is your responsibility to make sure no one misunderstands your intentions.
Opening hours
This one is easy: Members can access TroubleMaker 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. If you are not a member yet, you can make an appointment to visit us. We will brew you a fresh cup of artisan pour-over coffee from our roastery in Yunnan and you can stay for a while if you want to.
Joining TroubleMaker
Your Lab Rat Recruit membership includes the use of all tools and machines -based on scheduling- and you can choose any available desk as your territory, or choose a work station in one of the labs.
Included in all Lab Rat memberships:
- 365 days per year, 24 hours per day access to the labs and office area
- High-speed internet
- 220V electricity, light, air conditioning
- Unlimited coffee, tea, and water
- Restaurant and hotel directory
- Corporate rates for booking rooms in our 5-star level hotel
- Receive packages
- Storage locker
- Private VIP group
- Online community meetups
- Regular workshops, presentations, and interviews
- TroubleMaker newsletter & blog
And if you want to speed up your Time-to-Market, you can Level Up your game with the extra services of the Lab Rat Rebel and Revolutionary memberships:
- Personalized referrals to supply chain
- Professional support from engineers, designers, and others
- Training programs
- Manufacturing coaching
- And more...
Cleaning up and maintenance
We take care of scheduled maintenance of the tools, machines, and furniture, so they are always ready and safe to use. You take responsibility for cleaning up your workstation after use. And if you damage something, no harm done. Just tell us so we can follow up. You help with the repair or cover the cost. To motivate you being serious about this, we collect a deposit before your first use of the space. We return your deposit when you leave the space with a positive user track record.
So, what do you think?
Do we agree? Or would you prefer to discuss something first?
Let us know in the comments!
