The Sourcerer's Apprentice

Full product development support and coaching in Shenzhen for foreign students

Three things we know from experience:

Students are equally able to develop and introduce new products to the market as other first-time founders. Therefore they deserve the same support.
Every founder taking their first steps in China needs extra care. Care is the premise TroubleMaker is built on.
Students learn more and have more impact as a founder than as an intern. This is why TroubleMaker has pivoted from accepting interns to offering apprentice memberships.

That being said, students need more help than regular founders.

with filling in university paperwork
with various advice
with apartment hunting
and more...

Following TroubleMaker practices, we are here to help you succeed. So all is included in your membership.

Also read: How we work together at TroubleMaker. It gives insight in our values and standards.

Success guidelines for Student Hardware Projects

Coming to Shenzhen

Complete all documentation required by your university
Prepare your project funding
Complete Battle 1 of the Conquer! Hardware Accelerator Program
Install WeChat on your phone and laptop
Install Alipay on your phone
Connect a credit card to WeChat and Alipay
Install a VPN that works in China

Optional: Complete Battle 2 of Conquer!

Staying in Shenzhen

Select an apartment to stay
Get a bank account
Connect your bank account to WeChat
Get your desk at TroubleMaker
Complete Battle 2 and 3 of Conquer!
Work actively on your project with TroubleMaker and the A-Team

Optional: Complete Battle 4 of Conquer!

After Shenzhen

Complete Battle 4 and 5 of Conquer!
Keep active communicating with your suppliers and support team
Launch your project and make the world a better place

Students join TroubleMaker as a Apprentice Member and get all the support they need to develop and produce their hardware product, while benefiting from the vast Shenzhen manufacturing ecosystem.

Unlike an internship, they work on their own, real-life project.

What's included in your Apprentice membership?

365 days per year, 24 hours per day access to TroubleMaker, including

The office area

Electrically adjustable sit/stand desk 153x75cm
Comfortable, reclining office chair with leg rest
Extension cord with six 220V power outlets at your desk
High-speed internet

The labs

The electronics lab
The 3D printing lab
The mini assembling line
The machining lab

The phone booth

Ultra-quiet and spacious work area
With electrically adjustable sit/stand desk
With a comfortable, adjustable office chair
With light, electricity, and internet

The coffee & tea corner

Freshly roasted, responsibly sourced, single-origin Hani coffee beans from Yunnan (Hani store)
Professional coffee brewing equipment
A variety of Chinese teas
Nongfu Spring mineral water

The kitchen

Energy efficient fridge and freezer
Microwave
Plates, cutlery, and other utensils
Breakfast serials and various supplements

Conquer! Hardware Accelerator Program

Conquer! is our signature 15-week hardware accelerator program.
Founders enter the quest with an idea for a physical product and leave it -after conquering 5 Battles- with 100 paying customers and with a quarter of a million US dollar valuation added to their company.

Professional services