Technology distributor Avnet Inc. has announced that it has acquired a majority interest in Hackster Inc. (“Hackster.io”) as the first step of a two-part transaction in which Avnet will acquire the remainder of the company in January 2017. Headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., Hackster.io is an online community that helps users globally learn how to design, create, and program Internet-connected hardware.
“We are fully committed to helping startups bring their ideas to market. The addition of Hackster’s online platform will enable users to accelerate their hardware knowledge and time-to-market,” says William Amelio, CEO of Avnet. “The combination of Hackster.io with Avnet’s recently launched MakerSource resource directory and acquisition of Premier Farnell’s element14 community will allow start-ups to design and create new ideas, then quickly find the resources to support them as they prepare to take their product to market.”
“Hardware can be intimidating for those who are just starting to learn, and even more so for those who are starting new ventures,” says Adam Benzion, cofounder and CEO at Hackster.io. “Creating a network for learning, sharing and launching new inventions has been at the core of our vision and values. With Avnet, we can accelerate our vision by reaching out to more people in more places, with better learning tools and a launch pad for creation.”
