For VCs and Accelerators: Bring a Portfolio Group to Shenzhen
A portfolio group trip is when a fund, accelerator or venture studio sends several of its hardware companies to Shenzhen in the same week. On the Future Factory × Illuminious tour, each founder applies and joins one shared group, so your companies see factories and labs together and compare notes afterward.
Investors and program leads apply like a founder. The form asks for your role and who introduced you, so name your fund or program there.
For funds, accelerators and studiosA licensed Future Factory program, hosted by Illuminious.
Why bring a portfolio group to Shenzhen?
Hardware companies in a portfolio tend to hit the same walls: first quotes that do not compare, tooling decisions made too early, and suppliers chosen from a video call. A week of factory and lab visits gives founders a shared, first-hand picture of how their products will be made.
For a fund or accelerator, a group trip also builds a common language across the portfolio. Founders who saw the same lines together can review each other's supplier choices and share contacts long after the week ends.
Which portfolio companies get the most from the tour?
The tour fits companies that build physical products and are planning their path to production.
- Robotics, physical-AI and mobility hardware teams.
- Consumer electronics, wearables and smart-device startups.
- Teams moving from prototype to pilot run who need to choose suppliers.
- Software-first teams adding a device, who have not worked with factories before.
What does the week include?
The Future Factory × Illuminious: Shenzhen Founder Tour runs December 6–11, 2026 in Shenzhen, China, for max 20 founders. It includes 10+ factory and lab visits across robotics, electronics and prototyping, plus the Huaqiangbei electronics market. 40+ founders across Future Factory cohorts and events; Future Factory's 2025 cohorts: 10 founders in August and 24 founders in December.
Hotel room, meals, ground transport, translation, all visits, photo and video included. Flights, visa and travel insurance not included. The fee is USD 3,500. Applications received by Nov 15, 2026 (11:59 pm Pacific) qualify for the USD 3,000 early-bird fee.
Read next: Full schedule, FAQ and application · The tour, day by day
What should a fund or accelerator prepare?
- Pick the companies whose next decisions depend on suppliers: tooling, board assembly, actuators or sensors.
- Ask each founder to apply early; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Share the playbook so founders arrive with a request pack and clear questions.
- Budget for flights, visas and travel insurance, which the fee does not cover.
- Plan a portfolio debrief in the weeks after the trip to compare suppliers and next steps.
Read next: Shenzhen Hardware Founder Playbook 2026 · First-trip checklist
What do founders take home?
- A clearer view of how each part of their product is made, and where cost and risk sit.
- Contacts with factory engineers and other founders at a similar stage.
- A better supplier shortlist for private follow-up visits and quotes.
- A route to production support afterward through the Illuminious Startup Bridge Program, for teams that want it.
How does a portfolio group apply?
- Share this page or the tour page with the founders you want to send.
- Each founder applies with the same short form. Ask them to name your fund or program where the form asks who introduced them.
- We review applications on a rolling basis and reply to each founder by email.
- Accepted founders get the full itinerary, payment details and refund terms before they pay anything. Applying is free.
A licensed Future Factory program, hosted by Illuminious.
Frequently asked questions
Can a fund or accelerator book places for its portfolio?
Each founder applies individually and is reviewed on their own application. Ask your founders to name your fund or program where the form asks who introduced them, so we can see the group.
Can investors or program leads join the tour?
Yes, as applicants. Hardware investors and accelerator leads who want to see the supply chain first-hand apply like a founder, with the same form and the same fee.
When should my founders apply?
As early as they can. We review applications on a rolling basis. Applications received by Nov 15, 2026 (11:59 pm Pacific) qualify for the USD 3,000 early-bird fee.
What does the tour cost per founder?
USD 3,000 for applications received by Nov 15, 2026 (11:59 pm Pacific), then USD 3,500. Flights, visa and travel insurance are not included.