Gaming, internet of things and healthcare: These 4 devices are taking shape at NextFab

Four startups will spend the next three months working on their tech at makerspace NextFab — with $25,000 in seed cash fueling their journey.

Sublight Dynamics, makers of a six-way joystick for gaming and drone piloting; APO Technologies, an electronic prosthetic alignment platform; Sage Smart Garden, a smart irrigation system; and Hava Health, a connected device to help people quit smoking, each recently joined NextFab’s RAPID Hardware Accelerator, which aims to help hardware startups speed up their go-to-market strategies.

“This is one of the most talented groups of people we have had since the start of the accelerator program in 2016,” wrote Todor Raykov, the NextFab venture services manager who runs the program, in an email.

“We are excited to see these teams hailing from Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware all working out of our facilities,” he said. “One of our goals with this program is to not only help them build great products but also help them stay and grow in our region because of all the things our burgeoning startup scene offers.”

In February, the makerspace announced its accelerator program would begin infusing companies with seed cash to fund their research and development. Earlier this year, the company also launched a small follow-on fund to help alumni companies stay on track.

Here’s a look at Sublight Dynamics’ joystick in action: