HWTrek, a Kickstarter-esque hardware crowdfunding service, launches in public beta

HWTrek, a Taipei-based crowdfunding service that specializes in hardware projects, launched in public beta today.

Why specialize in hardware? Unlike some creative projects that fill the pages of Kickstarter and Indiegogo, funding is just the first small step when it comes to turning hardware from a dream into a reality. Often, garage entrepreneurs have the skills and resources to design a working prototype, but none of the knowledge and industry connections required to produce hardware on a mass scale.

Since its initial closed beta launch in September, HWTrek has built up a community of experts in engineering and supply chain management who can provide support and expertise to the projects that make their way to the platform. In theory, support from these industry insiders can work as an incentive for interested parties to fund these products, thereby taking the products beyond the garage and into the mass market. To date, HWTrek has racked up 80 expert members in its community.

HWTrek has also announced its first round of funding campaigns to coincide with its public beta launch. We’ve listed the teams that are currently raising cash below:

• Guardian: a bluetooth-enabled wearable device that helps parents keep track of the location of their children, designed by the Taipei-based startup Beluvv.
• Snooperscope: a nightvision smartphone accessory.
• Sim+: an iPhone case that connects the device to two SIM cards.
• Visitorbot: a smartphone-controlled camera bot .
• Zuke: an iPhone 4 battery case.

HWTrek is founded by Lucas Wang, who doubles as the CEO of TMI Ventures, the Taipei-based tech incubator and VC firm with ties to Innovation Works and WI Harper.

(Image via Flickr user sharynmorrow)