Sourcing & Supplier Matching

Most hardware startups waste 3–6 months talking to the wrong factories. We cut that down to 2 weeks.

Our sourcing process goes beyond Alibaba keyword searches. We cross-reference 1688 (the domestic wholesale platform), our direct factory relationships built over 7 years, and trade show contacts from Shenzhen and Dongguan. For each candidate we verify business registration, production capacity, existing client references, and whether they’re a factory or a trader.

What We Do

We start by understanding your product at a technical level: BOM, target specs, certifications required, packaging requirements. That context lets us filter out factories that can’t realistically handle your project before we waste anyone’s time.

Then we run parallel outreach to 15–30 candidates and qualify them down to 3–5 that meet your requirements. You get a written comparison with our recommendation — not just a list of Alibaba links.

Our Process

1. Technical briefing — We review your spec sheet, BOM, or reference product
2. Market scan — Search 1688, Alibaba, direct network, trade associations
3. Initial screening — Verify business registration, exclude pure traders
4. RFQ distribution — Send standardized RFQ to shortlisted factories
5. Quote analysis — Normalize quotes (same terms, same currency, same scope)
6. Comparison report — Deliver written analysis with recommended shortlist
7. Intro facilitation — Make introductions and translate initial communications

What You Get

• 3–5 verified supplier profiles with contact information
• Comparison matrix: price, MOQ, lead time, payment terms, certifications held
• Our written recommendation with reasoning
• Translated communication for first contact
• Access to factories that don’t list on Alibaba