Cork-based firm PCH International is opening up its incubator programme Highway1 to new applications.

Up to 15 startups will be accepted into the four-month programme, which is aimed at hardware firms and entrepreneurs worldwide.

The accelerator provides practcial support and advice to companies that have an idea for a product, and also includes two-weeks in China to show firms how to scale their products.

The seed money for the new programme has been increased to $50,000, from $20,000 previously, and will move premises to allow more hardware teams to take part.

The next phase of the programme, which will see the third batch of hardware startups enter the incubator, will begin in autumn. Applications will be accepted until June 20th.

Eleven companies have already graduated from the programme.

“PCH and Highway1 will help entrepreneurs build a company, not just a product,” said Brady Forrest, vice president of Highway1. “We teach companies how to scale, and we make connections to valuable mentors who have years of experience. What we’re really looking for are next-generation hardware companies that view their product as ‘software in a box’.”