Accepted into TiB FAB Makers Challenge 2026 — A Record from Application to Presentation Review
Overview
Tokyo Innovation Base (TiB), a startup support hub operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, runs a support program for hardware and maker-oriented creators. The program covers pre-mass-production prototyping, factory partnerships, equipment and advisor support, monetization and commercialization guidance, and concludes with a final showcase event.
I applied as a two-person team together with a member who will help with circuit design in future product development.
Tokyo Innovation Base maker support program
Selection Process and Outcome
- First round: document screening (entry sheet submission) → passed
- Second round: presentation review (5-minute presentation + 3-minute Q&A) → passed
- Accepted
First Round: What We Wrote in the Entry Sheet
The entry sheet was not limited to technical product descriptions — it also asked why we were applying to this particular program, our roadmap to social implementation, and the challenges and disadvantages we were already aware of. What stood out was a dedicated section asking applicants to disclose their own weaknesses. I felt that whether you could write honestly there was the deciding factor.
Why We Want to Participate in This Program
Up to now, I have single-handedly taken everything from circuit design, firmware, and enclosure to a web-based configuration tool — from proof-of-concept prototyping through small-batch distribution. I am confident I can drive technical prototyping on my own. That is precisely why the next walls I need to clear are mass production and commercialization.
The pre-mass-production prototyping process, factory partnerships, and monetization/commercialization support this program provides map directly onto what I am currently struggling with. Because I can already push forward on fundamental development independently, I want to use this program to concentrate on mass-production design, quality assurance, and business model construction — and then leverage the connections with investors and supporters at the final showcase to fuel my next stage of growth.
Challenges and Disadvantages Already Identified
I listed four items without embellishment.
- No experience with mass-production design or mass-production prototyping — I have taken products from proof-of-concept to small-batch distribution on my own, but I have no experience with the cost reduction, quality stabilization, or supply chain setup that mass production demands.
- Immature quality assurance system — The magnetic, short-stroke design places high demands on manufacturing precision, and I have not established a method for managing yield or guaranteeing quality.
- Limited market — My current customers are concentrated among gamers and the custom keyboard community, which is a small segment. I have not yet mapped out a revenue model that is not dependent on one-off sales, or how to appeal to a broader audience.
- Limited knowledge of commercialization and financing — As an independent developer, I have no experience with business planning or fundraising, and my brand recognition and support infrastructure fall short of established manufacturers.
While writing this, I realized it was simply the inverse of “what I want to gain from this program.” Hiding weaknesses and slipping through would only reduce what I could take away.
Second Round: What We Presented
The session was a 5-minute presentation followed by a 3-minute Q&A. I brought a physical unit and opened with this:
This is a keyboard. Something we all use every day without a second thought. But I’d like you to consider for a moment — this is a tool for entering text, yet its layout and form were never chosen because they were the most usable.
In recent years, professional esports players have emerged as a profession, yet the keyboards they use are also not shaped for gaming. And yet the rough form factor has not changed in decades. “Is the shape of this tool truly optimal?” — That question was the starting point of the design. That is how I introduced ReLow60 L-HE.
Product Description
- Uses magnets to read key presses, detecting stroke position in 0.01 mm increments
- Standard keyboards have roughly 3 mm of travel; this one starts at 1.5 mm
- As shallow as a typical slim keyboard, yet because it is magnetic, you can adjust exactly where actuation occurs
I explained that combining this shallowness with precision is the key feature, and that I had already built and sold the product — from the circuit to the firmware to the configuration tool.
The Innovation Is in the Combination
This was where I spent the most time. I explained that the novelty lies not in any single spec, but in the combination.
I presented the following comparison during the review (company names omitted here).
| Stroke | Adjustment precision | Slim | Hardware-level customization | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ReLow60 | Min. 1.5 mm | 0.01 mm | ○ | ○ |
| Slim magnetic A | 1.9 mm | 0.05 mm | ○ | × |
| Slim magnetic B | 3 mm+ | 0.01 mm | ○ | × |
| Standard-size high-precision model | 3–4 mm | 0.001 mm+ | × | ○ |
Major manufacturers also offer magnetic keyboards, but slim ones tend to have nearly 3 mm of travel, which undermines the point of being slim. There are very high-precision products as well, but they are all standard-size — not slim.
The rightmost column, “hardware-level customization,” does not refer to software settings. It means being able to physically swap in commercially available switches or customize the appearance. Most slim manufacturers use proprietary switch formats, so this is not possible with their products.
The space of slim × short-stroke magnetic keyboards is largely unoccupied — there are few precedents, and even major manufacturers have only exploratory products in this territory. Slim, short-stroke, and user-configurable hardware — I argued that only this product offers all three.
Demonstrating This Is Not a Bench Prototype
I then backed up the claim with actual results to show this is not just a bench prototype.
- Distributed 5 units at an event in Osaka; online, the initial stock of 8 units sold out immediately after launch
- The announcement on X exceeded 27,000 impressions, drawing responses from both domestic and international audiences
I also described expansion of sales channels during the review (ongoing discussions, so I’ll withhold details here).
It is not just buildable — it is wanted. I closed by saying that I have real traction.
The Wall That Comes After “Being Able to Build”
Having done almost everything solo up to this point, I feel I have developed a reasonable capacity to build. But there is a wall ahead: selling.
The current small lot sizes mean high unit costs, and whether I can achieve stable quality at mass-production scale remains uncertain. And beyond one-off sales, the mechanism that keeps a business running sustainably — I honestly do not yet have a clear picture of that. Now that I have become capable of building, that is the next barrier to clear.
The reason I chose this program is that my own walls and what the program offers align precisely.
| My wall | What the program provides |
|---|---|
| Can I mass-produce it? | Pre-mass-production prototyping and factory partnership support |
| Can I maintain quality? | Equipment and advisor support |
| Can I turn it into a business? | Monetization and commercialization guidance |
| Can I put it in front of the world? | Access to investors and supporters at the final showcase |
Because I can advance the technical development on my own, I want to use this program to focus entirely on “selling, mass-producing, and commercializing” — that is what I conveyed.
The Two Areas of Growth I Stated at the Close
First: moving from someone who can build to someone who can sell — gaining the ability to turn technology into a viable business.
Second: the ability to deliver innovation that the market can accept. Radically changing the shape of an input device overnight is not possible. So the goal is to introduce novelty in increments that users can accept, and sell it properly. I said I wanted to learn how to strike that balance between innovation and commercial viability.
Beyond that, I closed by saying I want to grow this into a brand that continues to question the shape of input devices.
Q&A
A few questions that stuck with me.
”This place is where you’re allowed to pitch a wildly ambitious dream — you’re being quite pragmatic.”
This came with an acknowledgment that a realistic outlook is a positive, followed by the observation that I could have swung bigger.
I answered that I believe input device form factors should evolve with the times — much like voice input for giving instructions to AI — and that I do want to tackle entirely different input paradigms in the future. But because radically new things are hard for people to accept immediately, I want to stay within the form factor of a keyboard for now while still pushing its shape forward.
”To sell something new, people need to know it exists. Showing at trade shows and events costs money.”
I talked about my actual experience selling and exhibiting at events and the costs involved. With support, I would have more opportunities to get my work in front of people, which in turn leads to more of them picking it up.
”Who makes the circuit?”
I do, I answered immediately. If we scale up to multiple new products in the future I might bring in help, but right now everything is done by me.
After the Q&A Ended
Even after time was up, one of the reviewers said, “Since you went to the trouble of bringing the actual unit, I’d love to try it.” I also received comments that the design looks clean and simple, and that it feels solidly built.
I mentioned that cost constraints meant this was the best finish I could manage at this stage — but having someone stay engaged well past the allotted Q&A time was a strong sign of genuine interest.
What Comes Next
Having been accepted, I will now focus on mass-production design and commercialization. Because I can drive the technical side myself, my intention within this program is to concentrate on “selling, mass-producing, and turning it into a business.”
Summary of TiB, AI utilization grant, DigiKey, and QWS
Low-profile magnetic switch keyboard