Programmes Hongo, Tokyo
HydroBeetle joins the Hongo Tech Garage Spring Founders Program
The programme gave HydroBeetle a place to work, machines to make parts with and ¥300,000. Its fourth prototype was built there.
In February 2026, HydroBeetle joined the Spring Founders Program at Hongo Tech Garage, a workshop for student projects near the University of Tokyo. It gave HydroBeetle a place to work, tools and ¥300,000 for development.
What Hongo Tech Garage is
Hongo Tech Garage calls itself a secret base where University of Tokyo students run technical side projects. It is run by the university’s Division of University Corporate Relations, in a building off campus in Hongo.
Twice a year, in the spring and summer breaks, its Founders Program supports student projects with money, machines and a place to work.
“A secret base where University of Tokyo students run technical side projects.”
What it gave HydroBeetle
The workshop has 3D printers, a laser cutter, milling machines and a bench for electronics. For a device made of printed parts, metal panels and wiring, that is most of what a new version needs.
The ¥300,000 went into building the device.
What HydroBeetle built there
HydroBeetle finished its fourth prototype, P4, during the programme, in March 2026: a closed clear box with two fans. What P4 taught the team became the plan for P5.
Timeline
- February 2026HydroBeetle joins the Spring Founders Program.
- March 2026P4 is finished in the workshop.
- After P4What it taught the team becomes the plan for P5.
