There is a new startup accelerator looking to set up shop in Boston this summer.  The thing that caught my eye is that this accelerator, Bolt, will focus on connected devices.  Real…physical…stuff.

I think that this is great for the Boston area.  We already have a lot of energy and effort in the area around startups for mobile, web, and software services, but I think this will help bring other engineering disciplines into the Boston startup community.  The ability to iterate in the mechanical/electrical world has improved a lot over the years, especially with the widespread use of 3D printers, electronics prototyping, and OTS platforms like Arduino.  It will be interesting to see how lean startup principles come into play in the physical world (yes, I know that’s where they came from initially)

As someone who has spent most of his career doing software for robotics, automation, and medical devices this will be something to keep an eye on.