Design. Prototype. Take Flight.
Hangar6 is the in-house prototyping studio at First Flight Venture Center, purpose-built to help early-stage startups design, prototype, and commercialize hardware products.
We help startups commercialize hardware
From DIY fabrication to full engineering support, Hangar6 provides the resources early-stage teams need to turn ideas into commercial-ready hardware.
Digital Prototyping Lab Membership
Access professional-grade digital fabrication equipment through our membership program starting at just $300/month.
Prototype Design and Fabrication
Hire us for one-off or small-batch prototyping projects, leveraging Hangar6's full capabilities of equipment and engineers.
Fractional Engineering Services
Get design and fabrication expertise without a full-time hire. Our engineers become an extension of your team, helping you stay lean.
Who We Serve
Early-Stage Startups
Developing medical devices, consumer products, and other hardware innovations that need access to equipment or professional prototyping support.
Solopreneurs & Researchers
Looking to spin out or commercialize innovations but lacking in-house prototyping capacity or technical resources.
Non-Technical Founders
Working on a product concept without engineering expertise and needing design and prototyping support.
Introducing Our Digital Prototyping Studio
A Newly Upgraded Space for Your Big Ideas
We're excited to introduce the Hangar6 Digital Prototyping Studio newly upgraded space inside First Flight Venture Center, equipped with advanced 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC milling, and professional design tools. With our rebooted membership program, startups now have direct, affordable access to the equipment and support they need to prototype and iterate faster.
Your startup deserves a place to build. The new Digital Prototyping Studio gives founders direct access to professional-grade equipment and design software, plus expert support through our affordable membership program. Conveniently located inside First Flight, it's where ideas take physical shape.
Advanced Equipment for Rapid Prototyping
Our Digital Prototyping Studio features advanced digital fabrication tools designed for plastic, wood, and soft-material parts. Access professional equipment through our affordable membership model.
3D Printing Suite
Four Bambu Labs X1C printers for fast, multi-material FDM printing and small-batch production runs. Heated chamber can handle engineering-grade materials such as nylon, ABS, ASA, and polycarbonate.
Formlabs Form 4 and Form 3 SLA printers for high-resolution resin work.
Markforged Mark II FDM printer with continuous carbon fiber reinforcement for strong, functional parts.
Laser Cutting
Two Xtool P2S CO₂ Laser Cutters (55W) for precision cutting and engraving on various materials, perfect for enclosures, signage, and detailed components.
CNC Machining
Carbide 3D Nomad 883 desktop CNC mill for precision milling of small parts in plastics, wood, and soft metals with exceptional accuracy.
Complete Workshop Resources
Our Digital Prototyping Studio also comes with a shared workshop space full of essential tools, professional design software, and support needed to move from digital design to physical prototype.
CAD & Simulation Professional Software
Access to Siemens NX and SimCenter 3D, SolidWorks, Vcarve Pro, and other advanced modeling tools for professional-grade design work.
Shared Workshop & Tools
Drill press, bandsaw, soldering station, power tools, hand tools, bench space, and a supportive community of fellow innovators and peers.
Training & Support
Equipment safety training, orientation, and design support along with discounted fabrication services included with membership.
Membership Plans & Pricing
Prototype Design & Fabrication Services
Don’t have the capacity or expertise to build your own prototype yet? Can’t justify a full in-house engineering team? Hire ours. Hangar6 provides flexible, affordable design, engineering, and fabrication support that scales with your startup as you move from concept to prototype.
Mechanical & Electrical Design
CAD modeling, PCB design, product development, and industrial design tailored to your product vision.
Prototype Fabrication
One-off or small-batch prototyping using Hangar6's professional equipment and expertise.
Full-Service Design Support
From initial sketch to functional prototype, we guide you through the entire development process.
Grant & Proposal Support
High-quality prototypes and designs that strengthen funding applications and investor presentations.
Engineering Services Pricing
Our design and engineering services are billed at $150/hour, with fixed-price packages available for well-defined projects or fabrication runs. We'll always work with you to keep projects lean, cost-effective, and stage-appropriate for early startups. Contact us for a free prototype consultation and to receive a custom quote.
Ready to Take Flight?
From Idea to Prototype Without Breaking the Bank
Big ideas need a place to build. The new Hangar6 Digital Prototyping Studio and membership program give startups direct access to advanced tools, expert support, and the First Flight ecosystem—all at an affordable price.
Whether you're looking to iterate on your own or need fractional engineering support, Hangar6 is here to help you design, prototype, and commercialize your hardware innovation. As part of First Flight Venture Center, we're plugged into a statewide network of resources for innovators.
Join a community of builders, makers, and innovators who are turning ideas into reality.
Please reach out to book a tour, schedule a free prototyping consultation, or just be in touch.
Hangar6 Powered By Siemens
Hangar6 is proud to be powered by Siemens, a global leader in industrial software, advanced manufacturing, and digital engineering. Siemens’ partnership helps ensure that early-stage startups at First Flight have access to world-class design and simulation tools typically reserved for large enterprises.
Through this partnership, Hangar6 members can take advantage of deeply discounted Siemens startup software packages, giving founders access to professional-grade CAD, data management, and simulation capabilities at a fraction of the cost. These tools help startups design smarter, validate faster, and build more robust, investor-ready prototypes.
Beyond software access, Siemens’ support reflects a broader commitment to empowering early-stage innovation in the North Carolina deep tech ecosystem. Their partnership reinforces Hangar6’s mission to make advanced prototyping and engineering resources accessible to North Carolina startups.
About Hangar6
Hangar6 is First Flight Venture Center's in-house prototyping studio, designed specifically for early-stage startups in North Carolina who need to design, prototype, and commercialize hardware products. As part of a nonprofit incubator, we understand the unique challenges you face: limited capital, tight timelines, and the pressure to prove your concept to investors.
Ben Provan is the Director of Hangar6, where he helps early-stage founders design, prototype, and commercialize new hardware products. With 20 years of engineering and startup experience—including product designer at Bose Corporation, commercialization lead at waste-to-biofuels startup Achor Innovation, and a decade as a startup founder and CEO—Ben blends deep technical expertise with real-world startup insight. Ben holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco.