Thief River Falls, Minnesota-based electronic components and automation products distributor DigiKey has partnered with GroupGets to launch a crowdfunding initiative to promote and fund hardware startups.

GroupGets is a crowd-purchasing platform for group buying technology products that helps businesses and individuals launch their products by promoting, funding and distributing electronic devices across the world. Through the “Get MADE” program, GroupGets and DigiKey will cross promote qualifying devices through content, design, distribution and partial funding through DigiKey.

Upon successful funding, GroupGets will work with the creators to manufacture the platforms and then DigiKey will list the platforms for sale on its website.

“The ‘Get MADE’ program stemmed from the longtime supply partnership between DigiKey and GroupGets and became a call to action to further support makers trying to enter the market,” said David Sandys, Senior Director of Technical Marketing at DigiKey, in a June 20 news release. “By partnering together, we can bring interesting new solutions to market and fuel innovation in the hardware space.”

Interested creators can learn more about eligibility requirements and apply at on the GroupGets website portal.