Production is moving ahead smoothly and we’re getting closer to delivery, although shipping will be a little later than planned. Bela Gem units are now being manufactured; we expect to send them to Mouser in early December, with deliveries to backers beginning in early January.

Manufacturing Underway

All Bela Gem designs are now verified and in full production. Our test jigs and testing procedures are complete, so each unit will be checked and validated before it leaves the factory. We’re confident the hardware you’ll receive will meet the high standard we’ve set for this release.

Updated Shipping Schedule

We’re running slightly behind our original estimate, and we want to be transparent about that. The current plan is:

• Early December: finished Bela Gem units shipped to Mouser
• Early January: Mouser begins fulfilling backer orders

We appreciate your patience. Taking this extra time helps ensure the boards you receive are as reliable and refined as they can be.

Testing and Software Progress

Our beta testers have been hard at work putting the early units through their paces. They’ve been stress-testing both hardware and software in a variety of setups. The new Bela IDE has been a particular focus, and it’s now close to completion. We’ll share more details about software and IDE improvements in the next update.

What’s Next

• Complete manufacturing and testing
• Complete final image to be flashed on SD cards for backers
• Ship units to Mouser in early December
• Begin backer deliveries in early January
• Next update: IDE and software news

Thanks again for your continued support and enthusiasm. We can’t wait to get Bela Gem into your hands, and to see what you’ll create with it.

The Bela Team