Rhode Island yacht manufacturer Hinckley Co. is the first strategic partner of My-Villages’ Innovation Partner (MVIP) program, which will include a limited number of boat builders, service yards, and marine-equipment manufacturers.

As the program evolves, Partners will have a direct line into the company’s product-development requirements and service capabilities. Requests from MVIPs will take priority, and all will have first views and access to test and review future releases of services.

Founded in 2011, My-Villages of Alexandria, Va., has created an online collaborative where consumers, service providers and product manufacturers can connect in online communities—or villages—specific to the things they own, build and service.