AI-powered quality checks and inspector network for overseas hardware manufacturing.
University students experience prolonged supply chain delays and poor product quality when outsourcing manufacturing overseas for their startup products.
ProtoGuard deploys a global network of freelance inspectors to audit overseas factories pre-production. AI predicts quality risks from order specs, and students get video reports to avoid defects. Ensures reliable products without the usual delays from rework.
University students developing hardware startup products who outsource manufacturing overseas
Student-focused inspector matching with AI risk scoring, at 1/3 the cost of enterprise QA services.
supportive
AI analyzes specs to score factory quality risks.
Assign vetted inspectors near supplier factories.
Book audits with calendar integration.
Video/photo reports with pass/fail metrics.
Automated notifications if issues found.
Track past inspections for factories.
Tailor QA checklists per project.
Hook into order management tools.
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| text | No | |
| edu_email | text | Yes |
| role | text | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| user_id | uuid | No |
| factory_name | text | No |
| status | text | No |
| risk_score | int | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| name | text | No |
| location | text | No |
| rating | int | Yes |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| inspection_id | uuid | No |
| videos_url | text | Yes |
| passed | bool | No |
Relationships:
/api/risk-scoreGenerate AI risk prediction
/api/inspectionsBook new inspection
/api/reports/:idFetch inspection report
/api/inspectorsList available inspectors
No inspections
Standard inspectors
None
| Month | Users | Conversion | MRR | ARR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 80 | 2% | $56 | $672 |
| Month 6 | 700 | 4% | $980 | $11,760 |
AI predictions + on-site inspections for student hardware—no more defective prototypes.
Target hardware startup students via Twitter searches for #StudentMaker, email lists from university incubators, free first inspection trials shared in startup Discords.
Experienced network
Corporate pricing, no AI
Student discounts + AI for proactive risks
Data moat from inspection reports training AI over time.
Supply chain volatility post-2023 with students seeking reliability.
Inspectors unreliable
Vetting process + ratings
AI accuracy low initially
Human override + iterations
Success: 80% willing to pay
Success: 10 bookings
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