Connect student makers with affordable shared prototyping runs and local manufacturers.
Student entrepreneurs with manufacturing-heavy ideas face rejection from investors and lack of traditional funding, forcing reliance on crowdfunding while battling unaffordable prototype production costs.
ProtoPeer matches student entrepreneurs with peers for cost-sharing on prototypes and vetted manufacturers offering student discounts. Users post their specs, get instant matches, and negotiate small-batch production without upfront capital. This slashes costs by 50-70% via pooling and student perks, bypassing crowdfunding delays.
Student entrepreneurs building hardware products with manufacturing requirements
Exclusive student-verified network with built-in cost-sharing calculator and university-affiliated maker discounts.
supportive
Users create hardware project profiles with specs, quantities, and budget.
AI matches projects to student-friendly manufacturers and peer groups.
Real-time tool to pool orders with peers for bulk discounts.
Dashboard to receive, compare, and accept quotes from matches.
Upload .edu email for access to exclusive deals.
Track prototype production and delivery status.
In-app messaging with manufacturers and peers.
Rate manufacturers and build trust scores.
Import CAD files for auto-spec extraction.
Cost savings reports and project history.
Connect to CAD software and crowdfunding platforms.
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| text | No | |
| university | text | Yes |
| verified_student | bool | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| user_id | uuid | No |
| specs | text | No |
| quantity | int | No |
| budget | int | Yes |
| status | text | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| project_id | uuid | No |
| manufacturer_id | uuid | Yes |
| price | int | No |
| accepted | bool | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| name | text | No |
| student_discount | int | No |
Relationships:
/api/projectsCreate new project
/api/matchesGet matches for project
/api/quotesSubmit quote
/api/quotes/:id/acceptAccept quote
/api/users/verifyVerify student status
No cost sharing, 5 quotes/month
Up to 5 users
| Month | Users | Conversion | MRR | ARR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 100 | 2% | $80 | $960 |
| Month 6 | 600 | 5% | $1,200 | $14,400 |
Join peers and manufacturers for shared runs and student deals—no more funding rejections.
DM student makers on r/hardwarestartups, university maker spaces like MIT Fab Lab Discord, and hardware hackathon organizers via LinkedIn. Offer free Pro access for feedback and case studies.
Fast turnaround
High costs, no student focus
Student discounts and peer pooling for 70% savings
Quality network
Enterprise-oriented, ignores students
Tailored for student budgets and verification
Student-verified network effects: more users = better pooling and discounts.
Rise in student hardware startups post-COVID, with universities expanding maker spaces but lacking funding bridges.
Low adoption if students prefer DIY
Partner with 10 universities for co-marketing
Manufacturer onboarding slow
Seed with 20 pre-vetted partners
High Stripe fees on small txns
Subscription model minimizes
Success: 80% confirm pain and WOY
Success: 10 beta users complete projects
Success: 5 paying users week 1
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