Match your hardware prototype to factories with zero upfront tooling fees.
Small businesses can't afford the high upfront tooling costs and factory setup fees required to scale hardware prototypes to production.
ProtoMatch connects small businesses with vetted factories offering production without high setup costs by matching prototype specs to available capacity. Users upload designs, get instant matches, and negotiate pay-per-unit terms. Scale seamlessly from prototype to mass production without financial barriers.
Small businesses developing hardware prototypes and seeking to scale to mass production
AI-powered matching algorithm that prioritizes factories with pre-paid shared tooling, slashing upfront costs by 80%.
professional
Securely upload CAD files and specs for analysis.
AI matches to 100+ factories with no-upfront options.
Get pay-per-unit quotes in minutes.
eSign agreements directly in-app.
Real-time production and shipping updates.
Predict total costs based on volume.
Rate factories post-production.
Match multiple prototypes at once.
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| text | No | |
| name | text | Yes |
| created_at | timestamp | No |
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | Yes |
| user_id | uuid | No |
| name | text | No |
| file_url | text | No |
| specs | text | Yes |
| created_at | timestamp | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| prototype_id | uuid | No |
| factory_id | uuid | No |
| quote_per_unit | int | No |
| status | text | No |
| created_at | timestamp | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| name | text | No |
| capabilities | text | Yes |
| no_upfront | bool | No |
/api/prototypesUpload new prototype
/api/matches/:prototypeIdGet matches for prototype
/api/quotes/:matchId/acceptAccept quote and create order
/api/orders/:idTrack order status
/api/factoriesList available factories
No tracking
50 orders/month
None
| Month | Users | Conversion | MRR | ARR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 100 | 2% | $58 | $696 |
| Month 6 | 800 | 5% | $1,160 | $13,920 |
Get matched to factories ready for pay-per-unit production in minutes.
Post in Indie Hackers and r/hardwarestartups about beta access for first 10 signups. DM 20 small hardware Kickstarter creators on Twitter/X with personalized pain-point outreach. Offer free Pro tier for feedback in exchange for case study.
Fast PCBs
High minimums for custom tooling
Zero upfront for any hardware, AI matching
Wide materials
Setup fees common
Pay-per-unit focus, small biz optimized
Network effects from growing factory-prototype matches and user reviews data.
Rise of desktop manufacturing and AI design tools lowers prototype costs, but scaling bottleneck persists amid supply chain recovery.
Low adoption if factories don't join
Seed with 20 pre-vetted factories
AI matching accuracy
Start rule-based, iterate with data
Quality control issues
Review system + insurance partnerships
Success: 10 express interest
Success: 3 paid conversions
Success: 200 signups
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