AI matches your prototype to low-MOQ factories under $1k
Student entrepreneurs can't scale hardware prototypes to production because factories require unaffordable $10k minimum order quantities (MOQs).
Upload CAD/BOM specs; AI scans 500+ factories for best low-MOQ matches with quotes. Platform auto-sends RFQs, negotiates via templates, and tracks from quote to delivery. Students get production without solo high MOQs.
Student entrepreneurs and makers scaling hardware products from prototype to production on tight budgets
AI-powered matching with student pricing tiers and one-click RFQ templates tuned for prototypes
professional
AI extracts BOM/quantities from CAD files
Ranked list of factories by MOQ, price, lead time
One-click RFQ with pre-filled student discount request
Centralize incoming quotes and compare
Copy-paste scripts for MOQ/price haggling
Track selected orders end-to-end
Predict total costs at different quantities
Rate factories for community trust
Send to 10 factories at once
PDF quote comparisons
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| text | No | |
| student_verified | bool | No |
| created_at | timestamp | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| user_id | uuid | No |
| spec_url | text | No |
| quantity | int | No |
| status | text | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| name | text | No |
| moq_min | int | No |
| student_discount | bool | Yes |
| rating | int | Yes |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| project_id | uuid | No |
| factory_id | uuid | No |
| price | int | No |
| lead_time | int | Yes |
Relationships:
/api/projectsUpload and parse spec
/api/projects/:id/matchesGet factory matches
/api/rfqsSend RFQ to factories
/api/quotesList quotes for project
/api/factoriesSearch factories
No RFQ
None
API + teams
| Month | Users | Conversion | MRR | ARR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 120 | 2.5% | $75 | $900 |
| Month 6 | 900 | 4.5% | $1,012.5 | $12,150 |
AI matches + RFQs get you quotes under $1k. No more $10k minimums.
Run Twitter poll in #hardwarehacking, email student incubator leads (Y Combinator student batch), offer free Pro for case studies.
Cheap boards
Limited to PCBs, no matching
Full hardware + AI across factories
Variety
Scam risk, time sink
Curated low-MOQ + automation
Data moat: User quotes/ratings improve AI matching over time
AI parsing tools mature + global factory directories API-fied post-supply chain disruptions
AI spec parsing inaccurate
Fallback manual + fine-tune on user data
Factories ignore RFQs
Partner with top 20 first
Success: 50% response rate
Success: 15 RFQs sent
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