# Jon Hirschtick | Founding & Developing the Solidworks and Onshape CAD Systems

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-02-10
- Length: 1h 15m
- Episode: 6
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/Jon-Hirschtick-solidworks-onshape/

## Summary

Jon Hirschtick, founder of SolidWorks and Onshape, and current Chief Evangelist at PTC, explains how he used personal funds from his time as a professional blackjack player to launch SolidWorks in 1993, targeting the gap between expensive Unix-based 3D CAD and 2D AutoCAD. He details the technical challenges of building a solid modeler on Windows and licensing Parasolid, leading to its success, and later founded Onshape to solve persistent user pain points like version control, installation failures, and file-based collaboration by creating a true cloud-native CAD and PDM system. Hirschtick discusses Onshape's features, including real-time collaboration, FeatureScript, and its subscription model, arguing that cloud-native architecture enables faster innovation and better security than legacy file-based systems.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems#t=0) Introduction: Jon Hirschtick and the Being an Engineer Podcast
- [2:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems#t=144) Jon's Early Life and Inspiration to Become an Engineer
- [4:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems#t=248) Funding SolidWorks with Blackjack Winnings and Early Investor Rejections
- [6:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems#t=405) The Market Gap: AutoCAD, Pro/ENGINEER, and the Windows Opportunity
- [17:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems#t=1032) Technical Challenges: Windows Platform and Component Technology
- [26:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems#t=1582) Onshape: Solving Version Control and Collaboration Pain Points
- [41:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems#t=2514) Migrating from SolidWorks and Process Changes in Teams
- [55:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems#t=3330) Onshape Features: Part Studios, FeatureScript, and Speed Modeling
- [1:03:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems#t=3827) Future Roadmap: Simulation, CAM, and Generative Design
- [1:09:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-02-10-jon-hirschtick-founding-developing-the-solidworks-and-onshape-cad-systems#t=4189) Advice for Engineers: Persistence and Learning from Failure

## Topics

- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Onshape (product)
- PTC (company)
- AutoCAD (product)
- Pro/ENGINEER (product)
- Creo (product)
- Parasolid (other)
- Siemens (company)
- Unigraphics (product)
- Linux (other)
- Windows (other)
- Unix (other)
- Salesforce (product)
- NetSuite (product)
- QuickBooks (product)
- Google Docs (product)
- Arena (product)
- ThingWorx (product)
- Codebeamer (product)
- Brostrom (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [153: The Evolution of CAD Product Development Software](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-12-07-153-the-evolution-of-cad-product-development-software) (Product Startup)
- [S3 E1: Mastering Tech Adoption and The Hardware Development Workflow with Jon Hirshtick](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2025-09-30-s3-e1-mastering-tech-adoption-and-the-hardware-development-workflow-with-jon-hir) (The Builder Circle)
- [122: Modern Methods for New Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-04-13-122-modern-methods-for-new-product-development) (Product Startup)
- [Jon Hirschtick from Onshape/PTC; Favorite robotics startups of 2021](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-10-07-jon-hirschtick-from-onshape-ptc-favorite-robotics-startups-of-2021) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [174: Agile Product Development & Additive Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-05-04-174-agile-product-development-additive-manufacturing) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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