Hardware Podcasts

S5E52 Jon Hirschtick | Founding & Developing the Solidworks and Onshape CAD Systems

Being an Engineer · 27 Dec 2024 · 1h 15m · Episode 52

What this episode covers

Jon Hirschtick, founder of SolidWorks and Onshape, explains how he used winnings from the MIT Blackjack Team to fund SolidWorks' early days and overcame investor skepticism by targeting the Windows PC market with a 3D CAD tool. He details the technical challenges of building a solid modeler on Windows and licensing Parasolid, then describes the user pain points with file-based CAD that inspired him to build Onshape as a cloud-native, database-driven platform. Hirschtick discusses Onshape's real-time collaboration, feature script customization, and pricing model, while offering advice on persistence and embracing failure for engineer entrepreneurs.

Most relevant to

founders before launch and companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
PTC, Siemens, Salesforce, NetSuite, Arena
Products
SolidWorks, Onshape, AutoCAD, Pro/ENGINEER, Creo, NX, Google Docs, QuickBooks, Office 365, Ares, Vuforia, Code Beamer
Also
Parasolid, Feature Script

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Builder Circle · 1h 16m

    S3 E1: Mastering Tech Adoption and The Hardware Development Workflow with Jon Hirshtick

    Jon Hirshtick, founder of SolidWorks and Onshape, discusses the evolution of hardware development tools, emphasizing that software is a tool rather than a solution. He explains how customer visits and inferring needs drove the creation of features like the feature manager and cloud-native workflows. Hirshtick advises software founders to focus on usage metrics, understand market size realistically, and avoid the gap between demo and real-world complexity. He also shares lessons from his time on the MIT blackjack team regarding failure, persistence, and team dynamics.

    EDA & CAD toolsValidation & product-market fit
    13 chapters

  • Product Startup · 18m

    153: The Evolution of CAD Product Development Software

    Joe Dunne, Director of Partnerships at PTC, traces the evolution of CAD software from 2D drafting to 3D parametric modeling with SolidWorks, and finally to cloud-native platforms like Onshape. He explains how Onshape’s architecture, built on a RESTful API and an app store, allows for integrated third-party tools for simulation and manufacturing, enabling faster, cheaper product development. Dunne emphasizes that this modular, cloud-based approach eliminates legacy installation hurdles and version control issues, allowing startups to iterate quickly and get products to market with fewer resources.

    EDA & CAD toolsPrototyping & iteration
    7 chapters

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 1h 36m

    Jon Hirschtick from Onshape/PTC; Favorite robotics startups of 2021

    Jon Hirschtick, executive vice president at PTC and founder of SolidWorks and Onshape, discusses the evolution of product development, emphasizing the shift to cloud-based CAD and the increasing multidisciplinary nature of engineering. He highlights specific challenges for robotics developers, such as managing complex cabling, supply chain constraints, and ensuring safety in human-robot collaboration. The episode also features a segment on favorite robotics startups of 2021, including Gaddic, Skythe Robotics, and Wear Robotics.

    EDA & CAD toolsRobotics & autonomy
    7 chapters

  • Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast · 1h 19m

    Ep. 12 - Improving FreeCAD ft. Brad Collette from Ondsel

    Brad Collette, cofounder and CTO of Ondsel, explains how his company uses an open-core model to fund and improve the open-source CAD software FreeCAD. He details the technical challenges of solving the topological naming problem and building a robust assembly workbench, which are critical for commercial viability. Collette discusses the strategic decision to focus on enterprise features like version control and cloud collaboration to subsidize core improvements for hobbyists, while navigating the complex relationship with the FreeCAD Project Association (FPA).

    EDA & CAD toolsStarting a product company
    9 chapters

  • Product Startup · 32m

    122: Modern Methods for New Product Development

    John McEleney, Co-Founder and CEO of Onshape, explains how cloud-based 3D CAD software enables hardware startups to iterate faster and achieve product-market fit. He contrasts Onshape’s real-time collaboration and version control with legacy desktop systems like SolidWorks, highlighting how features like branching and FeatureScript reduce friction in the design process. McEleney emphasizes that modern tools allow teams to get prototypes into customer hands quickly to observe usage, rather than relying on static file exchanges. The discussion covers the shift from local installation to cloud-native platforms, enabling parallel workflows and agile product development for small teams and large enterprises alike.

    EDA & CAD toolsValidation & product-market fit
    9 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Being an Engineer. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.