Just Gonna Send It · 25 Mar 2026 · 54m · Episode 13
Zane Hengsperger, founder and CEO of Nox Metals, explains how he transitioned from a software career to building a modern metal service center in Detroit. He details the process of acquiring a massive high-speed saw, managing the high costs of rigging and installation, and leveraging software to automate quoting and nesting for American manufacturers. Hengsperger discusses his journey through Y Combinator, the importance of building a strong network, and his strategy for scaling operations to serve the aerospace and defense sectors in California.
Where this conversation describes AI being used to build or deliver a product. Part of the AI in practice tracker.
Engineering & simulationquotes in milliseconds
The company uses machine learning to improve job timing estimates, nesting algorithms, and inventory prediction to optimize shop floor capacity and reduce lead times.
“we're doing a lot of like machine learning, so like our our job timing estimates is getting better, our nesting is getting better, what drops we hold is getting better, what inventory we carry is getting better.”
SPEAKER_02 · Hear it at 47:48
early-stage companies
Other shows on the same ground, closest first.
Luke Iseman, head of hardware at Y Combinator, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in building hardware startups, emphasizing that hardware is becoming easier and faster to iterate than many founders realize. He highlights specific companies like Nebbia, which sells a high-end showerhead, and T-Bot, a commercial tea dispensing robot, as examples of successful hardware ventures that leverage branding and user-centric design over pure technical complexity. Iseman explains Y Combinator's support system, including their mini-lab resources and network of manufacturing partners, which helps founders move from prototype to production quickly. The conversation also covers the importance of validating product-market fit through crowdfunding and direct user feedback, rather than getting bogged down in early-stage cost optimization.
Ryan Zellers, founder of V1 Engineering, explains how his passion for making things led to the creation of the Mostly Printed CNC (MPCNC) and the growth of his company. He details his journey from working at Robo 3D and a medical device firm to bootstrapping V1 Engineering from a garage, leveraging the Thingiverse community for design feedback and sales. Zellers discusses his deliberate choice to remain a solo operator, using automation and contractors to handle logistics while he focuses on product design and community engagement.
Brogan Miller, founder of Doula Studios, describes his role as a 'doula for hardware startups,' helping early-stage companies navigate new product development and manufacturing. He shares insights from his career at companies like Sensel, AliveCor, and GaeaStar, including designing a 200-pound electromechanical charcoal barbecue and managing supply chains in Asia. Miller discusses the cultural nuances of sourcing in Vietnam versus China, the importance of networking for career growth, and the challenges of balancing perfection with shipping viable products.
Erin Mastroni, founder and president of I3D Manufacturing, explains how she transitioned from fashion trend forecasting to building one of the largest metal additive manufacturing contract manufacturers in the US. She details the company's evolution from a two-machine startup in Oregon to a 54-employee operation with two campuses, highlighting the pivotal role of early customer Blue Origin and the strategic acquisition by BTX Precision. Mastroni discusses the industry's shift from prototyping to production, the impact of private equity, and the emerging role of AI in optimizing powder usage and design.
Kaushik Mudda, Co-Founder and CEO of Ethereal Machines, explains how he and co-founder Navin Jain built India’s first 5-axis CNC machines after struggling to find affordable precision manufacturing in college. He details the company’s pivot from selling hardware to providing high-precision machining services for aerospace, defense, and healthcare sectors, citing a 75% reduction in production time for complex components. Mudda discusses the challenges of bootstrapping with only $100,000 in seed funding from Bluepoint, the strategic use of government patent schemes, and the critical importance of running parallel R&D experiments to accelerate deep-tech development.
The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Just Gonna Send It. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.