# PCB West 2025: Electronics Industry Insights with Mike Buetow

- Show: [OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack)
- Published: 2025-10-31
- Length: 12m
- Episode: 323
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow
- Listen: https://podcast.altium.com/e/pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow/

## Summary

Mike Buetow, President of PCEA, discusses the growth of PCB West 2025 and the upcoming PCB East show, highlighting a strategic partnership with FPGA Horizons to attract embedded talent. He emphasizes the industry's demographic shift, noting a vibrant influx of young engineers and startups like Rainmaker Technology and Neuros who are driving innovation through rapid iteration and U.S.-based manufacturing. Buetow describes the PCEA community as tight-knit and collaborative, fostering mentorship between experienced veterans and new talent to ensure the industry's continued evolution.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow#t=3) Introduction: Mike Buetow and PCB West 2025 Growth
- [1:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow#t=70) PCB East 2026 Move to DCU Center and FPGA Horizons Partnership
- [2:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow#t=145) Intersection of PCB, Embedded Systems, and FPGA Vendors
- [4:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow#t=287) Bridging the Generational Gap: Young Talent and Veteran Engineers
- [6:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow#t=412) Startup Case Studies: Rainmaker Technology and Neuros Drones
- [9:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow#t=571) Institutionalized Risk Taking and Failure Tolerance
- [10:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow#t=605) PCEA Community Culture and Membership

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- PCEA (company)
- PCB West (other)
- PCB East (other)
- FPGA Horizons (other)
- Altium (company)
- AMD (company)
- Altera (company)
- Silicon Labs (company)
- Rainmaker Technology (company)
- Neuros (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From Design To Assembly: How PCEA Connects The Electronics Ecosystem with their President Mike Buetow](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-12-16-from-design-to-assembly-how-pcea-connects-the-electronics-ecosystem-with-their-p) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Exploring the Shift Towards a Sustainable PCB Industry with PCB Entrepreneur Steve Driver](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-25-exploring-the-shift-towards-a-sustainable-pcb-industry-with-pcb-entrepreneur-ste) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [BONUS - IPC President and CEO John Mitchell on Talent Shortages at APEX 2023 - EMSNOW & SCOOP On Location](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-02-02-bonus-ipc-president-and-ceo-john-mitchell-on-talent-shortages-at-apex-2023-emsno) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Trade Show or Conference?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-07-11-trade-show-or-conference) (The Amp Hour)
- [Last Chance for PDX Discount](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-18-last-chance-for-pdx-discount) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

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