OnTrack · 30 Sept 2026 · 31m · Episode 356
Michael Corr, founder and CEO of Duro, explains why Altium acquired his cloud-based PLM platform to help hardware startups and small engineering teams manage product data without heavy IT overhead. He details how the Altium Designer plugin publishes library parts and full projects into Duro with part numbers and revision status, while the deeper integration within Altium 365 allows seamless switching between the two interfaces. Corr also highlights Duro's new AI agents that act as RF, mechanical DFM, and supply chain specialists to review change orders for teams that cannot hire those specialized roles. Finally, he emphasizes Duro's API-first architecture, which is designed to be easily consumed by AI coding agents to build custom integrations and extensions.
Where this conversation describes AI being used to build or deliver a product. Part of the AI in practice tracker.
Running the company
Duro uses AI to simplify the PLM onboarding and configuration process by having the AI read documentation and API specs to set up workflows based on natural language intent.
“AI is an obvious, you know, um, um, path to do that because you can tell the A model what your intent is and the A model can do the dirty work for you, read our documentation, read our API, understand the configurability options…”
Speaker 2 · Hear it at 13:33
early-stage companies
Other shows on the same ground, closest first.
Michael Corr, co-founder and CEO of Duro, and Justin Sears, Head of Product Marketing at Altium, discuss how Duro’s cloud-based PLM platform and Altium’s Agile Teams are breaking down silos between electrical, mechanical, and procurement teams. They explain how Duro’s API-first architecture enables specialized AI agents to automate tasks like BOM analysis and part sourcing, addressing the critical need for real-time supply chain visibility. The conversation highlights the acquisition of Duro by Altium, the shift from selling 'vitamins' to 'medicine' for hardware startups, and the resurgence of small, fast-moving hardware companies leveraging modern tooling.
Michael Corr, founder and CEO of Duro Labs, explains how Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software can streamline hardware development by integrating CAD, bill of materials, and supply chain data. He argues that legacy PLM systems are too complex for early-stage teams, leading many to use error-prone spreadsheets, and positions Duro as an out-of-the-box solution that automates engineering change orders and supplier communication. Corr highlights specific pain points like part shortages and binary CAD file formats, which cause costly PCB respins and delays, and advocates for open APIs to reduce friction between engineers, distributors, and manufacturers.
Michael Corr, Founder and CEO of Duro Labs, explains why hardware companies must adopt cloud-based PLM and API-driven workflows to overcome the inefficiencies of legacy on-premise software. He details how manual data transfer between siloed tools like CAD and ERP creates significant risk and cost, arguing that cloud security is now a commodity that eliminates the need for in-house expertise. Corr also highlights the business opportunity of using connected platforms to instantly access supplier data and parts availability, which helps engineers make better design decisions during shortages.
Ted Pawela, Chief Ecosystem Officer at Altium, and Misha Govshteyn, CEO of MacroFab, discuss their strategic partnership and the launch of the Altimate solution. They explain how this integration connects Altium Designer directly to MacroFab’s cloud manufacturing network, allowing designers to see real-time cost, availability, and DFM data. The conversation highlights the shift from 'designing for manufacturing' to 'designing with manufacturing' to maintain agility and data coherence during the new product introduction process.
Michael Corr, co-founder and CEO of Duro Labs, explains how his cloud-based SaaS tool helps hardware companies manage product data from prototype to production, addressing the inefficiencies of using Excel or antiquated PLM systems like SAP and Oracle. He discusses the gap between rapid prototyping technologies like 3D printing and the slow, manual nature of mass production, arguing that digitizing supplier interactions and implementing version control for CAD files are critical for agile hardware development. Corr also shares personal advice on networking and the importance of process in scaling startups, drawing on his 20-year background in telecom, IoT, and clean tech.
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