Q&A - Best PCB Design Software, Finding Co-founders, and Avoiding Unsold Inventory

Predictable Designs Podcast · 25 Jan 2023 · 43m

What this episode covers

Host John Teel answers questions from his Hardware Academy members regarding PCB design software, sales strategy, and co-founder selection. He advises entrepreneurs to use accessible tools like KiCad or DipTrace rather than expensive suites like Altium or Eagle, warning that software incompatibility can hinder future outsourcing. To avoid unsold inventory, he recommends pre-selling to a warm audience and starting with small production runs to validate demand before scaling. Finally, he suggests finding a technical co-founder through networking and universities, emphasizing that the founder must demonstrate significant progress and risk-taking to attract serious partners and fair equity splits.

Mentioned

Companies
Home Depot, Blockbuster
Tools
Altium, Eagle, KiCad, DipTrace, Fusion 360
Also
LinkedIn

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