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

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2023-01-25
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-25-q-a-best-pcb-design-software-finding-co-founders-and-avoiding-unsold-inventory

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-25-q-a-best-pcb-design-software-finding-co-founders-and-avoiding-unsold-inventory#t=15) Introduction and PCB Software Recommendations

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Altium (tool)
- Eagle (tool)
- KiCad (tool)
- DipTrace (tool)
- Fusion 360 (tool)
- Home Depot (company)
- Blockbuster (company)
- LinkedIn (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S2E51 The Hardware Academy | John Teel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-12-03-s2e51-the-hardware-academy-john-teel) (Being an Engineer)
- [Pull The Trigger](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-02-19-pull-the-trigger) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Andrew Seddon - Necessary Networked Novelty](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-02-05-an-interview-with-andrew-seddon-necessary-networked-novelty) (The Amp Hour)
- [Cheap Respins And A Time Machine - Multiscience Mercenary Marketplace](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-06-04-cheap-respins-and-a-time-machine-multiscience-mercenary-marketplace) (The Amp Hour)
- [Adafruit, Chip heist, Hackerspaces - The Kit Conniption](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-04-26-adafruit-chip-heist-hackerspaces-the-kit-conniption) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-25-q-a-best-pcb-design-software-finding-co-founders-and-avoiding-unsold-inventory. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Predictable Designs Podcast.