# An Interview with Saar Drimer

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2016-02-12
- Length: 1h 18m
- Episode: 286
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-02-12-an-interview-with-saar-drimer
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/286-an-interview-with-saar-drimer/

## Summary

Saar Drimer, founder of Boldport, discusses his background in hardware security at Xilinx and Cambridge, where he demonstrated relay attacks on Chip and Pin systems. He details the failure of his previous EDA tool, Boldport Flow, and the creation of PCB mode, an open-source tool that uses Inkscape to design artistic circuit boards. Drimer explains how Boldport leverages this unique visual approach to sell custom hardware services and a new subscription service called the Boldport Club, which delivers limited-edition electronic projects like the Peas board and Cordwood puzzle to members.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-02-12-an-interview-with-saar-drimer#t=0) Introduction: Saar Drimer and Boldport
- [1:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-02-12-an-interview-with-saar-drimer#t=119) Xilinx FPGA Verification and Cambridge PhD
- [9:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-02-12-an-interview-with-saar-drimer#t=575) Chip and Pin Security and Relay Attacks
- [21:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-02-12-an-interview-with-saar-drimer#t=1262) Boldport Flow Failure and EDA Industry Culture
- [30:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-02-12-an-interview-with-saar-drimer#t=1848) PCB Mode: Inkscape Integration and Artistic PCBs
- [47:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-02-12-an-interview-with-saar-drimer#t=2836) Boldport Club Subscription Service and Projects
- [58:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-02-12-an-interview-with-saar-drimer#t=3522) Future of EDA and Open Source Innovation

## Topics

- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Boldport (company)
- Xilinx (company)
- Chip and Pin (product)
- PCB mode (tool)
- Inkscape (tool)
- Boldport Flow (product)
- Gate Rocket (company)
- KiCad (tool)
- Boldport Club (product)
- Peas board (product)
- Cordwood puzzle (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [171: Perfectly Good Being Square and Green](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green) (Embedded.fm)
- [100: Unintentional Radiator](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-05-06-100-unintentional-radiator) (Embedded.fm)
- [T-25-010 :  Ioannis Papamanoglou and Narayan Powderly - Engineers transforming how we design, test, and build hardware with atopile](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-01-01-t-25-010-ioannis-papamanoglou-and-narayan-powderly-engineers-transforming-how-we) (TRADEOFFS)
- [324: I'll Let You Name Your Baby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-03-19-324-ill-let-you-name-your-baby) (Embedded.fm)
- [014 - Ferrycast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2018-07-10-014-ferrycast) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

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