5-axis CNC milling drawing: Al 7075-T6 block with pockets, toolpath and dimensions

Manufacturing for Startups

From first prototype to Kickstarter fulfillment. We grow with you.

Q: Do you work with early-stage startups?

Yes — a significant fraction of our business comes from hardware startups. We take 10-part orders, provide engineering DFM feedback (not just quotes), and work directly with founders and early engineers. No minimum PO amount beyond a $100 order floor. We understand the iteration-heavy nature of hardware development and adapt lead times and quantities accordingly.

Q: What's the typical progression from prototype to shipped product?

Typical startup progression: (1) First prototypes — 3–10 parts, CNC metal + SLA/SLS plastic. (2) Alpha units — 20–50 functional prototypes in real materials. (3) Beta/pilot — 100–500 units for user testing, rapid aluminum tooling for plastics. (4) Kickstarter/pre-sale fulfillment — 500–5,000 units, could still be rapid tooling. (5) Production — 10,000+ units, steel tooling justified. We support the entire journey.

Q: Can you help with DFM for our first hardware product?

Yes — free DFM review on every quote. Our engineers review your CAD for manufacturability issues: tolerances tighter than necessary (cost drivers), wall thickness problems, draft angle issues, feature accessibility. Written feedback with specific suggestions within 24–48 hours. This is especially valuable for first-time hardware teams.

Q: Will you sign NDAs?

Yes, standard practice. We sign NDAs with all serious prospects before detailed technical discussions. Our standard NDA is mutual and covers your design, our manufacturing methods, and pricing. Our template is available on request, or we can sign your NDA template. We do not require exclusivity clauses.

Q: What's the minimum quantity I can order?

Technical minimum: 1 part. Economic minimum: $100 per PO (to cover shipping, admin, and setup overhead). Most first orders from startups are 10–50 parts in the $500–3,000 range — comfortable sweet spot for iteration. As volumes grow, per-unit costs drop significantly.

Q: Can you drop-ship Kickstarter orders to my backers?

Yes — we provide fulfillment service for Kickstarter and similar campaigns. Options: (1) Bulk ship to your warehouse for assembly/fulfillment. (2) Drop-ship individually to backers (we provide per-unit packaging, shipping labels, address handling). (3) Regional bulk (consolidated ship to your US/EU fulfillment partner). We've shipped thousands of Kickstarter units and understand the challenges of crowdfunding fulfillment.

Hardware manufacturing partner for early-stage startups: 10-part orders accepted, free DFM feedback, NDAs standard, honest engineering advice. From your first CAD file through pilot production, we\'ve been here before — with 14 years of hardware-startup experience.

Email an RFQ WhatsApp us All industries

Consumer & product designWuxi, ChinaMOQ 1 partDFM review included

Technical plate for From first prototype to Kickstarter fulfillment. We grow wit

How we run it

Manufacturing for startups

Hardware startups go through predictable phases. Each phase has a different optimal manufacturing approach. Getting the match right saves cash, time, and iteration cycles.

3-7 daysTypical lead time

MOQ 1No minimum quantity

<4 hQuote response

ISO 9001Quality system

01 · The startup journey

Every stage has its own strategy.

Proof of concept (weeks 0–8)

Focus on form factor validation, not manufacturability. Iterate cheaply on geometry. Don't optimize for manufacturing yet — the design will change.

Alpha prototype (months 2–4)

First functional prototypes in real materials. Start drop testing, thermal testing, user interviews. DFM review for manufacturability — this is where we catch problems early.

Beta/pilot (months 4–8)

Beta users receive real functional units. Rapid aluminum tooling for plastic parts ($1,500–6,000 per tool, 500–5,000 shots). Design should be frozen or very nearly so.

Kickstarter/pre-order (months 8–14)

Fulfillment begins. Rapid aluminum tools can bridge 5,000+ units before steel tool is needed. Expect some unit iteration during early shipping based on user feedback.

Production scaling (months 12+)

Steel production tooling (4–8 week build time, 500,000+ shot life). Consider dedicated production partnerships. Volume economics start to dominate decisions.

Hardware startups go through predictable phases. Each phase has a different optimal manufacturing approach. Getting the match right saves cash, time, and iteration cycles.

02 · Why startups work with us

What makes us startup-friendly.

No minimum order

10 parts accepted. No gatekeeping quantities. Start small, scale as you grow.

Free DFM feedback

Engineers review your CAD for manufacturability — free with every quote. Catches expensive mistakes early.

NDAs standard

Sign NDAs before detailed review on sensitive designs. We take confidentiality seriously.

Fast iteration

CNC parts in 5 days, 3D prints in 3 days. Iterate as fast as your team can.

Direct engineer access

Talk to the engineer who will make your parts. No salesperson layer between you and the shop floor.

Honest timelines

We commit to realistic lead times and meet them. No vague "we'll try" — either we can or we can't.

Kickstarter experience

Shipped thousands of Kickstarter units. Understand crowdfunding fulfillment challenges.

Scale with you

Same relationship at 10 parts or 10,000 parts. No handoff to a different team as you grow.

Engineering advice

Not just "here's your quote" — real advice on material choice, manufacturing process selection, tolerance trade-offs.

FAQ

From first prototype to Kickstarter fulfil — questions

Do you work with early-stage startups?

Yes — a significant fraction of our business comes from hardware startups. We take 10-part orders, provide engineering DFM feedback (not just quotes), and work directly with founders and early engineers. No minimum PO amount beyond a $100 order floor. We understand the iteration-heavy nature of hardware development and adapt lead times and quantities accordingly.

What's the typical progression from prototype to shipped product?

Typical startup progression: (1) First prototypes — 3–10 parts, CNC metal + SLA/SLS plastic. (2) Alpha units — 20–50 functional prototypes in real materials. (3) Beta/pilot — 100–500 units for user testing, rapid aluminum tooling for plastics. (4) Kickstarter/pre-sale fulfillment — 500–5,000 units, could still be rapid tooling. (5) Production — 10,000+ units, steel tooling justified. We support the entire journey.

Can you help with DFM for our first hardware product?

Yes — free DFM review on every quote. Our engineers review your CAD for manufacturability issues: tolerances tighter than necessary (cost drivers), wall thickness problems, draft angle issues, feature accessibility. Written feedback with specific suggestions within 24–48 hours. This is especially valuable for first-time hardware teams.

Will you sign NDAs?

Yes, standard practice. We sign NDAs with all serious prospects before detailed technical discussions. Our standard NDA is mutual and covers your design, our manufacturing methods, and pricing. Our template is available on request, or we can sign your NDA template. We do not require exclusivity clauses.

What's the minimum quantity I can order?

Technical minimum: 1 part. Economic minimum: $100 per PO (to cover shipping, admin, and setup overhead). Most first orders from startups are 10–50 parts in the $500–3,000 range — comfortable sweet spot for iteration. As volumes grow, per-unit costs drop significantly.

Can you drop-ship Kickstarter orders to my backers?

Yes — we provide fulfillment service for Kickstarter and similar campaigns. Options: (1) Bulk ship to your warehouse for assembly/fulfillment. (2) Drop-ship individually to backers (we provide per-unit packaging, shipping labels, address handling). (3) Regional bulk (consolidated ship to your US/EU fulfillment partner). We've shipped thousands of Kickstarter units and understand the challenges of crowdfunding fulfillment.

Keep reading

PifyC

Send a CAD file. Get an engineering-reviewed quote.

No minimum quantity, free DFM feedback from a senior manufacturing engineer, and an NDA signed before file review on request.

Email the RFQ WhatsApp the team How quoting works