AllSpice: The GitHub for Electrical Engineering Teams
▼ Summary
– AllSpice.io provides a collaboration platform specifically for electrical hardware engineering teams, addressing gaps in existing tools like Slack and email for PCB and CAD files.
– The platform integrates with existing workflows rather than replacing them, allowing engineers to comment on design aspects similar to GitHub’s code review functionality.
– Founders Kyle Dumont and Valentina Ratner validated the product by focusing on user feedback, including unspoken needs, to create a centralized solution for electronics teams.
– AllSpice pivoted from serving small businesses to enterprises, securing clients like Blue Origin and Bose, and recently raised a $15M Series A round for expansion.
– The startup is launching an AI agent in closed beta to help engineers validate designs and spot errors, prioritizing accuracy due to hardware’s higher mistake costs compared to software.
Collaboration tools have transformed software development, but electrical engineering teams often struggle with outdated workflows. While platforms like GitHub streamline code collaboration, hardware designers lacked equivalent solutions for PCB and CAD files, until AllSpice.io entered the scene. This startup bridges the gap by enabling engineers to annotate and review circuit board designs with the same precision software developers apply to code.
AllSpice’s founders recognized that hardware teams needed integration, not replacement. Instead of overhauling existing tools like electrical CAD or product lifecycle management systems, they built a platform that connects them. Co-founder Kyle Dumont emphasized their approach: “We focused on operating between established workflows rather than disrupting them.” Early user feedback shaped the product’s direction, with CEO Valentina Ratner noting, “Silence spoke volumes, understanding what engineers didn’t need helped us create a true workflow hub.”
The founders’ firsthand engineering experiences at Amazon and iRobot revealed critical pain points. Ratner recalled wasting hours on makeshift solutions, while Dumont saw teams drowning in inefficient email threads. Their shared vision materialized during grad school, leading to AllSpice’s 2022 launch. Initially targeting startups, demand quickly expanded to major players like Blue Origin, Bose, and Tools for Humanity, prompting a strategic pivot toward enterprise clients.
A recent $15 million Series A funding round, led by Rethink Impact, will accelerate hiring and product development. The capital also supports AllSpice’s newest innovation: an AI agent designed to catch design errors before they escalate. Unlike software bugs, hardware mistakes carry significant costs, making accuracy non-negotiable. “Our AI tools must meet the industry’s high-stakes standards,” Dumont explained. Currently in closed beta, the feature prioritizes precision through controlled testing with trusted partners.
By addressing the unique challenges of hardware collaboration, AllSpice aims to become the central platform for electronics teams. As Ratner put it, “We’re not just another tool, we’re building the home base for hardware innovation.” With AI-enhanced validation and seamless workflow integration, the startup is poised to redefine how engineers design the next generation of technology.
(Source: TechCrunch)
