atopile

What do they actually do

atopile is an open‑source, code‑first toolchain for designing printed circuit boards. Engineers describe circuits and constraints in a small declarative language (“ato”), then build to get deterministic outputs: bills of materials, fabrication/assembly files, and a KiCad PCB layout. The toolchain includes a CLI, a VS Code/Cursor extension, a package registry of reusable modules, and integrations to open layouts in KiCad for iteration (docs quickstart, language, compiler, packages, layout).

A typical workflow is: write or assemble .ato modules, run a build that resolves constraints and picks parts, then optionally refine the generated layout in KiCad. Builds can run in CI so manufacturing files are produced automatically. The project is actively developed with frequent releases and features like a KiCad plugin, package browser, and MCP/AI hooks (GitHub, changelog, releases).

Who are their target customer(s)

• Individual electrical engineers designing PCBs (often KiCad users): They spend time drawing schematics and picking parts by hand, and want a repeatable way to turn design intent into BOMs and layout files. atopile generates fabrication/assembly files and a KiCad PCB from code to speed iteration (quickstart, layout).
• Firmware engineers coordinating hardware–software interfaces: They get burned by mismatched interfaces and unclear requirements; they need a single source of truth that produces deterministic outputs (BOMs, files) that can be referenced from code and CI (compiler).
• Small hardware teams and startups moving from prototype to repeatable manufacturing: They struggle with inconsistent parts, fragile handoffs, and slow iteration. atopile’s package registry and build automation support reuse and automated builds (packages, quickstart).
• Larger engineering organizations with governance and compliance needs: They require access controls, private registries, traceability, and SLAs for regulated or large‑scale work; atopile plans to offer enterprise features on top of its open core (YC).
• Open‑hardware contributors and maintainers: They face duplicated effort and difficulty sharing verified designs. atopile’s package index and examples aim to make publishing and reuse simpler (packages, GitHub).

How would they acquire their first 10, 50, and 100 customers

• First 10: Convert active community members by offering 1:1 onboarding to GitHub contributors, package users, and Discord members to help them ship a board; publish short case studies and ask for direct referrals (GitHub, packages).
• First 50: Run hands‑on workshops and tutorials for KiCad and firmware communities; use templates and live demos to turn interest into trial projects, amplified by YC/press visibility (quickstart, YC, TechCrunch).
• First 100: Offer short paid pilots and concierge onboarding (private package trials, CI integration help, SLA previews) to convert teams; add partnerships (KiCad plugin outreach, PCB fab promos) and community sponsorships to scale inbound (packages, YC).

What is the rough total addressable market

Top-down context:

Nearest TAM is PCB design software, estimated around USD ~3–4+ billion today across multiple analysts (Dynamic Market Insights, Fortune Business Insights). Broader EDA (IC/PCB/verification) is much larger, in the multi‑billion to multi‑tens‑of‑billions range (Grand View Research).

Bottom-up calculation:

Using professional engineer counts as a proxy, if ~300k–600k global professionals use paid PCB tools and average annual spend is ~$5k per seat, the addressable spend is ~$1.5–3.0B; a higher seat count or ARPU aligns with the ~$3–4B top‑down range (proxies: BLS US electrical engineers, IEEE members worldwide).

Assumptions:

• Professional PCB users are a subset of the global electrical/electronics community (estimated via BLS and IEEE proxies).
• Average annual spend per commercial seat ~$3k–$7k across licenses, maintenance, and add‑ons.
• Open‑source users convert to paid via enterprise features (private registries, governance, support).

Who are some of their notable competitors

• KiCad: Open‑source EDA suite for schematic capture and PCB layout; the de facto free alternative used by many professionals and hobbyists (site).
• Altium Designer: Established commercial PCB design platform with advanced layout, libraries, and collaboration used in professional workflows (site).
• Cadence OrCAD/Allegro: Enterprise‑grade PCB design and analysis tools commonly used in larger organizations and regulated environments (site).
• Autodesk Fusion 360 Electronics (Eagle): PCB design integrated with mechanical CAD in Fusion 360, suited for teams that want ECAD‑MCAD workflows (site).
• JITX: Code‑driven electronics design environment pursuing automation and reuse, conceptually similar in goals around describing hardware in code (site).