Guide: start a hardware company in 8 steps with ChatGPT Astra modeling
A $250-prototype hardware startup walkthrough: Astra models the object in Blender or FreeCAD, then 3D printing, an ESP32, JLCPCB, Alibaba, Shopify and FBA.
how to start a hardware company in 8 steps ($250 for your prototype) 1. describe the object to chatgpt astra or claude fable. astra opens blender or freecad, both free 3D design apps, and builds it in there like a cracked person would. $20 sub is enough 2. print it. upload the file to JLC3DP, a chinese factory site that prints it and mails you the part for $20. or buy a bambu a1 mini, a desktop 3D printer, for $299 if you'll print a lot (I'm getting one FOR SURE) 3. if it needs wifi or a brain, add an ESP32. it's a $5 chip the size of a stamp, it's inside half the smart gadgets you own 4. get the circuit board made. JLCPCB is the same factory's site for electronics. upload the board design, they build it and solder the chip on. about $100 for a small batch 5. use it for a week, fix what annoys you show it to your homies. print again 6. once it works, find a factory on alibaba, the chinese wholesale marketplace. order one sample for $50-100 (+ shipping) before you order 100 7. sell it. shopify is your web store, $39 a month. kickstarter collects the money before you build the 100. use organic social for free reach. 8. ship it. shipbob or amazon FBA are warehouses that store your boxes and mail them out, so you never touch one it's the best time ever to be a curious person with a computer go make things :) ps. I know there is nuance to the pricing etc, the point here is that things have gotten A LOT cheaper and simpler
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