Allspice: The GitHub for Electrical Engineering

Collaboration for Hardware Engineers: AllSpice.io

While numerous workflow collaboration tools exist for software developers – such as Slack and Google Docs, alongside specialized platforms like GitHub – a need existed for a dedicated solution tailored to electrical hardware engineering teams. AllSpice.io identified this gap and has successfully developed a collaborative platform specifically for this purpose.

Bridging the Gap in Hardware Workflows

AllSpice’s platform functions as an intermediary between current workflow software systems. It facilitates collaboration on document types commonly used by hardware teams – documents that are often incompatible with standard communication channels like Slack and email. These include PCB files and electronic CAD files, essential for circuit board design.

Engineers are now able to pinpoint and annotate specific design elements within these files, mirroring the functionality software engineers experience when commenting on code lines via GitHub.

A Strategic Approach to Product Development

According to Kyle Dumont, co-founder and CTO of AllSpice, the startup’s success stems from its focus on augmenting existing tools rather than attempting to create a complete, end-to-end collaboration system. They recognized the established workflows already in place within hardware teams.

“The teams we engaged with already had deeply integrated tools,” Dumont explained. “They utilized electrical CAD software, [product lifecycle management] systems, and established processes. Our launched product was designed to seamlessly integrate with these existing systems.”

Learning from User Feedback

This strategy was informed by extensive research conducted by the founding team prior to product launch. Valentina Ratner, co-founder and CEO, shared that AllSpice not only analyzed user feedback – both positive and negative – but also identified what features were not being utilized.

“Perhaps the most insightful discoveries were the features that users didn’t require or desire,” Ratner stated. “This helped us refine our scope, creating a truly valuable and integral component of the workflow. Our goal was to establish a centralized platform, not just another isolated solution, for electronics teams.”

Driven by Firsthand Experience

Both Ratner and Dumont drew upon their personal experiences as engineers at Amazon and iRobot, respectively, to understand the challenges AllSpice aims to address. Ratner noted the limitations of email and PDFs for hardware design, and ultimately dedicated much of her time at Amazon to developing an internal collaboration tool to overcome these issues.

From Startup Focus to Enterprise Demand

The pair initially connected in graduate school and launched the first iteration of AllSpice in 2022, targeting small businesses and startups. However, growing demand from larger enterprises prompted a strategic pivot, leading to clients such as Blue Origin, Bose, and Sam Altman’s Tools for Humanity.

Securing Series A Funding

The company recently secured $15 million in Series A funding, led by Rethink Impact, with participation from L’attitude Ventures, Gingerbread Capital, and DNX Ventures, alongside existing investors. These funds will be allocated to expanding the team and further developing the product suite.

Introducing AI-Powered Design Validation

AllSpice is also introducing a new AI agent tool designed to validate engineering designs and identify potential errors.

“We’ve observed significant interest in how our hardware and AI tools can enhance team efficiency and prevent design flaws, and that’s precisely what this product addresses,” Dumont said.

Prioritizing Accuracy and Reliability

Currently, the new AI agent is being launched in a closed beta, with a focus on collaboration with existing partners. Ratner emphasized the importance of ensuring complete accuracy before wider release.

“The consequences of errors in hardware are considerably more significant than those in software,” Ratner explained. “We must develop this tool in a manner appropriate for our industry, acknowledging the fundamental differences between releasing a software product and a hardware product.”