bild Secures Funding for Cloud-Based Hardware Design Collaboration

From Hardware Frustration to Cloud Collaboration: The Story of Bild

During his time as a hardware engineering program manager at Apple, Pradyut Paul directly experienced the inefficiencies inherent in traditional hardware product development.

The reliance on outdated methods, such as email and spreadsheets, for building and sharing hardware presented significant hurdles.

The Genesis of Bild

A pivotal moment occurred when substantial costs – hundreds of thousands of dollars – were incurred due to expedited shipping necessitated by design delays.

This realization prompted Paul to seek a more streamlined approach to team interaction, aiming to accelerate hardware development and enhance design validation.

In 2020, Paul, alongside CTO Avinash Kunaparaju and COO Derrick Choi, founded Bild to address this challenge.

Their vision was to transition hardware collaboration to the cloud, enabling easier review of design processes and ultimately, faster product launches.

Cloud-Based Engagement and Stakeholder Communication

“Our core concept revolved around migrating engagements to a cloud-based platform,” Paul explained to TechCrunch.

“This goes beyond simple back-and-forth communication; it acknowledges the numerous stakeholders involved and centralizes the communication repository, moving it away from the often-chaotic inbox.”

Securing Seed Funding for Growth

Bild recently announced a $3 million seed round to fuel its expansion.

These funds will be allocated to strengthening the team in customer acquisition, sales, and marketing, as well as continuing product development, including the creation of a self-service onboarding experience for new users.

Tola Capital spearheaded the investment, with participation from Lux Capital, Shasta Ventures, Counterview Capital, Frontier Ventures, and Techstars.

Features and Functionality

Bild provides users with web-based viewers capable of interacting with a wide range of hardware design data.

This includes 3D CAD models, board files, bills-of-materials, schematics, drawings, and simulation data – information traditionally shared through screenshots and in-person meetings.

A Holistic Approach to Hardware Collaboration

While other companies address specific aspects of the hardware collaboration process, such as design review management for mechanical engineers or file collaboration, Paul asserts that Bild distinguishes itself.

Bild is uniquely positioned to encompass all these elements across an entire organization.

“Teams often operate independently, making comprehensive visibility difficult to achieve,” he noted.

“We are focused on the future of hardware, its increasing connection to software, and fostering a collaborative environment for both disciplines.”

From Beta to Public Availability

Bild completed a private beta testing phase with 25 companies before becoming publicly available with the announcement of its funding.

The company has successfully converted some beta users into paying customers and is currently refining its pricing strategies.

Future Development and Roadmap

The company is currently developing visual diffs and enhanced methods for visualizing CAD models.

This aims to bridge the gap between the experience of viewing designs in person versus on a computer screen.

The Digitalization of the Hardware Industry

Akshay Bhushan, principal at Tola Capital, highlights the significant opportunity within the hardware market, estimating its value between $50 billion and $70 billion as it undergoes digitalization.

He points out that established players like Autodesk previously dominated the space, but the rise of remote work is driving a convergence of hardware and software.

A Customer-Centric Solution

“Bild effectively addresses a universal challenge for engineers, transforming frustrating pain points into positive experiences,” Bhushan stated.

“Pradyut and Avinash demonstrate a strong customer focus, identifying problems directly voiced by their users and recognizing the inherent value and potential of Bild’s approach.”