TL;DR
- AllSpice.io is a new platform designed specifically for electrical hardware engineering teams to collaborate efficiently on complex design files like PCB and electronic CAD files.
- The platform fills a crucial workflow gap by enabling engineers to comment on specific aspects of designs, much like software developers do with code on GitHub.
- Founded by former engineers from Amazon and iRobot, AllSpice addresses unique pain points not solved by general collaboration tools like Slack or Google Docs.
- The startup recently raised a $15 million Series A funding round led by Rethink Impact to expand product development and grow the team.
- AllSpice is launching an AI agent in closed beta to help engineers validate designs and catch costly hardware mistakes early.
Bridging the Collaboration Gap for Hardware Teams
While software developers have platforms like Slack, Google Docs, and especially GitHub for collaborative coding, hardware engineers traditionally lack tools tailored to their needs. Electrical design files such as PCB layouts and electronic CAD files require a specialized platform for commenting and collaboration.
AllSpice.io positions itself as the “GitHub for electrical engineering,” allowing engineers to pinpoint and discuss design elements directly within these complex files. This capability helps reduce confusion and errors that occur with email chains or PDF annotations.
Founders Solve Their Own Pain Points
Co-founders Valentina Ratner (CEO) and Kyle Dumont (CTO) developed AllSpice after experiencing firsthand how electrical hardware collaboration suffers from inadequate tools. Both worked at leading companies — Ratner at Amazon and Dumont at iRobot — where they saw internal efforts to solve these problems fall short.
Ratner emphasized hardware design’s unique challenges: “Hardware design doesn’t translate well through emails and PDFs, and mistakes can be costly.”
Market Traction and Enterprise Adoption
Initially targeting startups and small businesses when launching in 2022, AllSpice pivoted toward enterprises after growing demand. Their clients now include major players such as Blue Origin, Bose, and Tools for Humanity, a startup backed by Sam Altman.
The recent $15 million Series A funding round led by Rethink Impact, with participation from L’attitude Ventures, Gingerbread Capital, and DNX Ventures, will fuel hiring and product innovation.
AI Agent for Design Validation: Reducing Hardware Risks
AllSpice is developing an AI-powered agent designed to validate engineering designs and detect errors early, a critical function given that hardware mistakes often incur much higher costs than software bugs.
The AI tool is currently in closed beta, focusing on working closely with existing partners to ensure reliability and accuracy before a broader launch.
AllSpice Key Data & Investors
| Metric / Aspect | Details | Source |
| Product Focus | Collaboration platform for electrical engineering teams | TechCrunch |
| Use Cases | PCB files, electronic CAD, design commenting | TechCrunch |
| Founders | Valentina Ratner (ex-Amazon), Kyle Dumont (ex-iRobot) | TechCrunch |
| Series A Funding | $15 million led by Rethink Impact | Rethink Impact |
| Customers | Blue Origin, Bose, Tools for Humanity | TechCrunch |
| AI Agent Status | Closed beta for design validation and error detection | TechCrunch |
Conclusion: Hardware Collaboration Gets Its Own Platform
AllSpice.io is carving out an important niche by providing electrical hardware engineers with a tailored collaboration platform. Its GitHub-like commenting and AI validation tools could significantly reduce errors and improve workflow efficiency in hardware design teams.
With growing enterprise adoption and fresh funding, AllSpice looks set to become a central tool for hardware development teams worldwide.
