“Rollup Aims to Become Every Hardware Engineer’s Go-To Workhorse”
Hard tech startups have been generating a lot of buzz, but there’s a growing cohort of companies building digital tools squarely focused on making hard tech development faster, more efficient, and well, a whole lot more like software development. California-based Rollup is the latest startup to come out as part of this ensemble.
A New Era in Hard Tech Development
While Rollup is emerging from stealth on Monday, it’s actually been around for three years. But the team has kept a very low profile, despite raising a cumulative $5.6 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Thiel Capital. The startup has developed a software platform that could completely change how complex hardware is built.
The Rollup Platform: A Game-Changer in Hard Tech Development
The platform is designed to be a companion throughout the lifecycle of a product, comprehensively supporting tasks such as systems engineering, systems modeling, requirements management, technical documentation generation, design reviews, and more. The platform is composed of different ‘modules,’ like requirements management and a CAD viewer, and they all talk to each other and express changes made across the project.
A Workhorse Product for Engineers
‘Rollup is a workhorse product, not a homework assignment product,’ founder and CEO Collin Mickels explained in a recent interview. ‘A lot of engineering collaboration software is treated mostly like a homework assignment by the engineers. They go in, they upload their file, they approve it, and then they get out.’ In contrast, Rollup is meant to be left up on the side of an engineer’s screen as an all-day companion to their workflow.
The Status Quo: Communications Inefficiencies
Mickels, who had short stints at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Blue Origin, and Varda Space Industries before founding Rollup, said the status quo is characterized by communications inefficiencies, like meetings, emails, and Slack messages, or else entire job roles whose purpose is to reduce the friction between different disciplines, like mechanical, electrical, regulatory, and so on. ‘Engineers are spending 10, 20, 30% of their time doing non-engineering work, essentially,’ he said.
The Aim: Condensing Iteration Cycles in Complex Hardware
The aim of the platform is to condense the iteration cycles in complex hardware, and ultimately to help companies, especially those at the earliest stages, go to market faster with less technical risk. Rollup is earning revenue, and nearly all its customers are early-stage companies, ranging from small satellite builders to robotics companies.
Expanding Customer Base and Integrations
The startup is aiming to bring in more mature companies to its customer base, expanding the number of integrations with other tools, and introducing more features into the platform. With Rollup’s innovative approach, hard tech development just got a whole lot faster, more efficient, and more like software development.
Early-Stage Companies: The Perfect Fit for Rollup
Rollup is particularly suited for early-stage companies that need to iterate quickly on their complex hardware projects. By using Rollup’s platform, these companies can condense iteration cycles, reduce technical risk, and go to market faster.
A New Era in Hard Tech Development: Why It Matters
The development of digital tools like Rollup is a game-changer for the hard tech industry. With its innovative approach, Rollup is revolutionizing how complex hardware is built, making it more efficient, faster, and less prone to errors.
The Future of Hard Tech Development: What’s Next?
As Rollup continues to expand its customer base and develop new features, we can expect a significant shift in the hard tech industry. With digital tools becoming increasingly prevalent, companies will be able to iterate faster, reduce technical risk, and go to market sooner.
Conclusion: The Rise of Digital Tools in Hard Tech Development
In conclusion, Rollup’s innovative platform is revolutionizing the way complex hardware is built. By condensing iteration cycles, reducing technical risk, and making development more efficient, Rollup is changing the game for hard tech startups and companies alike. With its digital tools becoming increasingly prevalent, we can expect a significant shift in the industry, paving the way for faster innovation and growth.
About Rollup
Rollup is a California-based startup that has developed a software platform designed to make complex hardware development faster, more efficient, and less prone to errors. The platform is composed of different ‘modules,’ like requirements management and a CAD viewer, and they all talk to each other and express changes made across the project.
About Collin Mickels
Collin Mickels is the founder and CEO of Rollup. He has had short stints at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Blue Origin, and Varda Space Industries before founding Rollup. Mickels believes that digital tools are revolutionizing the hard tech industry and making it more efficient,
