Hi Usama. I think there is definitely potential in this space. Github has failed to deliver in this area and it is frustrating.
First, you should consider IP. People who do this commercially don't want to put all their IP on an unknown platform. If you are hosting, you can make guarantees, you can be transparent about your identity, you can show audits, you can work to increase trust, right now none of that is present. An alternative option is a deployable on-premises solution.
Second, a lot of money flows in this industry through iterative fabrication. You can work to tap that cashflow by integrating with fabricators. There is an opportunity to do the hard work for people in translating their BOM and design files to fabricator-anticipated formats, translating fabricator business process information (fulfillment times, design checks, etc.) in order to become a platform for iteration. This could be an awesome service in and of itself without the whole hosted design iteration thing.
Third, component dealers. You can obtain forward-looking metrics about component selection from switched on component dealers, who can also allow people to secure rare stock through your platform. Some of these deals are very large.
Basically, it's a chicken and egg problem. To get fabricators you need users. To get dealers you need users. To get users you need to add value while reducing risk and presenting a trustworthy and stable platform. Platform businesses are hard to build.
Ultimately you may do well to reconsider your approach and instead of building a platform business just build the visual diff, BOM, fabricator DRC, fabricator order status and other industry-specific software components necessary for someone like Github to acquire you and roll out value to a large user base. This may be much quicker to return and a much larger return.
Good luck.
First, you should consider IP. People who do this commercially don't want to put all their IP on an unknown platform. If you are hosting, you can make guarantees, you can be transparent about your identity, you can show audits, you can work to increase trust, right now none of that is present. An alternative option is a deployable on-premises solution.
Second, a lot of money flows in this industry through iterative fabrication. You can work to tap that cashflow by integrating with fabricators. There is an opportunity to do the hard work for people in translating their BOM and design files to fabricator-anticipated formats, translating fabricator business process information (fulfillment times, design checks, etc.) in order to become a platform for iteration. This could be an awesome service in and of itself without the whole hosted design iteration thing.
Third, component dealers. You can obtain forward-looking metrics about component selection from switched on component dealers, who can also allow people to secure rare stock through your platform. Some of these deals are very large.
Basically, it's a chicken and egg problem. To get fabricators you need users. To get dealers you need users. To get users you need to add value while reducing risk and presenting a trustworthy and stable platform. Platform businesses are hard to build.
Ultimately you may do well to reconsider your approach and instead of building a platform business just build the visual diff, BOM, fabricator DRC, fabricator order status and other industry-specific software components necessary for someone like Github to acquire you and roll out value to a large user base. This may be much quicker to return and a much larger return.
Good luck.