Industry-Ready 3D Design for Hardware Startups
Bringing a physical product to market is complex, costly and risk-intensive — especially for early-stage hardware startups. That’s why SOLIDWORKS, represented by Axel Erraoui, Mainstream Innovation, SOLIDWORKS EMEAR Startup Ecosystem Management Specialist, has become a strategic partner of our Startup Community, helping innovators design, validate and manufacture better products from day one with professional-grade 3D engineering tools.
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An interview with Axel Erraoui,
Mainstream Innovation, SOLIDWORKS EMEAR Startup Ecosystem Management Specialist
We are proud to welcome Axel Erraoui as a strategic representative of SOLIDWORKS within our Startup Community. Through his role in managing the SOLIDWORKS Startup Ecosystem across EMEAR, Axel helps connect hardware innovators with industry-grade engineering tools that accelerate product development and reduce early-stage risk.
To better understand how startups can move from concept to production with stronger engineering foundations, we spoke with Axel about scalable design, manufacturability and the value of adopting professional 3D CAD and simulation tools from day one.
Engineering Innovation Made Accessible
SOLIDWORKS’ mission is clear: to support startups designing and manufacturing physical products by providing access to industry-ready 3D CAD and engineering tools. Axel Erraoui, who manages the SOLIDWORKS for Startup Program in Central and Southern Europe, Africa and the Middle East, oversees how eligible startups can access these tools free of charge.
“We provide SOLIDWORKS to startups free of charge, depending on specific criteria. The startup must be designing and producing a hardware product, and we also consider their level of funding and revenue,” explains Axel.
The programme is specifically focused on product-based companies. As Axel clarifies:
“We don’t accept Manufacturing/ Engineering Services or Consulting Firm.”
This ensures the support is directed at startups developing tangible hardware innovations.
Supporting Startups: Reducing Cost and Risk
SOLIDWORKS supports startups, scaleups and innovators by offering free or discounted licences through its Startup Program, significantly reducing early-stage software costs.
The platform enables teams to design, simulate and validate products within one integrated environment. This helps startups accelerate development, reduce prototyping risk and move more confidently towards production.
“As companies grow, SOLIDWORKS scales easily with modular tools and enterprise integrations, supporting a smooth transition from concept to production.”
Solving Early-Stage Product Development Challenges
Hardware startups often struggle to transform ideas into manufacturable designs while avoiding costly physical prototyping cycles. SOLIDWORKS enables rapid development of professional 3D models and early validation through simulation, helping teams reduce technical uncertainty and time-to-market.
“SOLIDWORKS helps startups solve early-stage challenges by enabling them to rapidly turn ideas into manufacturable 3D designs, validate concepts through simulation before costly prototyping.”
This integrated, industry-ready CAD environment helps startups build strong engineering foundations from day one.
What Makes SOLIDWORKS Different for Startups
SOLIDWORKS stands out by combining industry-standard 3D CAD, simulation and manufacturing tools within one intuitive platform — 3DEXPERIENCE — while offering startup-friendly licensing models.
Its ease of use, strong manufacturing focus and global ecosystem make it particularly attractive for early-stage hardware companies aiming to develop production-ready products without unnecessary complexity.
“Its ease of use, strong manufacturing focus, and large global ecosystem allow startups to design professional, production-ready products quickly.”
Beyond Software: Ecosystem and Local Support
Support goes beyond licences. Startups benefit from dedicated programmes, extensive training resources, certifications and a strong global user community.
Importantly, support is delivered locally, ensuring close collaboration and region-specific assistance.
“For each startup, support is provided by local teams based in the startup’s country, ensuring close, region-specific assistance.”
Advice for Startups
Adopting professional design tools early is key for hardware founders. Establishing manufacturable design foundations from the beginning reduces costly redesigns and enables smoother scaling.
“Investing time in training and best practices from the start will help teams scale smoothly, reduce costly redesigns, and accelerate the path from prototype to production.”
Final Thoughts
Bringing a hardware product to market requires more than a strong idea — it demands precision, validation and scalable engineering foundations. By giving startups access to professional 3D CAD and simulation tools from the start, SOLIDWORKS helps reduce risk and build products that are ready for real-world manufacturing.
“Startups considering SOLIDWORKS should adopt it early to establish strong, manufacturable design foundations.”
At Cascade Funding, partnerships like SOLIDWORKS reinforce our commitment to supporting startups beyond funding. By connecting our community with trusted industrial technology leaders, we help hardware innovators move from concept to production with greater confidence and long-term scalability.
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