Jiga

We’re proud to sponsor the latest episode of The Builder’s Circle going live today! Sera E. sits down with Kristen Edwards (CTO and cofounder at Pensa Technologies and PhD candidate at MIT ) to talk about how AI is actually transforming hardware engineering and manufacturing, not just software. Stay tuned.

Big news: we just raised a $12M series a to fix how hardware teams source custom parts. For years, hardware teams have had to pick between instant quote platforms that hide suppliers in a black box or local shops that run out of capacity right when you need them. Jiga is built for the people who actually build hardware. Engineers get direct access to vetted manufacturers from prototype through production, with automation handling everything they don't want to deal with while keeping them in control. Direct communication with the people making the parts enables hardware teams to apply their expertise and build relationships that stick so quality stays consistent instead of starting over every time. What you get with Jiga: ✅ Direct communication with vetted manufacturers ✅ Reliable capacity from R&D to production ✅ Consistent quality through continuity of specs ✅ Less admin work, more time building This round is fuel, not the finish line. To our investors, customers, suppliers, partners, and team - thank you! And if you’re building hardware that needs dependable, high-quality custom parts, you already know why this matters. Let’s keep moving the industry forward together!

Scaling used to mean compromise (on price, quality, and/or service). Not anymore. Félix’s experience with Jiga proves what’s possible when a supplier acts like a partner. That’s what modern manufacturing should look like.

Black-box portals love secrets. Good parts don’t. Watch our AI short on shop talk that shouldn’t be off-limits.

Quality starts with who’s on the other end of your drawing. On Jiga, you get multiple trusted suppliers, real comparisons, and real conversations. Choose the best fit for the job, not the only one in the queue. Options matter when tolerances do.

new: full landed cost at checkout 🎉 You approve a quote. Parts ship. Then customs sends another invoice for duties, and delivery stalls until someone pays it. Suddenly the “final price” isn’t final and you’re stuck dealing with extra payments, more admin, and trying to keep up with tariffs that seem to change every other month. We fixed that. On Jiga, you can now see the full landed cost at checkout. Taxes and duties are included upfront, so the number you approve is the number you pay. What you get ✅ full landed cost before you issue a PO ✅ one invoice with parts, freight, taxes, and duties ✅ fewer customs delays and surprises How it works - select DDP at checkout - provide any required ID for pre-clearance - approve one total price Currently available for shipments to the United States. Get a landed-cost quote on your next order or sign up free to try it.

After analyzing 100+ YT channels, we found 35 YouTubers mechanical engineers should follow. Some are huge, some underrated, but all worth checking out if you want to learn, get inspired or just enjoy engineering done right. Victor Li Jeremy Fielding Leon Zhang Joel Gomes James Bruton Will Cogley Nikodem Bartnik Riley Kolbow Zachary Tong Aaed Musa Adam Demuth Cinema Mechanics Tom Stanton Scotty Allen Eric Berg Pedro Neves ReM-RC Mike Godfrey Eric Strebel Austin Blake Surajit Majumdar We Make Machines Noam Aizenberg Jake Laser / JLaser, LLC. Ivan Miranda Joe Barnard Neally Retsetman AndyMachines Simon Sörensen Skyentific Aecert Robotics The Tinkering Techie Nguyen Duc Thang Bill Hammack Names + channel links in the comments. 👇

Most instant quoting platforms hide suppliers in a black box. We took the opposite approach - open, transparent, and relationship-driven. That’s why it’s powerful to hear customers like Cole say we’ve become an “extension of their procurement and engineering process.” Because strong supply chains aren’t built on transactions. They’re built on trust.

When was the last time you said this about a job shop? “The machinists were prompt, professional, and delivered exactly as promised.” Most of the time it’s:   ❌  “I think they got the file?”    ❌ “Anyone heard back yet?”    ❌ “Can we still hit the deadline?” That’s the difference when you actually get to talk to your supplier. You talk to real people. Have real conversations. Get real accountability. That’s how you get parts that show up exactly like you asked for. Appreciate you, Alex.

Sure, AI can make up awesome videos of cool things being built. But only engineers can make them real. And only Jiga makes sure you’re not pulling your hair out sourcing the parts ofc. 😉