Prompting hardware prototypes just got way easier

A new wave of artificial intelligence startups is transforming the hardware prototyping process by allowing creators to generate prototypes much faster through simple text prompts. Among these is Atech, a Danish startup founded in 2026 by Tomas Harmer and David Stålmarck, which has developed an artificial intelligence solution specifically for hardware prototyping and recently secured 800,000 dollars in funding.

Another notable company in this space is Diode, founded in 2024, which specializes exclusively in printed circuit board design using text prompts. Diode successfully raised 14 million dollars in total funding by 2025, signaling strong financial backing and industry interest in these prompt-based design tools.

These developments highlight a significant shift in how physical products are developed, potentially streamlining the transition from initial ideas to functional hardware. Organizations like Future Manufacturers, a collaborative startup program between Danish Industry and MADE, support this ecosystem by helping hardware startups move from the prototyping stage to full-scale manufacturing.