Building the Future of Hardware Design: Zoo as a Modern CAD Platform
The hardware design industry has long been dominated by traditional CAD (computer-aided design) software—tools that often feel more like a limitation than a solution. Zoo is working to change that from enhancing design efficiency to envisioning a future shaped by AI and robotics.
Insights from Jesse Frazelle, CEO and Co-Founder
On Episode 32 of the Machine Minds Show, titled “Revolutionising Hardware Design with Jessie Frazelle,” host Greg Toroosian, founder of Samson Rose, carries on an interesting dialogue with the CEO and co-founder of Zoo. Frazelle shared her journey, frustrations with outdated CAD systems, and the innovation driving Zoo’s groundbreaking platform. Her insights offer a compelling look at the revolution taking place in hardware design.
From Math Enthusiast to Hardware Innovator
Jesse Frazelle’s journey to becoming a force in hardware design didn’t follow a conventional path. With a math degree and a fascination for computing, she quickly identified the inefficiencies of traditional CAD software—slow, cumbersome, and ill-suited for modern hardware development. Her co-founder’s experience in 3D printing rockets further illuminated the gap between hardware needs and available software, fueling their shared desire for something better.
Together, they set out to create Zoo—a modern CAD platform designed to overcome the frustrations they encountered in the field. Zoo is a tool that engineers, designers, or anyone in the field could actually enjoy using—a platform that’s faster, more flexible, and programmable. The goal of Zoo was simple: to enable its users to design the future of hardware without being held back by outdated software.
Zoo: Redefining CAD for Modern Hardware Design
Traditional CAD tools often feel like relics of a bygone era—slow to process, hard to customize, and reliant on manual inputs. Zoo is flipping that script with a software platform that’s tailor-made for today’s demands.
Zoo stands out in the following critical areas:
GPU-powered math: Traditional CAD software often relies on single-threaded processing, making it inefficient for modern hardware demands. Zoo taps into the power of graphics processing units (GPUs) to accelerate complex calculations and rendering. This drastically reduces the time engineers spend waiting for designs to load or render, enabling faster iterations and more streamlined workflows.
Programmable design: Unlike older platforms, Zoo allows users to create and modify designs with code. This shift to programmable design introduces a level of flexibility and automation that traditional CAD tools lack, letting engineers automate repetitive tasks and fully customize their designs.
By addressing these pain points, Zoo provides a CAD tool that aligns with modern engineering needs, helping engineers and designers unlock creativity and efficiency.
Zoo’s Open-Source Commitment: A Platform Built for Community
Another key differentiator for Zoo is its commitment to an open-source model. Unlike most commercial CAD tools, Zoo invites collaboration by making its platform freely available to the engineering community. By encouraging feedback and contributions from users, Zoo can evolve quickly and stay closely aligned with the real-world needs of engineers.
The team at Zoo gets direct insights into how people are using Zoo, what they like, what they don’t, and where they can improve. Open-source gives them the chance to build a community around their product. It’s an invaluable part of their development process.
For companies, this community-driven approach offers a unique opportunity to experiment with Zoo’s cutting-edge CAD tools without upfront investment. Whether it’s a small startup testing new hardware ideas or a larger enterprise looking for more flexibility in design, Zoo’s open-source platform provides a low-risk entry point for innovation.
Rationale for the Company Name "Zoo"
The origin of the company name is quite amusing; it was initially "KittyCAD," conceived by Jesse Frazelle’s co-founder's grandmother, who likely intended to say "kitty cat." The name was deemed suitable, leading them to transition to "Zoo." Nevertheless, they continue to refer to the APIs as "KittyCAD" due to their fondness for the playful animal theme and puns, which resonate with the community.
The name "Zoo" offers them the flexibility to expand and diversify their offerings. Besides KittyCAD, they also have Zoo’s machine learning API, ML-ephant.
Challenges of the Startup Journey
Creating a groundbreaking product like Zoo came with its own set of challenges. Transitioning from larger tech companies to the world of startups wasn’t easy, especially when resources became limited. In a startup, the entrepreneur mostly doesn’t have the same access to the resources or endless teams that a larger company already has. However, those constraints force business owners to innovate in ways they wouldn’t otherwise.
The entrepreneurial journey often requires learning how to maximize every resource, and Jesse Frazelle embraced that challenge. The freedom to shape Zoo’s future outweighed the hurdles of running a lean operation, and that autonomy helped Frazelle and her team build a product they truly believed in.
Building a Team: Trust, Expertise, and Passion
At Zoo, Jesse Frazelle has been deliberate about assembling a small but highly skilled team of engineers and programmers. For her, expertise isn’t enough. The right team members also need to share their passion for hardware design and Zoo’s mission of revolutionizing the CAD space.
They have focused on hiring self-motivated experts who can solve problems on their own. In a startup environment, every individual’s contributions matter even more because there’s no room for mediocrity.
This approach has fostered a strong sense of trust and autonomy within Zoo, allowing the team to quickly respond to user feedback and iterate on their platform. As the company continues to grow, this culture of continuous learning and experimentation is helping Zoo stay ahead in the competitive tech landscape.
The Future of Hardware at Zoo: Robotics, AI, and Beyond
As robotics and AI will shape how humanity interacts with machines on a day-to-day basis, humanity is already seeing this shift, and it will only accelerate.
Jesse Frazelle’s vision for the future of hardware design extends far beyond CAD tools. She sees a future where AI and robotics play an increasingly significant role, revolutionizing how we approach everything from manufacturing to consumer products.
From advancements in consumer hardware to the growing presence of autonomous robots in industrial settings, the future Frazelle is one where hardware and AI converge to create smarter, more capable devices.
Zoo is poised to be a key player in this future, providing engineers with the tools they need to keep pace with the rapid evolution of hardware. By integrating programmable design and automation into their software, Zoo helps engineers push the boundaries of what’s possible in fields like robotics, automation, and AI-driven hardware.
Difficult projects provide significant learning opportunities.
When asked what advice she’d give to aspiring engineers and entrepreneurs, Jesse Frazelle’s response was, “Don't be scared of doing the hard thing because it's really fun and it's really rewarding when you pull it off.”
Frazelle’s journey with Zoo has been defined by challenges and opportunities for growth, and her advice is a testament to the mindset that’s helped her build a company focused on changing the future of hardware design.
Take Action Now!
With the backing of a passionate community and innovative tools at your disposal, the future of design is now. Ready to get started? Try Zoo, partner with Samson Rose, or be part of the conversation driving hardware into the future.
To hear more about the revolution in hardware design, you can find Episode 32 of the Machine Minds Show | Revolutionising Hardware Design | with Jessie Frazelle here.
Revolutionize Your Design Process Today. Are you ready to revolutionize your hardware design process? Don’t let outdated CAD tools slow you down. Discover Zoo’s cutting-edge, programmable CAD platform today and see how it can transform the way you approach design. Visit Zoo’s website now to explore their software and try it for yourself.
Partner with Samson Rose to Access Top Talent. Looking for top-tier engineers and hard-tech experts to join your team? Partner with Samson Rose, a leader in hard tech recruiting, to access a pipeline of talented individuals passionate about building the future of hardware. Click here to learn how we can help you grow your team with the right talent to drive your projects forward.
Join the Conversation: Your Thoughts Matter. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the future of hardware design and how innovations like Zoo are changing the game. Leave a comment below and share your experiences with CAD tools or how AI and robotics are shaping your industry. Have any feedback or questions? Let’s get the conversation started—your insights could inspire the next wave of innovation!