Circuit Launch Masterclass Series: From Prototype to Production

Getting a prototype to work is only the start. Getting it built reliably, at scale, at your target cost is where many hardware startups struggle. Ralph Richart (MetisLogic) and Fernando Barrera (Future Electronics) will share what they've learned from years of taking products from the bench to the factory floor.

What you'll learn: • Design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for test (DFT): changes to make before your first build • Choosing components: lifecycle, availability, second sources and avoiding end-of-life parts • Supply chain strategy: best practices for manufacturing drawings, lead times, allocation, and working with distributors • Getting from EVT to DVT to PVT: what each stage proves and when you're ready for the next • Picking a contract manufacturer and preparing a clean handoff (BOM, drawings, test plans) • Cost-down strategies that don't hurt quality

Agenda: 6:00 — Check-in, food and networking 6:30 — Panel/masterclass: prototype → production 7:15 — Q&A (bring your BOM questions) 7:40 — Networking

Who it's for: Hardware founders and engineers who are moving from prototype to pilot builds or first production runs.

About the speakers:

Ralph Richart is the founder and CEO of MetisLogic, a manufacturing-readiness software company built from his more than 30 years of experience in electronics manufacturing. He previously led operations and product at Tempo Automation, directed manufacturing at Advanced Circuits, and served for more than two decades as President of Coastal Circuits. Ralph speaks from a practical operator’s perspective on manufacturing, supply chain, quality, technology, and the challenges of turning product designs into reliable production outcomes.

Fernando Barrera, Regional Technical Director for the Western U.S., Canada & Latin America at Future Electronics, has more than three decades of experience in the semiconductor and electronics industry, helping companies move promising designs toward manufacturable, scalable products. He leads a team of Field Application Engineers and works within Future’s network of more than 360 suppliers. His experience includes component strategy, supply chain risk mitigation, manufacturability, and helping engineering teams move efficiently from design through production.

📍 Circuit Launch Mountain View