Augment Ventures April 2024

Fund III New Investment: Hardware.AI

Hardware.AI utilizes AI software to aid the electrical engineering design process for printed circuit boards (PCBs). PCBs are a critical component in all electronic devices, and the design process is currently very cumbersome and time-consuming. Hardware.AI’s initial product offering serves as a ChatGPT for electrical engineers, which can query hundreds of pages of documentation to answer design questions about specific components and make recommendations on how to properly use these components. This product not only saves time for engineers but can help manage supply chain disruptions and simplify decision-making processes.

Augment participated in a $500K pre-Seed funding round. The way through which Hardware.AI is tackling chip design fits perfectly to Augment’s belief in solutions transforming foundational industries; new technology can now save electrical engineers from spending hours of their valuable time sifting through data sheets. Augment has confidence the team can disrupt the massive PCB design and the broader electrical manufacturing and design industry.

Brandon Bourn, CEO & Co-Founder
“AI will completely change the way we design and build hardware, even more so than the birth of CAD in the 1980s. We’re excited to work with Sonali, Jeff and the team at Augment VC to make Hardware.AI the everyday engineering companion.”

 

We are excited to announce Sowmya Sudhindranath has joined the Augment team as the Head of Portfolio Operations. In her role she will be able to assist Augment’s portfolio companies in accelerating their growth and improving their operational efficiency.

Sowmya has 22 years of experience spanning Management Consulting and Executive Leadership in Private Equity-backed SaaS technology companies. She has delivered transformative initiatives for global clients across diverse sectors and led teams in hyper-growth startups to successful exits. Her areas of expertise include team leadership, program management, talent development, change management, and operational excellence.

She has a master’s in computer engineering from Texas A&M university and Executive Certificate in Learning and Organization Change from Northwestern.

In our latest episode, released on YouTube, we’re honored to feature Michelle Crumm‘s inspiring journey from founder to funder. As we celebrated Women’s History Month, this episode sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of women in leadership and entrepreneurship. Join us as we dive into these topics and celebrate the significant contributions of women to our society and economy. To watch the episode click here.

 

Channel19 Featured in Two Panels at TCA TruckLoad 2024
The Channel19 team attended the TCA TruckLoad 2024 convention in Nashville, Tennessee. During the event, they were featured on two significant panels: the Large Carrier Panel and the Small Carrier Panel. Both panels shed light on the current landscape of trucking entrepreneurship, market challenges, opportunities, and technology’s pivotal role in shaping the trucking industry’s future. To read more about the event click here.

Secro Becomes Member of the IFTA
Secro announced they have officially become a member of the International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA). Joining the ITFA marks a significant milestone, providing an opportunity to expand the company’s reach and enhance their presence in the global trade finance community. To read more on the announcement click here.