Know if your AI hardware can be built before you talk to a factory.
Get a BOM range, NRE estimate, DFM blockers, certification path, and first-run plan in 10 minutes.
No equity. No MOQ surprises. Just engineering.
Building AI hardware is hard.
Finding the right manufacturing partner shouldn't be.
Factories won't take your 1K MOQ
Most factories want 10K+ units. We start at 1,000.
Unpredictable NRE costs
You get a clear, fixed NRE quote before any work starts.
IP leaks and design theft
NDA + IP assignment standard on every engagement. Your designs stay yours.
Language and timezone barriers
Native English + Mandarin team. We work your hours.
No DFM feedback until late
We run DFM checks at the design stage, not after you've committed to tooling.
Certification maze
FCC, CE, UL, SRRC — we handle the paperwork, testing, and timeline.
Concept to Production in 6 Steps
A clear, predictable path from your idea to manufactured product.
Scoping
Share your concept. We assess feasibility, BOM, and ballpark cost.
Engineering Design
Schematic, PCB layout, mechanical design, firmware architecture.
DFM & Prototyping
Optimize for manufacturability. 3–5 functional prototypes.
Tooling & Sourcing
Injection molds, jigs, fixtures. Component sourcing from 3,000+ local suppliers.
Pilot Run
50–500 units. Test assembly line, QC process, packaging.
Mass Production
Scale to 1K, 10K, 100K+. Ongoing QC, logistics, fulfillment.
Free Tools for AI Hardware Founders
Plan your product before your first factory visit.
BOM Cost Estimator
Input your specs, get a manufacturing cost ballpark in 60 seconds.
Try it✓DFM Checklist
30-point check for AI hardware design pitfalls.
Start check📋NRE Quote Simulator
Estimate development cost: engineering, tooling, prototyping.
Estimate🗺Certification Navigator
FCC, CE, UL, SRRC — which do you need? Timeline + cost.
NavigateAll tools are free to use. No sign-up required.
We've built AI devices in Shenzhen for 10+ years.We open-sourced our cost data.
BOM cost references, DFM checklists, NRE guidelines, certification playbooks — the same data we use every day, free on GitHub. No signup, no email gate.
Why founders choose Breeze
Whole Product
Not just parts. We build the full device — electronics, enclosure, firmware, packaging.
No Equity
NRE + per-unit. Pure service. We don't take a piece of your company. Period.
Your IP Stays Yours
NDA + IP assignment standard on every engagement. Full source files delivered.
AI Hardware Native
We understand edge AI thermal management, antenna design, and battery optimization.
3,000+
Component suppliers in our network
12 wk
Average concept-to-prototype
1K
Minimum pilot run — no 10K gate
How we compare
Honest differences, not marketing fluff.
| Feature | Breeze | Fictiv / Xometry | HAX / SOSV | Titoma | Trading Company |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Whole product | Parts only | Accelerator + parts | Whole product | Sourcing only |
| Equity taken | None | None | 6–10% | None | None |
| Minimum order | 1,000 units | 1 unit (parts) | Varies | ~1,000 | 10,000+ |
| Location | Shenzhen | SF + global | SF + Shenzhen | Taiwan | Shenzhen / Yiwu |
| AI hardware focus | Yes | No | Some | Generalist | No |
| Price transparency | Tools upfront | Instant quote | Opaque | Quote-based | Opaque |
| Language | Native EN + ZH | EN | EN | EN | Broken EN |
| IP policy | Assignment standard | Assignment | Varies | Case-by-case | Often unclear |
| Open-source toolkit | Yes (4 tools) | No | No | No | No |
Typical Project Costs
Fixed-price at every stage. No T&M. No scope-creep invoices.
Scoping
Free
Initial concept review. 30-minute call plus a one-page feasibility note.
- Device feasibility assessment
- Ballpark BOM range
- Certification needs summary
- Timeline estimate
NRE + Pilot
$50K – $150K
Engineering to working prototype plus pilot batch. Fixed-price.
- Schematic, PCB, mechanical, firmware architecture
- 3–5 functional prototypes (EVT / DVT)
- Tooling, jigs, fixtures
- 50–500 unit pilot run
- Full source files delivered
Production
$15 – $60 / unit
At 5K volume for typical AI wearables. Scales with volume and complexity.
- 1K – 100K+ unit runs
- Ongoing QC + yield optimization
- Logistics + fulfillment
- Global shipping
- Replenishment planning
Complexity (sensors, radios, battery chemistry, certifications) drives the final number. Try the NRE Simulator for a tailored estimate in 60 seconds.
What happens after you sign
A predictable 12-week path to pilot. Transparent weekly sync.
Week 1
Scoping
30-minute feasibility call + ballpark cost. Sign NDA.
Week 2–4
Engineering Design
Schematic, PCB layout, mechanical CAD, firmware architecture. Weekly sync.
Week 5–8
DFM + Prototyping
3–5 functional prototypes. DFM checks. EVT gate.
Week 9–10
Tooling + Sourcing
Injection molds, jigs, fixtures. Component sourcing from 3,000+ suppliers. DVT.
Week 11–12
Pilot Run
50–500 units. Test assembly line, QC process, packaging. PVT.
Week 13+
Production
Ongoing scale to 1K, 10K, 100K+. QC, logistics, fulfillment.
Who's behind Breeze
Four operators with 60+ combined years in Shenzhen supply chain, smart hardware, and cross-border delivery.
Jett Fu
Founder & CEO
15+ years cross-border operator. Founded AirPop — smart air wearable launched at CES 2021, covered by Tom's Guide, Wired, and Digital Trends. US (Delaware) + HK + Singapore entities. Native English and Chinese. Based in Shenzhen.
Jank Liu
Supply Chain + Quality Lead
30 years across industrial valves, PCB, wire harness connectors, smart masks, and rail transit. GE Six Sigma Black Belt — led HX-5 rail NPI. Amphenol Medical cross-border supplier development and compliance lead. Alumni: Tyco, Amphenol, General Electric.
Sky
Engineering Lead
10+ years in Shenzhen consumer electronics supply chain. Prototype to mass production for wearables, IoT devices, and audio products. Ground-truth knowledge of the supplier network within 50 km of our office.
Arting Chen
Partnerships & Deal Flow
AI hardware incubator and investor network. Qualifies deal flow and connects AI hardware founders with Breeze. Direct relationships with YC/HAX-adjacent teams building their first physical product.
10+ Years. Not a New Company.
Before Breeze Hardware, our team shipped production at scale:
AirPop Active+ Halo
World's first smart air wearable — CES 2021
Bluetooth respiratory sensor + iOS/Android app + certified mask manufacturing. Global retail launch via AirPopHealth direct and national retailers.
Press: Tom's Guide · Hypebeast · Digital Trends · Wired · ComputerWeekly
Cross-Border Supply Chain Execution
Customs, logistics, international delivery
Deep fluency in import/export customs clearance, HS-code classification, commercial invoicing, multi-modal freight (ocean, air, rail), bonded warehouse coordination, and destination-country fulfillment into US, EU, LATAM, and APAC markets.
EU Medical Packaging
Hospital surgical tray systems
Regulated medical device packaging — material sourcing, sterility validation, third-party lab testing, and full compliance documentation for EU hospital systems.
Breeze's co-founder Jett Fu is AirPop's founder & CEO. AirPop Halo was delivered by the same supply-chain and engineering team now powering Breeze.
Frequently asked
Real questions from founders we've talked with.
How do you protect my IP?
NDA + IP assignment is standard on every engagement — signed before any technical discussion. You receive full source files (schematics, PCB files, firmware, mechanical CAD, BOM) at the end of NRE. No hidden clauses, no exclusivity locks.
What's a typical project cost?
For most AI wearables and connected devices: NRE ranges from $50K to $150K, per-unit cost $15–$60 at 5K volume. Complexity (sensors, radios, battery chemistry, certifications) drives the range. Try the NRE Simulator for a tailored ballpark in 60 seconds.
How long from signed contract to first prototype?
8–12 weeks for most AI wearables, reaching a functional EVT prototype. Faster paths exist if you have a working PoC — we've turned around a DVT-ready design in under 6 weeks for projects with mature schematics.
What if my pilot is under 1,000 units?
Sub-1K orders require hand-assembly rather than full SMT lines. We can quote, but pricing structure differs — expect $30–$120 per unit at 200–500 volume. For a 100-unit dev run, we usually roll this into NRE.
Can you work with my existing contractor or PCB house?
Yes. We can join mid-stream, integrate your existing BOM, or coordinate with a fab you've already selected. We've also rescued stalled projects — if your current partner isn't delivering, tell us what's broken.
Do you only work on AI hardware?
AI hardware is our focus and default. We accept adjacent projects (consumer IoT, wearables, connected health devices) case-by-case. Pure mechanical products or under-500-unit hobby runs are usually a better fit elsewhere.
What certifications do you handle?
We run in-house pre-compliance (FCC Part 15, UN38.3 battery, CE RED pre-scan) and coordinate full testing through accredited labs — SGS, TÜV, ETL. Cert timeline and cost are budgeted into your NRE so there are no Week-11 surprises.
What are your payment terms?
NRE: 50% at kickoff, 50% on milestones (usually EVT + PVT gates). Per-unit production: standard T/T 30/70. All fixed-price — no T&M, no scope-creep billing. If scope changes, we scope it as a change order, not a surprise invoice.
Ready to build?
Tell us about your project. We'll respond within 24 hours with a preliminary assessment.
Or email us directly at hello@breezehw.com