SOLIDWORKS for Startups program helps AstroBrew take a truly “cool” product idea to a manufacturable design

AstroBrew is a countertop appliance that makes coffee cold brew in minutes. Without using ice or pods, coffee lovers use their favorite grounds to make a low-acid, gut-friendly cold brew at a lower price.

Traditional cold brew (different from iced coffee) takes 24 hours to make. With the press of a button, AstroBrew provides barista quality at home. It makes cold brew in only five minutes, and chills to 32° in 15 minutes.

The product inventor is Joe Damigella – thermal engineer, family man, and (beyond-the-norm!) coffee enthusiast. He knew from his experience working in the food and beverage appliance industry that there was a gap in the market – no one had created a cold brew maker that actively chills.

Joe’s own technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit, along with talented co-founders, committed investors, and a supportive group of family and friends, have since turned the vision of a one-of-a-kind cold brew appliance into reality.

SOLIDWORKS rendering

Free software thanks to SOLIDWORKS for Startups

Inside and out, AstroBrew’s functional and attractive design was born in SOLIDWORKS, the industry standard 3D computer-aided design (CAD) solution.

Joe has a long history of using SOLIDWORKS, going back to his college days. He understood that if he was going to fulfill his dream of making his own inventions, he needed access to the SOLIDWORKS product portfolio, but he didn’t have the budget to make the investment.

“I found out about the SOLIDWORKS for Startups program and when the time was right, I went straight to the signup page. I have always thought highly of the software and TriMech as a provider, and I couldn’t have made my dream a reality without that support.”

— Joe Damigella, Product Inventor for Astrobrew

TriMech supports startups and entrepreneurs with free SOLIDWORKS software to help conceive, design, test, manufacture, and launch their products. Eligible businesses get access to CAD software, as well as simulation, electrical, data management, product lifecycle management (PLM) tools, and more. The entrepreneurs are welcomed into a supportive community of TriMech experts and fellow SOLIDWORKS users.

To qualify for the program (also known as 3DEXPERIENCE Works for Startups), a company should be a new SOLIDWORKS customer; be designing a physical product; have less than $1 million in funding and revenue; and be in business less than five years.

SOLIDWORKS is more than CAD

For Joe, SOLIDWORKS has been an essential tool for concept development, prototyping, and collaboration, guiding him to a manufacturable, marketable design.

“I’ve been through seven iterations of the machine, and three of those were digital only, evaluated in SOLIDWORKS. I created four 3D-printed prototypes, and I could not have done that without using SOLIDWORKS to export my individual part files to my printer.”

To help bring together the groundbreaking inner workings of the appliance with a slick, consumer-friendly look, Joe worked with a design studio called Niche Industries, a team of two SOLIDWORKS superusers.

“I see SOLIDWORKS as a form of communication. It makes it easy to collaborate with my industrial design partners. If I hadn’t been organized in my data management and communication, AstroBrew wouldn’t be a reality. Part names, numbers, and associated details, all connected in a bill of materials, is very important to me. Writing macros to automate processes is also valuable.”

Reflecting on progress

Joe said he doesn’t take much time to reflect on his journey to date because he’s always looking ahead to what’s next.

“It is valuable to look back at where I started. In May of 2023, I was working hard to build my first working prototype because my first pitch event was on June 1. I’d never pitched to investors before. I didn’t yet have software inside the machine. It was just buttons and switches on the back of the machine and sometimes it got so cold that it would start making ice.”

He is proud of the progress he’s made since then and said sometimes it doesn’t even feel real.

“Today I’m a better presenter, and my latest prototype looks like it just came off the manufacturing line. And except for the stainless steel, it’s entirely 3D printed.”

Financial and moral support

As of August 2024, AstroBrew ended its initial Kickstarter campaign at 1,145% funded, translating to more than 600 appliances sold and making it to the top 1% of successful projects on the site.

As they approach mass production, Joe and his team feel strongly about choosing a North American manufacturer, not common for food and beverage appliances. They expect to ship to their first group of loyal fans in spring 2025.

“I’m excited to get AstroBrew out to kitchen counters in homes and in restaurants. It’s more than a product to me – I want AstroBrew to be a household name here and around the world.”

Joe is grateful that TriMech and the SOLIDWORKS for Startups program is part of AstroBrew’s story. He also credits the people closest to him for supporting his venture.

“My wife, family, and friends have believed in me from the beginning. So many people have reached out or helped in some way. I wear a lot of hats, and I couldn’t have made it to this point without loads of support.”

AstroBrew is online at astro-brew.com

To learn more about TriMech’s SOLIDWORKS (or 3DEXPERIENCE) for Startups, visit trimech.com/free-solidworks-for-startups