Onshape

Onshape provides a cloud-native product development platform, unifying 3D CAD, data management, and real-time collaboration. Operating online, it enables multiple users to concurrently design and manage projects from any device, eliminating software installations or file-based workflows. It provides integrated modeling, version control, and release management, streamlining the product development lifecycle.

Founded in 2012 by Jon Hirschtick, John McEleney, and Dave Corcoran, creators of SOLIDWORKS, Onshape originated from recognizing traditional CAD's limits in modern engineering. Their insight drove them to build a robust, cloud-first platform, offering agile, accessible distributed design and data management.

The platform serves product development teams across diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, and medical devices. Onshape’s vision empowers organizations to innovate via a secure, centralized environment for engineering activities. It enhances efficiency, collaboration, and control throughout the process, preparing users for future market demands.

High-Level Overview

Onshape is a cloud-native computer-aided design (CAD) platform that enables real-time 3D modeling, collaboration, and product data management without desktop installations.[1][2] It serves engineers, designers, and teams in industries like consumer products, manufacturing, and education, solving pain points of traditional CAD such as hardware dependency, version control issues, and limited multi-user access by leveraging cloud computing for instant updates, device-agnostic access, and seamless teamwork.[1][2][6] Acquired by PTC in 2019 for $470 million after raising $169 million in venture funding, Onshape has shown strong growth through innovations like FeatureScript programming, mobile apps, and recent releases such as CAM Studio in January 2025 and Apple Vision Pro support in 2024.[1][7]

Origin Story

Onshape was founded on November 1, 2012, initially as Belmont Technology, by a team of six CAD veterans: Jon Hirschtick (SolidWorks co-founder and former CEO), John McEleney (former SolidWorks CEO), Dave Corcoran, Michael Lauer, Scott Harris, and Tommy Li.[1][3][5] These founders, drawing from their experience building SolidWorks—which grew to 2 million users and $500 million in annual revenue—identified flaws in desktop CAD like file-based sharing problems, installation hassles, and poor collaboration, prompting a "clean slate" cloud-native rebuild.[2][3][4][6] Early momentum came from a $9 million seed round in 2012 from North Bridge Venture Partners and Commonwealth Capital, followed by a public beta in March 2015 tested by over 1,000 professionals globally, an iPhone app launch, and free Education Plan in 2016.[1] Total funding reached $169 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz and NEA before PTC's acquisition in November 2019.[1]

Core Differentiators

• Fully Cloud-Native Architecture: Built from scratch in the cloud for real-time multi-user editing, automatic versioning, and no local installs—unlike legacy desktop CAD—enabling access from any device with internet.[1][2][6][7]
• Real-Time Collaboration and Mobility: Multiple users edit the same model simultaneously; supports iOS, including Apple Vision Pro for AR prototyping, accelerating iteration in distributed teams.[1][2]
• FeatureScript and Extensibility: Open-source (MIT-licensed) language for custom CAD features, plus APIs for third-party integrations, empowering developers to tailor functionality.[1][2]
• Integrated Tools and Workflow: Combines CAD, PDM, rendering, simulation, analytics, and CAM (e.g., 2025 G-code generation for 5-axis milling), streamlining design-to-manufacturing without data silos.[1][7][9]
• Pricing and Accessibility: Subscription model with free tiers for education; focuses on speed, security, and scalability for enterprises.[1][6]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Onshape rides the shift to cloud computing in engineering, mirroring SaaS successes like Salesforce by disrupting a market long dominated by desktop tools from PTC (Creo), Dassault (SolidWorks), and Autodesk.[2][7][9] Its timing capitalized on advancing internet speeds and browser tech in the mid-2010s, enabling collaborative design amid remote work trends and hardware complexity in manufacturing.[2][6] Market forces like supply chain digitization, AR/VR integration, and AI-driven manufacturing favor Onshape's agile platform, shortening product cycles for industries facing rapid prototyping demands.[1][9] As part of PTC, it influences the ecosystem by pushing competitors toward cloud hybrids and fostering developer communities via open tools, redefining CAD as a collaborative, always-updated service.[2][7]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Onshape's PTC integration positions it for scaled enterprise adoption, with recent CAM and Vision Pro releases signaling expansion into full digital thread workflows from design to production.[1][7] Trends like AI-assisted modeling, edge computing for manufacturing, and metaverse prototyping will amplify its momentum, potentially capturing share from legacy systems as cloud becomes standard.[2][9] Its influence may evolve toward platform leadership, enabling hardware-software convergence and empowering startups with pro-grade tools—proving cloud CAD isn't just viable, but transformative for how products are built.[1][6]