What PROTO-ELECTRONICS does

Proto-Electronics SAS, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Rosheim (Alsace, France), operates a self-serve online platform for rapid prototyping of assembled printed circuit boards (PCBA). The company targets professional engineers, electronics designers, and corporate R&D departments across Europe and beyond, enabling them to configure PCB specifications (up to 18 layers, 9 solder mask colors, 11 materials, 8 surface finishes), import Bill-of-Materials files, and receive a fully online quote in approximately 10 minutes, 24/7. Production is delivered from two ISO 9001:2015-certified assembly workshops — Rosheim (France) and Braga (Portugal) — equipped with X-ray inspection, vapor-phase reflow soldering, SMT Smartlines, BGA/QFN rework stations, and automatic optical inspection, with minimum order quantities of one unit and tiered delivery from 5 to 20 working days.

The platform's core technology layer is a digital workflow that combines an online PCB configurator with real-time component availability checks across 4 million references integrated at the API level with Mouser, DigiKey, Farnell (Avnet), and RS Components, automatically suggesting equivalent parts when a requested reference is out of stock. This BOM-centric automation differentiates Proto-Electronics from traditional EMS prototype shops that rely on manual quoting and fragmented supplier relationships.

The company monetizes via transaction-based, one-time payments per order with no minimum quantity and no subscription component; pricing scales with delivery speed across five tiers. Go-to-market is product-led growth: customers register, configure, and order without sales intermediation, supported by a multilingual platform (FR, EN, DE, ES, IT, NL), an SEO-optimized technical blog (ProtoNews), and free personalized platform demonstrations. As of the latest disclosures, Proto-Electronics has served 2,300+ customers and delivered 25,000+ orders with a team of 32, operating as a privately held, bootstrapped French SAS with €50,000 registered capital and no disclosed institutional investors.

Name

PROTO-ELECTRONICS

Legal name

Proto-Electronics SAS

Website

https://proto-electronics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Proto-Electronics is a French-founded (2014) online PCBA prototyping platform serving European engineers and R&D departments with self-serve PCB configuration, real-time BOM sourcing across four major distributors, and dual-site assembly in France and Portugal from one-unit minimums.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronic Manufacturing Services (PCB Assembly)

NAICS

Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing (334418), Bare Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing (334412)

SIC

Printed Circuit Boards (3672), Electronic Components, Nec (3679)

akta.pro primary industry

PCB Assembly (PCBA/EMS) (HDAHAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

PCB Fabrication (Rigid PCBs) (HDAHAOAG)

Keywords

• PCB prototyping services
• PCB assembly manufacturing
• Electronic manufacturing services
• BOM component sourcing
• Low-volume PCBA

Headquarters

HQ city

Kehl

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. PCB Assembly Prototyping Services: Proto-Electronics generates revenue through one-time transaction-based orders for rapid prototyping of assembled PCBs. Customers configure PCBs online, import BOMs, receive a quote, and pay for individual orders. Pricing is tied to delivery speed (5 to 20 working days). No minimum order quantity (orders from 1 unit). The company negotiates component prices in advance with major cataloguists and optimizes labor costs through rapid online order processing to offer competitive pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Proto-Electronics manufactures rapid prototype assembled printed circuit boards (PCBA) through a fully online, self-serve platform. Customers configure PCB specifications (up to 18 layers, multiple materials, surface finishes, and impedance control), import their Bill of Materials, receive a 100% online quote in approximately 10 minutes, and order assembled prototypes starting from a single unit with delivery in 5 to 20 working days. The service combines SMT and through-hole assembly performed at ISO 9001:2015 certified production workshops in Rosheim (France) and Braga (Portugal), with real-time component availability checking against four million references from Mouser, DigiKey, Farnell, and RS Components.

Product overview

Proto-Electronics operates as a unified online platform for rapid PCB prototyping and assembly services. The core offering is the PCBA Prototyping Platform, which integrates PCB configuration, BOM import and component sourcing (connecting to Mouser, DigiKey, Farnell, and RS Components), online quote generation, and electronic assembly. The platform supports custom PCB fabrication with specifications up to 18 layers, multiple materials, and various surface finishes. Assembly services use both SMT and through-hole technologies with automated equipment and X-ray inspection. Additional services include quality control inspections, confidentiality/NDA protection, and free platform demonstrations. The company maintains production facilities in Rosheim, France and Braga, Portugal, with over 25,000 orders completed for 2,300 customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PCBA Prototyping Service End-to-end rapid prototyping service for assembled printed circuit boards (PCBA) using SMT (Surface Mount Technology) and through-hole components. The service delivers prototypes starting from 5 working days for orders from 1 unit, targeted at professional engineers, electronics designers, and R&D departments needing fast-turn low-volume builds.
• Custom PCB Configuration Service Customizable PCB fabrication with options for double or multilayer boards (up to 18 layers), 9 solder mask colors, 11 different materials, 8 surface finishes (surface treatments), Via Fill, impedance control, gold fingers, metallographic cross-section, and edge plating. Sold as part of the prototype assembly service for engineers specifying their boards.
• BOM Import and Component Sourcing Service Bill of Materials import and electronic component sourcing service. The system checks real-time availability of 4 million references across Mouser, DigiKey, Farnell, and RS Components and automatically suggests equivalent components when the requested part is unavailable, mitigating electronic component shortage risk.
• Online Quote Generator Web-based pricing tool that allows customers to configure PCB specifications, import components, and receive a complete quote in approximately 10 minutes at any time. Offers multiple delivery timeframes from 5 to 20 business days with pricing tied to delivery speed.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quote generation in 10 minutes, 24/7
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Mouser ElectronicscoreTechnology or IntegrationMouser Electronics is one of Proto-Electronics' four principal component suppliers, integrated into the real-time BOM availability checking system. Proto-Electronics' platform checks component availability against Mouser's catalog of 4 million+ references, automatically sourcing and pricing components from Mouser as part of the order fulfillment process.
• DigiKeycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigiKey is one of Proto-Electronics' four principal component suppliers integrated into the real-time BOM availability checking system. The platform cross-references customer BOMs against DigiKey's catalog as part of the automated component sourcing and pricing workflow.
• Farnell (Avnet)coreTechnology or IntegrationFarnell (part of Avnet) is one of Proto-Electronics' four principal component suppliers integrated into the real-time BOM availability checking system. The platform cross-references customer BOMs against Farnell's catalog for automated component sourcing and price optimization.
• RS ComponentscoreTechnology or IntegrationRS Components is one of Proto-Electronics' four principal component suppliers integrated into the real-time BOM availability checking system. The platform cross-references customer BOMs against RS Components' catalog for automated component sourcing and price optimization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• JLCPCB: China-based online PCB fabrication and assembly platform offering ultra-low-cost prototype PCBA via a self-serve portal — the highest-volume direct competitor in online PCBA order flow.
• PCBWay: China-based global PCBA prototyping service with an online self-serve quoting and ordering platform targeting engineers and small businesses, a direct functional competitor in online PCBA prototyping.
• ALLPCB: China-based online PCB and PCBA prototype manufacturer offering discounted prototyping and small-batch assembly, directly competing for the same global online-order customer base.
• MacroFab: US-based online PCB assembly platform with self-serve quoting, instant DFM feedback and component sourcing — operates the same PLG-style digital PCBA model as Proto-Electronics but for the North American market.
• Eurocircuits: Belgian-based European PCB prototyping and small-batch manufacturer offering online PCB pooling and assembly services directly comparable to Proto-Electronics' offering for professional European engineers.
• Seeed Studio (Fusion PCB): Shenzhen-based maker-oriented electronics services brand offering online PCB prototyping, PCBA and component sourcing, directly comparable in target customer (engineers/hobbyists/professionals) and online order flow.
• Advanced Assembly: US-based quick-turn PCB assembly house providing prototype and low-volume PCBA services with online quoting — directly comparable in offering profile (prototype PCBA with quick turnaround).
• Aisler: Amsterdam-based online PCB prototype and small-batch platform serving European makers and engineers — directly competes with Proto-Electronics in the same geography and customer segment with a similar online ordering model.
• PCBPower: India-based online PCB fabrication and assembly provider with self-serve quoting — overlapping with Proto-Electronics in target customers (engineers, designers) and online PCBA service model.

Regional players

• Beta LAYOUT: Germany-based PCB prototyping and small-batch service provider with strong European engineering customer base — regional direct competitor operating a similar online PCBA prototype business to Proto-Electronics but with a more design-services orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/protoelectronique-com

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PROTO-ELECTRONICS