SimScale and PTC Partner to Democratize Cloud Simulation for Startups
Strategic Partnership Democratizes Cloud Simulation for Emerging Businesses
In a significant move to lower barriers for startup innovation, SimScale and PTC announced a strategic collaboration on December 11, 2024, that provides eligible members of the Onshape Start-Up Program with three months of complimentary access to SimScale's Professional License. This partnership represents a pivotal step toward democratizing advanced engineering simulation capabilities for emerging businesses worldwide.
Breaking Down Traditional Barriers
Historically, access to professional-grade Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools required substantial capital investment in both hardware infrastructure and software licensing—costs that often proved prohibitive for early-stage companies. This new collaboration addresses that challenge head-on by combining PTC's cloud-native Onshape CAD platform with SimScale's browser-based simulation environment, creating a fully integrated, cloud-based product development toolkit.
"This relationship with Onshape provides start-ups with a complete, flexible, accessible, and scalable cloud-based toolkit," said David Heiny, CEO of SimScale. "It aligns perfectly with our mission to democratize powerful simulation technology and make it accessible to innovators regardless of their size or resources."
Comprehensive Simulation Capabilities
The partnership grants startups access to SimScale's full suite of physics simulation capabilities, including:
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for analyzing airflow, heat transfer, and fluid behavior
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for structural mechanics and stress analysis
- Thermal simulation for heat management and thermal performance optimization
- Multiphysics capabilities for coupled phenomena analysis
These tools enable design space exploration and simulation-driven iteration entirely in the cloud, eliminating the need for expensive on-premise computing resources. Engineers can run multiple simulations in parallel, accelerating the design refinement process and reducing time-to-market for innovative products.
Seamless Integration and Workflow
The integration between Onshape and SimScale creates a streamlined workflow from concept to validation. Design teams can transition directly from CAD modeling in Onshape to simulation analysis in SimScale without file conversion or data transfer complications. This seamless connection facilitates rapid iteration cycles, allowing engineers to identify and resolve performance issues early in the development process when changes are least expensive to implement.
For startups working on hardware products—whether in robotics, consumer electronics, medical devices, or industrial equipment—this capability to validate designs virtually before committing to physical prototypes can dramatically reduce development costs and accelerate market entry.
Application Process and Eligibility
Interested startups can apply through the Onshape Start-Up Program. Upon acceptance into the program, participants can activate their three-month Professional License trial of SimScale, gaining immediate access to advanced simulation capabilities integrated with their Onshape account.
The Professional License includes access to SimScale's full feature set, technical support resources, and the ability to run complex simulations with substantial computational requirements—capabilities that would typically require significant infrastructure investment.
Industry Impact and Future Outlook
This collaboration reflects broader trends in the engineering software industry toward cloud-native, subscription-based models that lower entry barriers and increase accessibility. As the simulation software market continues its rapid growth—projected to reach $36.22 billion by 2030 according to MarketsandMarkets—partnerships like this one play a crucial role in expanding the user base beyond traditional large enterprises.
By providing startups with enterprise-grade tools during their critical early stages, the SimScale-PTC partnership has the potential to accelerate innovation across multiple industries. Early-stage companies can now compete on a more level playing field, introducing validated, performance-optimized products to market while mitigating technical risks through comprehensive virtual testing.
Learn More
For additional information about the partnership and to apply for the Onshape Start-Up Program, visit: