Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
See how two friends turned startup founders take their journey from a NASA rover internship to building sleek, creator-focused hardware—a mechanical keyboard macro pad that evolves from 3D-printed prototypes to CNC-milled aluminum precision.This is a story of bootstrapping by day, building by night, refining through relentless iterations, and shaping a product hand-in-hand with their community. From design sketches to bug-smashing marathons, from early prints to high-end machining, they prove that world-class products can be built from the ground up.
Watch the full ShopTalk episode featuring Prota Design to see how grit, design, and community can turn a side project into a hardware startup.
Connect with Prota Designs:
Prota Designs website is: protadesigns.com
Prota Designs YouTube is: YouTube.com/@PROTADESIGNS
00:00 — Meet Proto Designs & the underdog origin
02:10 — NASA internship → partnership chemistry
04:00 — Bootstrapping: part-time, full-time, even rideshare to fund prototypes
06:20 — Fusion for CAD + 3D printing iterations
08:05 — Printed Pad: 3×3 keys, OLED layers, VIA/QMK compatibility
10:30 — Community building: DMs, Discord calls, fast feedback loops
12:15 — From print to aluminum: durability, weight, premium feel; Fusion toolpaths previewed
14:40 — The “bits vs bytes” flash saga and what it taught them
17:05 — Glyph deep-dive: 4×4 keys, dual knobs, color screen, icons per layer
19:30 — ZMK firmware, Bluetooth, media/time widgets; pre-orders open Oct 14
►FREE TRIAL | https://autode.sk/3Wtfi20
►SUBSCRIBE | https://autode.sk/30njGGX
►GET STARTED | https://autode.sk/30k2DWh
►TRY AN EXTENSION | https://autode.sk/3EOUidW
CONNECT with Fusion on social media:
INSTAGRAM | https://autode.sk/2Enzh8P
TWITTER | https://autode.sk/45cIYTK
LINKEDIN | https://autode.sk/3UyieZS
FACEBOOK | https://autode.sk/3WaaZLb
See how two friends turned startup founders take their journey from a NASA rover internship to building sleek, creator-focused hardware—a mechanical keyboard macro pad that evolves from 3D-printed prototypes to CNC-milled aluminum precision.This is a story of bootstrapping by day, building by night, refining through relentless iterations, and shaping a product hand-in-hand with their community. From design sketches to bug-smashing marathons, from early prints to high-end machining, they prove that world-class products can be built from the ground up.
Watch the full ShopTalk episode featuring Prota Design to see how grit, design, and community can turn a side project into a hardware startup.
Connect with Prota Designs:
Prota Designs website is: protadesigns.com
Prota Designs YouTube is: YouTube.com/@PROTADESIGNS
00:00 — Meet Proto Designs & the underdog origin
02:10 — NASA internship → partnership chemistry
04:00 — Bootstrapping: part-time, full-time, even rideshare to fund prototypes
06:20 — Fusion for CAD + 3D printing iterations
08:05 — Printed Pad: 3×3 keys, OLED layers, VIA/QMK compatibility
10:30 — Community building: DMs, Discord calls, fast feedback loops
12:15 — From print to aluminum: durability, weight, premium feel; Fusion toolpaths previewed
14:40 — The “bits vs bytes” flash saga and what it taught them
17:05 — Glyph deep-dive: 4×4 keys, dual knobs, color screen, icons per layer
19:30 — ZMK firmware, Bluetooth, media/time widgets; pre-orders open Oct 14
►FREE TRIAL | https://autode.sk/3Wtfi20
►SUBSCRIBE | https://autode.sk/30njGGX
►GET STARTED | https://autode.sk/30k2DWh
►TRY AN EXTENSION | https://autode.sk/3EOUidW
CONNECT with Fusion on social media:
INSTAGRAM | https://autode.sk/2Enzh8P
TWITTER | https://autode.sk/45cIYTK
LINKEDIN | https://autode.sk/3UyieZS
FACEBOOK | https://autode.sk/3WaaZLb
