In May of 2017, I joined Paperless Parts as the first hire outside the founding team. Paperless Parts caters to custom part manufacturers, offering a quoting and estimating platform that marries the precision of CAD, versatility of Excel, and the organizational power of ERP systems. This platform simplifies and scales the complex processes of quoting custom parts by automating the extraction and application of data from part files into cost and pricing models. I’ve journeyed with the company from its pre-revenue stage to its current status as a market leader, through numerous pivots and product enhancements, as both an engineer and product manager. I’ve distilled four key learnings that I believe are essential for anyone venturing into the Manufacturing SaaS space.