Before you sign

Do I receive all the source files?

Yes. Ownership of everything produced for your project transfers to you upon final payment. You receive the editable sources, not just exports:

• Electronics: the native schematic and PCB layout design files, plus the fabrication outputs (Gerbers, BOM and related files).
• Mechanical: the native 3D CAD files, plus neutral exports (STEP, STL).
• Firmware: the complete source code in a Git repository, plus the compiled binaries.
• Documentation: editable source documents, plus PDF.

No locked libraries, no handover fee.

How often do I receive updated files during the project?

At every milestone. Each milestone ends with a delivery of the current files, so you are never more than one milestone away from a complete, usable set. Technical teams who prefer it can get access to a shared repository and follow the work as it happens.

Does Atallis use proprietary building blocks that would require a license later?

No license is ever needed for Atallis's work. Atallis reuses its own proven building blocks (schematic blocks, footprints, firmware drivers) because it makes the work faster and more reliable. They ship with your deliverables, at no license fee, with nothing that restricts how you use, modify or manufacture your product.

The only third-party pieces are the SDKs and software stacks published by chip vendors. Some of them, such as certain radio stacks, are distributed as precompiled binaries under the vendor's own license, which is typically free for use with that vendor's chips. They are identified in the documentation, so there are no surprises.

Do you sign NDAs?

Yes, always. A mutual non-disclosure agreement is signed before any technical information is shared.

Have you designed architectures similar to mine?

Atallis has delivered designs using Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi and LoRa, battery-powered products where low power drives the architecture, and multi-sensor connected devices. Julien Boriasse has practiced hardware engineering since 2009. Before founding Atallis, he contributed to several medical devices developed under IEC 60601 and ISO 13485.

Some of that thinking is public: battery life as a firmware problem, low-latency wireless, EMC certification.

Can you take a medical device through certification?

Atallis prototypes medical and wellness products and makes early design choices informed by hands-on IEC 60601 and ISO 13485 experience. Regulatory affairs (the quality system, the technical file, the submissions) are not in scope. That work belongs with a specialized regulatory partner, and Atallis works alongside them.

Can you share an example of a project of similar complexity?

Three engagements are documented in the case studies. Other projects, often closer to your context, can be discussed under NDA on request.

If the first hardware revision has a design bug, how are fixes handled? Is it included?

It depends on how the risk is shared, and that is agreed in writing before the project starts. There are two ways to work:

• Turnkey: you pay for a working result. Atallis carries the risk of extra revisions, and the fixed price is set accordingly.
• Iterative: you accept that early hardware is an innovation process and that a respin may be needed. The price is lower, and any extra revision is quoted when it comes up.

Early prototypes often start on off-the-shelf development boards and modules, which keeps the number of custom board revisions down in both cases.

How is the prototype tested before it is delivered?

Functional testing against the agreed requirements is the minimum on every project. The depth scales with the maturity of the product. A formal test bench or written test report is rarely needed at the earliest stages, but if you need one (for investors, a partner or a regulatory file), it is included in the quote from the start.

What does a typical engagement cost, and how long does it take?

Most prototyping engagements range from USD 6,000 to 60,000, depending on the organization, the scope and the duration. They typically run 4 to 10 weeks. Advisory engagements are billed monthly.

How much of the budget goes to components and board assembly versus engineering?

It depends on the engagement model. A turnkey project has one fixed price for the result, and the quote states what hardware it covers. On longer-term or partnership work, you pay for engineering time and expertise, and the hardware (components, PCB fabrication, assembly) is either re-billed at cost or paid by you directly to the suppliers.

Atallis does not make money as a parts intermediary. The value is in the engineering.

How do you handle component shortages? Do you check long-term availability before freezing the schematic?

Not at the prototype stage, deliberately. A prototype exists to prove feasibility, and many start on widely available off-the-shelf boards and modules. Parts will change before production anyway, so freezing a lifecycle-optimized BOM too early costs time without reducing real risk.

Lifecycle status, stock depth and second sources become a priority once the design moves toward production. Why that matters.

How soon can a 4 to 10 week project start?

Often within 2 to 4 weeks. Atallis limits the number of concurrent projects to protect quality, so some projects wait for a slot. Contact us for current availability.

Once the prototype works, do you help bring the product to a contract manufacturer (EMS)?

Yes. Atallis helps you evaluate and select the right manufacturing partner, then supports the transfer of your design into production. The final decision stays yours. How it works.

Is the board designed for CE, FCC or ISED certification from the start?

Certification stays in view from day one without dominating the early work. Design choices that cost nothing early get made early: proven radio modules where they fit, placeholder footprints for EMC filtering, layout decisions that handle ESD. Atallis also supports you during lab testing.

Managing the certification itself is done with an accredited test lab; it is not where Atallis adds the most value. More on EMC certification.