E-Spin

E-Spin rethinks how and where prototyping happens.

Traditional development boards stay on desks. E-Spin is designed to stay with you.

• ESP32-C3 microcontroller (WiFi + Bluetooth)
• 12 exposed GPIO pins (I2C, power rails, etc.)
• 8 addressable RGB LEDs
• USB-C programming & charging
• Onboard LiPo battery with battery management
• Integrated 9 axis IMU
• Dual-purpose PCB design with embedded reference guide
• Fidget spinner form factor with 698ZZ bearing

This enables rapid experimentation anywhere — from quick sensor tests to wireless prototypes — without needing a full lab setup.

What Makes It Different

E-Spin is not a gadget pretending to be a dev board.
It is a fully capable dev board that happens to be enjoyable to use.

Always accessible → encourages spontaneous prototyping
Physical interaction (spin, motion) → new input possibilities
Embedded reference PCB → practical engineering aid
Plug-and-play GPIO → immediate hardware integration

The form factor is not cosmetic — it directly impacts usability and adoption.

My Role

I led the electronics, product design, and technical execution of the project:

Hardware & Embedded Systems

• Designed the complete electronic architecture
• Developed and iterated on PCB layouts (V1 → V3)
• Selected components, validated, and integrated (ESP32-C3, power, LEDs, IMU)
• Prototyped, debugged, and brought up the hardware

Manufacturing & Production

• Sourced components and manufacturing partners
• Defined DFM (Design for Manufacturing) constraints
• Set up assembly workflows and validation processes
• Managed transition from hand-soldered prototypes → factory production

Product & Creative Direction

• Created 3D renders (Blender) and visual assets
• Designed campaign visuals and UI elements (Figma)
• Produced content for Kickstarter and social media
• Structured and launched the crowdfunding campaign

Collaboration

Alexandre focused on mechanical design (form factor, tolerances) and project logistics (budgeting, forecasting)
Close collaboration ensured tight integration between electronics and mechanical constraints

Results (Kickstarter Launch)

• Funded in under 7.5 hours
• 200% funded within 7 days
• 59 backers / €2,037 pledged (week 1)
• International demand across Europe and beyond
• Featured by external platforms (e.g., Hackster.io)