Introduction to QTex AI
Two Boise State engineering students, Chris Dagher and Oliver MacDonald, were frustrated with the amount of time they spent digging through technical documents and datasheets. Instead of just complaining, they decided to build a solution. This led to the creation of QTex AI, a startup that aims to transform the way engineers build products by making the process faster and more efficient.
The Problem and Solution
In the engineering industry, engineers often spend hours parsing through datasheets and using inefficient tools. QTex AI offers a conversational AI platform that can reduce hours of work to just minutes. With their custom-built solution, a task that would take a team of five engineers multiple days can now be accomplished by one engineer in 30 minutes. This represents a significant shift in engineering efficiency.
Claiming Their Turf
Dagher and MacDonald’s vision was propelled by Boise State’s physical and digital spaces, including classrooms and the student incubator in the College of Innovation and Design. The idea for QTex AI evolved during a bike ride, and the pair’s platform began to take shape. They realized that QTex could be more than just a project when they did their first demo at a local engineering firm and received positive feedback.
Success Stories and Funding
QTex AI has earned $18,000 from business pitch competitions, which has funded product development and attendance at key industry events. The team is building relationships with the Boise startup ecosystem, helping to strengthen the tech scene. One of their favorite success stories is when they helped a local engineering firm find a part they were looking for during a demo.
The Technology Behind QTex AI
QTex’s proprietary database, HiNDSIGhT, elevates AI search by offering fast, scalable, and highly accurate document interpretation. The system can handle over 25 million documents and pulls from datasheets provided by three major component manufacturers. Users can find and validate microchips through a powerful and intuitive search interface.
Thinking with Purpose
Dagher and MacDonald have blended their creativity, research, and passion across disciplines during their time at Boise State. Despite not having traditional computer science backgrounds, they are building a cutting-edge AI platform. Their advantage is their roots in engineering and passion for learning, which they are pursuing through graduate studies in Boise State’s Computing Ph.D. program.
Support from Boise State
Both students credit Boise State’s Venture College and the College of Business and Economics for their support in business development. They are passionate about helping fellow students explore AI without needing advanced degrees in computer science. Boise State has helped them make connections to industry, which is aiding in the growth of their team.
More Than a Startup
Dagher and MacDonald are looking to the future, exploring licensing their core database technology to industries outside of engineering and considering potential acquisition. Following the platform’s public launch, QTex will operate on an annual subscription-based model. They are currently offering free trial licenses and preparing for public events.
Conclusion
QTex AI is more than just a startup – it’s a story of what’s possible when students are empowered to think boldly, act fearlessly, and innovate with purpose. With every search streamlined and every part sourced more efficiently, QTex AI is innovating the future of engineering. As Dagher and MacDonald continue to grow and develop their platform, they hope to change the way engineers design new products and start a great change in the engineering workflow space.
