For an electrical engineer, the first step in building a new device is often the most tedious: finding the right chip. It involves cross-referencing datasheets from dozens of manufacturers, comparing obscure parameters like slew rate and quiescent current, and navigating a fragmented landscape of distributor catalogs. In Boise, Idaho, a pair of recent engineering graduates are betting that a conversational AI can cut that time to minutes.
QTex AI, founded in 2024 by Chris Dagher and Oliver MacDonald, is developing PartWise, a SaaS platform they describe as a ChatGPT for electronic components [BoiseDev, Oct 2025]. An engineer can describe a needed function in natural language, and the system returns a ranked list of suitable parts, complete with availability, pricing, and links to technical documentation [Trailhead].
A wedge into engineering workflows
The differentiation QTex AI is attempting lies in the interface and the intelligence layer. By applying large language models to a structured corpus of component data, the platform aims to interpret ambiguous engineering intent and filter results based on a deep understanding of electrical parameters. For a team of two founders who are themselves navigating the final stages of academic engineering projects, the pain point is intimately familiar [Boise State News, June 2025]. Their combined R&D experience forms the initial dataset and design intuition for the tool [QTex AI website].
Validation through competition, not capital
In the absence of disclosed venture funding, QTex AI's early traction is measured in prize money and local accolades. The company's recent wins are notable:
- Boise Entrepreneur Week Championship. In October 2025, QTex AI won the event's top prize, netting $50,000 [BoiseDev, Oct 2025].
- Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge. The team secured first place in the 2024 statewide competition [Boise State News, Sep 2025].
- Startup World Cup Qualifiers. As Venture College alumni, they advanced to regional qualifiers for the global pitch event [Boise State News, July 2025].
| Founder | Role | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Dagher | CEO | B.S. in Engineering (2023), Ph.D. candidate in Computing at Boise State [Boise State School of Computing]. |
| Oliver MacDonald | CTO | B.S. in Engineering Plus Robotics (2024), Boise State University [Boise State News, Sep 2025]. |
The incumbent landscape and the integration challenge
The primary competitive pressure comes from the entrenched workflows built around established parts search engines. Engineers have used tools like Octopart for years, and they are often integrated directly into professional computer-aided design (CAD) software like SnapEDA. For QTex AI's PartWise to displace these habits, it must prove to be fundamentally transformative. The risk is that the product becomes a helpful auxiliary tool used occasionally, rather than the primary sourcing environment.
The path forward likely hinges on a clear go-to-market motion. The company could target small and midsize electronics firms or academic research labs where procurement processes are less rigid. A deeper integration with CAD tools would be a logical next step to move from a standalone web app to an embedded part of the design workflow.
QTex AI is betting that a conversational interface can collapse the complexity of the manual, multi-tab process currently used by engineers. The next twelve months will show if competition prize judges see the same potential as the engineering teams they are building for.