Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to commonly asked questions

Surcle Playbook

What is a Surcle Playbook?

The Surcle Playbook is a unique document for a specified hardware project containing a detailed roadmap within pertinent stages of hardware development cycle, validated product requirements document (PDR), and other technical specifications and personnel requirements to be met for project completion.

How do you verify your engineers/firms?

We have a streamlined vetting process that qualifies each engineer’s expertise, education, technical degrees, past and current employers, successful projects, and notable certifications.

How do you protect Intellectual Property (IP)?

Surcle has a meticulously defined set of terms and conditions that regulate usage of the platform AND regulates each project on a case-by-case basis. These terms have been collaborated upon from global legal experts and are designed to compartmentalize portions of each project so users know what they are tasked with, but do not see the “entire picture.”

How do you conduct matchmaking?

Surcle matches engineering projects with firms and professionals possessing the level of expertise, budgetary parameters, and key resources to deliver the envisioned solution within a specified time frame.

How do you conduct crowdsourcing?

Surcle hosts incentivized competitions to help customers with ideation, proof of concept, and customer feedback milestones. Each project is designed with a discovery process that identifies the problem statement, nature of the problem to be solved, expertise needed, and tier-based incentives that are proportional to the level of effort required to complete each milestone.

How do you conduct your marketplace?

Surcle facilitates an open call for bids against projects that have been defined with specific requirements and time frame. Parties interested in participating in these open bids can submit a statement of work (SOW) along with a quote to perform services to deliver the envisioned solution.

Joining Projects

How do I join a project?

Register with Surcle by completing your profile and accepting our user terms. You will be able to join most active Surcle projects immediately, however your credentials will need to be verified prior to being added to our matchmaking database.

How long does it take to verify my credentials/experience?

The duration of verification depends on the individual and level of education/experience claimed. Typically our team will verify a user within 72 hours.

How much experience do I need to join projects?

No minimum experience required, but we do encourage our users to join projects that match their experience levels, whether they are entry-level hobbyists or subject matter experts. Certain projects may require a verification of credentials to join.

What is the cost to join projects?

There is no cost to participate in projects, although some projects may have additional conditions that will need to be met.

Can other people see my submissions?

On public projects your submissions are visible to the Surcle community. On private projects, your submissions will only be visible to the Project Poster and their appointed moderators.

How is the winning submission selected?

The Project Poster selects the winning solution in accordance to the scoring rubric and requirements detailed within each project.

How do I collect payment for a winning submission?

Project Posters are responsible for authorizing payment to winning participants via payment method that is outlined and agreed upon in project details.

How do we collaborate/work together on a project?

Posting Projects

How do I post a project?

Register your project with Surcle by completing a project submission form and accepting our user terms. You will be prompted through a series of questions pertaining to your project details for our team to review before publication. Take your time! Sloppy or incomplete responses results in lowered viewership and engagement.

How long does it take for my project to get reviewed?

The duration of review depends on the complexity and completeness of your project details. Typically our team will review a project within 48 hours of submission. Once your project has been approved, you will be contacted by a customer success manager to confirm publication.

How much does Surcle charge me to post a project?

All projects are free to post on Surcle for an initial 30 day period. After that, should you wish to continue, you will be charged a monthly fee of $99* beginning 30 days after the registration date for each project posted on the Surcle platform.

*This fee includes access to our network, a dedicated customer success manager, and general marketing outreach. We offer our Surcle Playbook service that helps to further scope a project with a focus on delivery and implementation.

Who participates in Surcle projects?

Project participants consist of engineers/firms with backgrounds in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial design, software engineering, automation, and more.

Can other people see my submissions?

On public projects your submissions are visible to the Surcle community. On private projects, your submissions will only be visible to the Project Poster and their appointed moderators.

How do you verify your engineers/firms?

We have a streamlined vetting process that qualifies each engineer’s expertise, education, technical degrees, past and current employers, successful projects, and notable certifications.

Who owns Intellectual Property of provided solutions?

Due the complex nature of IP protection, our terms state that the IP belongs to the registered user until their submission has been selected as the winner for a specified project. Once a winner has been selected, an officially documented transfer of IP must be completed, which is independently governed for each project.*

Unless otherwise specified, Project Poster will be responsible for official IP transfer.

What about project privacy?

Each project is case-by-case, however Surcle can limit who sees and participates in any given project in accordance to specific requirements. Project Posters can also lock down project privacy to a target region, expertise, or even sets of users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Surcle Playbook

Joining Projects

Posting Projects

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