The Top 5 Reasons Startups Need Simulation With virtual product design, optimization and testing using simulation, even early-stage companies can accelerate the creation of more efficient and longer-lasting products at a lower cost.

Entrepreneurs and their engineers, scientists, and researchers, across many industries, are working to solve some of our world's most difficult challenges. But before they can improve upon an existing product, system, or technology, or design one from scratch, a lot of work goes into research and development to help make sure the product they bring to market works — or even exceeds expectations.

Research and development might sound like a long, expensive slog, but it's what enables insight into new ways of doing things, out-of-the box thinking, and opens the door to the best possible outcome.

No one knows this better than the team at Ansys. Founded in 1970 in Canonsburg, Pa., Ansys is a leading developer of engineering simulation software that helps predict real-world product behavior. "We help visionaries solve the world's most complex and meaningful problems," says Susan Coleman, Director of Ansys' Startup Program. "By offering a broad portfolio of engineering simulation software, we help innovative companies accelerate the creation of more efficient and longer-lasting products at a lower cost."

With simulation, fewer expensive and time-consuming physical prototypes need to be created. For instance, to test autonomous vehicles for safety, it could take years to run the necessary physical tests. With simulation, that testing can be done virtually in a fraction of the time, Coleman says. "Our deep simulation capabilities make it so more design iterations can be developed and tested in less time, which drives innovation forward and removes barriers to market entry," she says.

Here, Coleman shares the top five reasons why startups need simulation to help bring their products to market the right way.

1. It helps determine the feasibility of ideas.

At its most basic, simulation provides entrepreneurs with the ability to explore and predict how their products will work — or won't work — in the real world.

"It's like being able to see into the future, enabling you to innovate as never before," Coleman explains. "Designs can be tested thousands of times using real-world phenomena during the same time it would take to do one physical test. In some cases, virtual testing that would be extremely expensive or virtually impossible in the physical sense can be conducted using simulation."

2. It can decrease the design timeline.

Time is money. For startups, this is especially true. In early stages, entrepreneurs are faced with many decisions that could help their funding or revenue stretch further. They are also faced with competition and, in some cases, the need to get to market first.

Because everything with simulation is done virtually, entrepreneurs can test, optimize, and retest in minutes or hours compared to days, months, or even years using physical prototypes. "Multiphysics simulation allows innovation across every discipline, from structural mechanics to computational fluid dynamics, electromagnetics, photonics, material properties, and more," Coleman says. "Engineers, scientists, and researchers can work cross-functionally using the same platform, which drives efficiency and collaboration across teams.

3. Simulation can help reduce development costs.

The more time spent on testing, the more money you spend. If you can save time, you can typically save money simultaneously.

"Think about an engineering team working to make a car seat safer. The cost to crash a physical car over and over with different points of impact and differently sized test devices would be extraordinarily large," Coleman explains. "Teams would be limited by their budgets, so physical testing would only be able to drive so much innovation.

While each project varies based on industry and complexity, aerospace, automotive, energy, healthcare, and high tech stand to potentially save more because their physical testing may be much more expensive, require safety standards to be met, or may be nearly impossible to test physically, Coleman says.

4. It increases product performance.

Simulation is used to improve the design of nearly every physical product or process by providing the opportunity to evaluate a wide range of alternative designs prior to building physical prototypes. It has also been used to model different operating scenarios to develop control strategies that improve operations.

"By using simulation, companies can analyze the performance of products and systems in real-world operating conditions so they can make confident predictions about future performance to improve product operation and productivity while reducing costs and risks of unplanned downtime," Coleman says. This is often critical for unestablished startups without years and years of reputable products. A single faulty product can spell disaster.

5. Simulation helps solve complex engineering challenges to drive innovation.

Startups and established companies alike are breaking down barriers that existed in every industry in previous decades. Ansys' multiphysics solutions enable organizations to keep pace with increasing demands for smaller budgets, shorter timelines, and less training. "Simulation removes obstacles that exist in physical testing, enabling you to move faster and explore new ways of tackling even the most complex challenges," Coleman says.

One thing is for certain: Simulation is no longer viewed as a specialized skillset only for the most talented engineers. "As more people use simulation across larger teams, we will see its benefits amplified," Coleman says.

Click here to learn more about Ansys' Startup Program and how it is empowering early-stage entrepreneurs.