Grainwork Closed Beta Application

Before You Apply

This application takes about 10 minutes. Before you start, make sure you're the right fit. We're being intentional about who we invite into closed beta, and these three things will disqualify your shop before we even look at the application.

Do you have access to a nested-based CNC machine at your shop? *

We're building Grainwork specifically around nested-based manufacturing workflows so we need our beta users to have access to a nest-based CNC machine. If you don't have a CNC, totally fine, you can use Grainwork once we launch.

Yes, I have at least 1 CNC machine No, I don't have a CNC machine.

Are you willing to test Grainwork on your actual production machines, even knowing the software is early and imperfect? *

We need shops that will actually run Grainwork and tell us what breaks. Not shops looking for a finished product. If you need software that works perfectly on day one, this isn't the right time to apply.

Yes, I am willing to test, knowing it might not work the first try, or second try. No, I'm looking for a perfect solution. (not a good fit for beta testing)

Are you the person at your shop who would use Grainwork day to day, and can you commit real time to testing and giving feedback during beta? *

We work directly with the person who touches the software. If someone else runs your design or production software, they should fill this out instead. And we need actual engagement: feedback calls, bug reports, honest opinions. If time is too tight for that right now, it's okay to wait for our public launch.

Yes, I am the person who will use it during beta testing. No, someone else in my shop will use it (please have that person fill out this application)

About You and Your Shop

The basics. This is how we'll reach you and get context on your operation.

Your Name

Shop Name

Your Email

Your Phone

City and State

How many people work at your shop?

Count everyone, including yourself. shop floor, office, sales

How many of those people actively design cabinets in the office?

What do you make?

What's your primary product, kitchens, commercial casework, closets, something else?

Who are your customers?

70% homeowners, 30% contractors, etc. Dealer model, etc.

Most shops label themselves as custom. How custom are you?

Mostly common boxes with a special cabinet or two in most job, lots of special pieces and hoods and things, etc

Roughly how many cabinet jobs do you complete per month?

Ballpark is fine. A "job" meaning one customer project, not individual cabinets.

Tell us about your CNC setup. What machine do you run, how long have you had it, and how central is it to your production process?

Brand and model if you know it. How long you've been running nested. Whether your whole production flow runs through it or just part of it. If you have more than one machine, list them.

What You Use Today

This is the most important section. Be specific and honest, especially on the open-ended questions. Vague answers make it hard for us to evaluate fit.

What software are you currently using to design and produce cabinets?

Name the software and roughly how you use it. Do you do full design and engineering in it, or just layout? Do you use it for CNC output or a separate post-processor? How long have you been on it?

What's the biggest problem/s with your current setup?

Don't be polite. We're looking for real, specific pain. "It's slow" is less useful than "our CNC posts break every time there's an update and we lose half a day rerunning everything." The more specific you are, the more useful this answer is to us, and the better we can evaluate whether Grainwork actually solves your problem.

What would your current software need to do to be perfect?

Not what you think Grainwork does. Just what you actually wish existed. Pretend you could call the software company and tell them exactly what to fix or add. What would you say?

Working Together in Beta

Beta is a two-way relationship. You run early software and deal with rough edges. We fix things fast and build what you actually need. These questions are about whether that trade works for both of us.

Have you ever used beta or early-access software in a production environment? What was that experience like?

No wrong answer. If you have, tell us what went well and what didn't. If you haven't, tell us how you'd approach it. We're trying to understand your default instinct when software doesn't work the way you expected.

How would you handle it if a feature broke or produced bad output during beta?

Walk us through what you'd actually do. Would you document it and send us the file? Call us? Submit a bug report? We're not looking for the heroic answer, we're looking for the honest one. The shops that make beta valuable are the ones who communicate when things go wrong, not the ones who quietly stop using it.

How much time per week could you realistically commit to feedback during beta?

You will continue using your old software for actual production more than likely, so everything you do in Grainwork would be extra time. We understand you have other responsibilities so just give us an idea of what you think you could commit to on a typical week with your current work load.

Less than 1 hour/week 1-3 hours/week 3-5 hours/week 5+ hours/week

How do you prefer communicating during beta when you find issues you want to discuss?

Email Phone Call Video Call/Remote Meeting Submit Ticket/Chat

Last Things

Almost done.

What made you interested in Grainwork?

We're curious what actually landed with you. Was it a specific problem we named? Something from the newsletter or YouTube? The first time hearing about us and it clicked? Be honest, this helps us understand what's resonating and what isn't.

Where/How did you hear about us?

Why do you think you would be a good fit for our early closed beta?

We are only taking in a small number of shops for our early testing. These first shops are critical to how Grainwork gets shaped, so we want to make sure we get the right people in this group.