Laramie developer launches platform to track U.S. manufacturing suppliers

A new software tool developed in Laramie aims to simplify the process for U.S. companies attempting to return manufacturing operations to domestic soil. Christian Bitzas, a former co-founder of Uplink Robotics, created the platform EcosAtlas to address fragmented supply chain data that often hinders reshoring efforts. The tool is currently being piloted by regional manufacturers and economic development groups in Wyoming.

The Reshoring Initiative projects that reshoring and foreign direct investment projects will account for approximately 309,000 manufacturing jobs in 2026. Despite this growth, a 2026 survey by the group found that 57% of original equipment manufacturers cite policy uncertainty as their primary obstacle. Other common challenges include import price competition and a shortage of skilled workers. Bitzas noted that many decision-makers struggle to identify which local companies possess specific capabilities.

Bitzas said he built EcosAtlas because traditional search methods often fail to surface the right vendors. He explained that search engine optimization, or SEO, allows certain companies to dominate search results regardless of their actual operational capacity. This creates a blind spot for businesses looking for specialized services or manufacturing partners. His platform pulls information from more than 100 different datasets across the United States to provide a more complete picture.

The system uses algorithms and artificial intelligence agents to gather up-to-date information on businesses. It tracks changes such as new services, location moves, and startup launches. The tool also highlights companies with successful government contracts or specific OSHA inspection histories. These indicators help users identify quality vendors who may not have high digital visibility through standard web searches.

Eric Carman-Murray, the southwest Wyoming regional director for Manufacturing Works, is using the platform to assist local industries. He recently helped a pesticide company evaluate returning production to the state. The company needed to verify specific insurance insolvency rules in Wyoming, a detail Carman-Murray said was outside the typical scope of his organization's research. Using EcosAtlas, he queried the system for other businesses that had already navigated similar regulatory questions in the state.

The platform generated a list of companies that had resolved those specific issues, allowing the pesticide manufacturer to answer its questions quickly. Carman-Murray said the tool helps expose capabilities that might otherwise remain invisible to new entrants in the market. He noted that the interface allows users to ask direct questions without needing software programming skills. This accessibility enables business leaders to find potential partners faster than through traditional research methods.

Bitzas is expanding the tool beyond Wyoming. He is conducting a paid pilot in Idaho with an organization similar to Manufacturing Works. He is also in discussions with other groups across Wyoming to use the platform for economic development purposes. The software can identify instances where local businesses are paying out-of-state vendors for services that could be provided in-state. Bitzas said keeping that money local supports job growth and strengthens the regional economy.

Bitzas, a native of Powell, started Uplink Robotics after moving back from Tucson, Arizona, where he had accepted a job following graduation. He found local opportunities limited at the time. He previously created WyoHub, a free resource map for entrepreneurs, but realized maintaining current data was a challenge. EcosAtlas was designed to solve that maintenance issue. The platform is intended to help retain skilled workers and support the growth of local manufacturers.