Voxel8 ActiveLab Digital Fabrication System
Voxel8, the 3D printing company born out of Jennifer A. Lewis’s Harvard University lab, has announced it has raised Series B funding led by the venture investment arm of global science company DSM.
The round also includes participation from HP Tech Ventures and existing investors Braemar Energy Ventures and ARCH Venture Partners.
Pieter Wolters, Managing Director, DSM Venturing commented: “Voxel8 is an excellent addition to our portfolio. Its multi-materials digital manufacturing platform is poised to dramatically impact the footwear and the sports apparel markets, strategic to DSM. We are excited to help Voxel8 become a leading innovation platform in these markets.”
Founded in 2014, Voxel8 is focused on multi-material printing technologies aimed at the footwear, apparel and smart textiles markets. Having initially launched a developer kit in 2015 combining polymer extrusion-based printing with conductive inks, Voxel8 has most recently introduced its ActiveLab Digital Fabrication System, a multi-material digital manufacturing system that enables product development, wear testing and production runs of high-performance athletic footwear uppers and other textiles. The technology is said to deliver shorter design cycle times, reduced manufacturing reorder lead times, and reduced costs for labour and tooling, while allowing footwear companies to bring manufacturing closer to their end user markets.
Commenting on the technology’s potential in the footwear sector, Jiong Ma, Braemar Energy Ventures, said: “Voxel8 is uniquely differentiated as a leader in multi-material digital manufacturing, which we believe will meaningfully expand the realm of possibilities for digitally manufacturing a wide range of products. Within the athletic footwear market alone, over 2.5 billion pairs of athletic shoes are manufactured globally each year. Voxel8 is well-poised to capture substantial market share in athletic shoe upper manufacturing and, more broadly, medical and smart textiles.”
Travis Busbee, CEO and co-founder of Voxel8, added: “Our digital manufacturing systems are revolutionizing how footwear and athletic apparel is designed, manufactured, and sold to consumers across the globe. We are excited to work with this team of world-class and experienced investors. Their global reach, expertise, and funding will accelerate the rapid adoption of Voxel8’s technology for high-volume production of athletic footwear and apparel.”
