Matter and Form
They had hoped for 150 backers but got 2000. Now the people behind The Matter and Form 3D Scanner (formerly Matterform), the first affordable, crowdfunded, high-resolution 3D scanner, are shipping to shops, studios, offices, classrooms and homes around the world -- including the UK. The scanner is the inaugural product of Matter and Form Inc. which last month announced an investment deal of $2million (£1.1million) led by Sandstone Asset Management Inc. and supported by the MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF) in Canada. Matter and Form features at this year’s TCT Show at Stand H18.
Matter and Form Inc.’s CTO Trevor Townsend shared the Matter and Form story, from Indiegogo success story to product launch and all the challenges in between during a seminar at the TCT Show yesterday.
“3D scanning will play an increasingly important role in the future of how everything will run and be made. We think it’s essential that everyone has access to the technology,” said Matter and Form CTO Trevor Townsend about the device that allows people to bring real world objects into their computers where they can be modified. “When we saw how well our homemade scanner worked, we realised we had a chance to build a high quality scanner but at a price that almost anyone could afford.”
That affordability is even more present for the remainder of the TCT Show as Matter and Form are offering a discounted show rate of $525 + $10 shipping to the UK. Make sure you drop by their stand at H18!
The scanner is easy to use right out of the box and capable of colour scans rivalling those produced by much more complex and expensive 3D scanners. It works with any 3D printer or online printing service and can scan solid items to create 3D representations in as little as seven minutes. Higher quality scans of larger objects can take as little as 45 minutes.
CEO and Founder Drew Cox and his friend Adam Brandejs needed a 3D scanner, but couldn’t afford it, so they built one instead. When they saw how well it performed, they knew others would want it too. They started a company and were joined by CTO Trevor Townsend, a veteran programmer, consultant, and business analyst. Brandejs left after the design phase was complete and Paul Banwatt, a lawyer, joined the company as COO and General Counsel.
The Matter and Form 3D Scanner was invented by and for designers. However, a highly successful Indiegogo Campaign attracted a much broader range of backers, including inventors, gamers, hobbyists, teachers and creative families. Matter and Form Inc.’s crowdfunding campaign was launched on Indiegogo.com in 2013. Hoping to raise $81,000 (£45,000) to cover their startup costs, the company raised almost $500,000 (£275,000).
Matter and Form Inc. recently launched its Approved Reseller program and has signed non-exclusive distribution deals worldwide, including Dynamism in the UK. The Matter and Form 3D Scanner is available through https://matterandform.net.
