Trinckle, the Berlin-based online 3D modelling and product customization software developer (part of the same group that offers the MeltWerks online 3D printing service), has completed a financing round and will now be able to finance its future expansion with another €700,000. The money will be used to expand the SaaS (Software as a Service) area and to market the trinckle Product Customizer.
Like other online 3D customization software developers (and 3D printing management software developers in general) trinkle began by targeting consumers, making its software as accessible as possibile, to the realize that enterprise customers are those who stand to benefit the most from easy and functional software for 3D printing. This change in strategy seems to be paying off.
“Our flagship product, known as the 3D Product Customizer, makes good on one of the biggest promises of 3D printing: personalised products for everyone,” said Florian Reichle, the co-founder and managing director of the company. “Thanks to the customizer, customers can individually configure or design static products without any special expertise. With our 3D printing technology, customers can also manufacture individualised products cost- efficiently.”
The young company has thus gained KfW Bankengruppe (KfW) and repartners gmbh (redpartners) as new investors. A business angel also came on board as a new investor in addition to the existing shareholder, BFB Frühphasenfonds Brandenburg GmbH (“BFB”). The latter has made use of its conversion rights from a subordinated loan and will therefore continue to hold a 15% stake in trinckle.
This particular fund, which has a volume of EUR 25 million, was designed and set up by InvestitionsBank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB) on behalf of the Ministry for Economics and European Affairs of the State of Brandenburg. Three quarters of the fund’s resources are provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), 20% by budget funds of the State of Brandenburg and 5% by bmp Beteiligungsmanagement AG. Venture capitalists Bmp have been commissioned to manage the fund which, in addition to trinckle3D, comprises 22 other Brandenburg companies.
“trinkle’s services are already marketable and thus give customers access to the market in a quick and easy manner,” added Dr Jan Alberti, the responsible investment manager at bmp Beteiligungsmanagement AG. “As the manager of BFB Frühphasenfonds, bmp already identified trinckle’s potential last year. We are all the more pleased that the company has developed outstandingly in the last 18 months and that it has acquired other renowned investors. We are convinced that trinckle will gain a substantial share of the 3D printing market.”
Little by little the market for 3D printing and 3D modelling applications is coming together and players are growing into larger and more experienced companies. The future of personalized manufacturing and mass customization has to go through this phase first.
