2013-04-24 | Wouter Kneepkens Share this article:

Shapeways, a leader in the rapidly growing 3D printing space, has raised a new round of funding of US$30 million from Tier-1 investors AndreessenHorowitz. It’s the second major funding deal of a Dutch startup this year, following ElasticSearch’s US$24 million earlier. Secondly it’s likely to be the biggest round raised by a Dutch startup ever.

Shapeways is a leading 3D Printing marketplace and community, which aims to help everyone make and share designs with the world, making product design more accessible, personal, and inspiring. The company ensued from the R&D labs of technology giant Philips in Eindhoven, but span itself out from the mega cap company a couple of years ago. In an earlier round the startup already raised EUR5 million, when it moved HQ’s from Eindhoven to New York after a European search for funding proved unsuccessful.

CEO Peter Weijmarshausen provides insights into the timing of this round: “We had to seize this opportunity. The whole world currently buzzes with talk about 3D printing. We have to accelerate. People are starting to wake up to the potential of this technology for consumers.” The deal was closed with support from Andreessen himself, who was enthusiastic about Shapeways when Weijmarshausen presented at their firm in April.

With AndreessenHorowitz on board Shapeways now boasts an A-team of international VC firms as investors, as earlier rounds included Index Ventures and Union Square Ventures. Shapeways itself is also in good company, with AndreessenHorowitz being known for their investments in (among others) Foursquare, Zynga and Groupon.

Share this article: