3D specialist Threedy secures USD 10.4 million in Series A
Darmstadt — Threedy is a high-tech start-up that was founded in 2020 as a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD) in Darmstadt. Three remarkably successful years after its founding, Threedy has secured a USD 10.4 million investment to accelerate growth across multiple industries and geographies. New investors in Threedy’s cutting-edge technology include LBBW Venture Capital, TRUMPF VENTURE, Futury Capital and EquityPitcher Ventures. The investment underscores Threedy’s strong position to capture a significant market share in the fast-growing industrial digital twin space.
Digital transformation in the industry
Threedy’s instant3Dhub is a high-performance spatial computing technology that enables customers to use their 3D data in any configuration and visualize it on a large scale. By making data available and accessible in real time on any device and at any time, it enables the optimization of a variety of digital processes along the entire industrial value chain and a significant reduction in the associated costs. By implementing instant3Dhub, companies can save valuable time and resources, e.g. by eliminating waiting times and reducing license and infrastructure costs.
Threedy enables its customers to establish a modern software architecture that reduces dependency on the monolithic and closed stacks of established software vendors and opens the door for agile development and the scalable roll-out of a modern, lightweight application layer.
With a wide range of features for digital engineering, advanced collaboration and seamless mixed reality, Threedy’s software provides a strong foundation for the digital transformation of the industry.
Working with 3D data becomes as easy as sharing a link by simply referencing it from any source, e.g. existing PDM/PLM solutions, without any preparation or simplification. Threedy’s technology enables new, scalable applications across the entire product lifecycle, from development to after-sales — web-based and with a zero-footprint on the client.
By optimizing 3D data usage and communication, companies can also reduce their environmental footprint: business trips can largely be replaced by virtual exchanges, saving resources and time.
In the first three years, Threedy has successfully developed from a Fraunhofer department into an independent company. Since its founding at the end of 2020, Threedy has grown significantly, almost tripling its workforce to build a team of more than 50 highly qualified professionals from around the world. The company has not only maintained its strong customer relationships, but has also experienced remarkable growth, particularly in the automotive and manufacturing industries.
Threedy’s cutting-edge technology is valued by numerous industry leaders, including the leading German car manufacturers. In addition, Threedy has successfully expanded its network of partnerships and has grown beyond its original focus areas of automotive and the German market. With a substantial 10.4 million dollar Series A investment, Threedy is now ready for the next step, backed by new investors LBBW Venture Capital, TRUMPF VENTURE, Futury Capital and EquityPitcher Ventures. Existing investors Matterwave Ventures, Fraunhofer and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) renewed their commitment by participating in the Series A investment.
Threedy will continue its commitment to commercialize its innovative spatial computing infrastructure and accelerate its adoption in various industries and use cases. The investment will enable Threedy to further advance the development of its product portfolio.
Threedy’s expansion plans include further internationalization, while the company continues to focus on excellence and innovation and sustainably supports the digital transformation of its partners. Threedy is now actively looking for new employees in various roles to join the team and help shape the future of the industrial digital twin.
“Threedy immediately caught our interest with its cutting-edge technology and enormous growth potential. The advanced spatial computing platform fits in with our investment strategy to support breakthrough digital innovations that transform key industries in the DACH region such as mechanical engineering or the automotive industry. Threedy’s instant3Dhub enables organizations to effortlessly access their most valuable assets — 3D data — in real time, on any device, at any time. We are excited to lead this investment and support Threedy’s great team on its future journey,” said Patrick Herlinger (Investment Manager, LBBW Venture Capital)
“Threedy has successfully built a strong customer network of leading automotive and manufacturing companies for its revolutionary spatial computing technology, giving it the potential to become the market leader. As one of Threedy’s valued customers, TRUMPF relies on instant3Dhub to support sales representatives with 3D visualization. We are very pleased to support Threedy’s next growth step with our investment,” explains Jens Ortgiese (Principal, TRUMPF VENTURE)
“We are excited about the opportunity to support the Hessian deep-tech company Threedy in a strong investor consortium to drive the digitalization of manufacturing companies worldwide”, Benjamin Krahmer (Managing Director, Futury Capital)
“Innovative companies from the DACH region always arouse our interest immediately. With its revolutionary spatial computing approach, Threedy fits perfectly into our investment strategy,” says Sascha Horrig (Founding Partner, EquityPitcher Ventures)
“We continue to support Threedy with full commitment. In the last three years since its foundation, Threedy has shown a remarkable success story and developed from a start-up and Fraunhofer spin-off into an established company. With more than 50 employees, a growing customer base, valuable partnerships and increasing use cases, we look forward to supporting Threedy’s next growth step,” said Robert Gallenberger (Founding Partner at Matterwave Ventures), Gregor Haidl (Principal at High-Tech Gründerfonds) and Markus Weitzel (Investment Manager at Fraunhofer Venture)
About LBBW Venture Capital
As an evergreen fund, LBBW Venture Capital has been supporting startup founders in raising seed or Series A rounds in the DACH region since 1998. Its fields of activity include B2B software, FinTech, DeepTech and life science. LBBW Venture Capital also offers growth support through LBBW’s large customer network and can offer additional financial services in later phases as well as advice on M&A or IPO exits. https://www.lbbwvc.de/
TRUMPF VENTURE
TRUMPF Venture is the corporate venture capital unit of the TRUMPF Group. The CVC arm invests worldwide in early-stage deep-tech start-ups that operate in areas that complement or are adjacent to TRUMPF’s core business.
https://www.trumpf.com/en_INT/company/trumpf-group/trumpf-venture/
About Futury Capital
Futury Capital is an early and growth stage investor with a focus on tech startups in Germany and worldwide. The investment portfolio favors globally scalable business models in various sectors. Through its LP structure with the State of Hesse, family offices, institutional investors and multinational companies, Futury Capital provides strategic and operational support to the portfolio to help build exceptional companies. https://www.futurycapital.vc/en
EquityPitcher Ventures
EquityPitcher Ventures is a leading Swiss venture capital firm founded in 2016. It invests in high-growth start-ups from the DACH region in an industry-agnostic manner. By working closely with renowned industry experts, co-investors and exit partners, EquityPitcher paves the way for entrepreneurs to access the three key success factors: capital, know-how and network.
https://equitypitcher.com/en/
About Fraunhofer Venture
Fraunhofer Venture is the central spin-off and investment management department of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. It offers founders, start-ups, industrial companies and investors a comprehensive support program with access to the cutting-edge technologies of 76 Fraunhofer Institutes as well as to Fraunhofer’s infrastructure and expertise — including more than 7,600 patent families. The range of services offered by Fraunhofer Venture includes comprehensive support and advice from the conception to the founding of a company, active management of Fraunhofer investments, support in the search for financing opportunities through to the possible sale of the company.
https://www.fraunhoferventure.de/en.html
Matterwave Ventures
Matterwave Ventures is a European venture capital company based in Munich that has specialized in deep tech innovations with industrial applications for many years. The experienced team invests in early-stage software and hardware-based business models throughout Europe. The aim is to build world-leading companies that drive the future of industrial value creation, improving resource efficiency, technology sovereignty and operational efficiency. Over the past 20 years, the team has invested in over 60 companies. Matterwave invests in the “full stack”, from materials and components to complete systems and software solutions. With over EUR 200 million of capital under management, Matterwave typically participates in seed and Series A financing rounds with initial investments between EUR 1–4 million. Including follow-up financing rounds, more than EUR 10 million can be invested per portfolio company.
https://matterwave.vc
High-Tech Gründerfonds
The seed investor High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) finances technology start-ups with growth potential and has supported more than 700 start-ups since 2005. With the launch of the fourth fund, HTGF has around 1.4 billion euros under management. The team of experienced investment managers and start-up experts supports the young companies with know-how, entrepreneurial spirit and passion. The focus is on high-tech start-ups in the fields of digital tech, industrial tech, life sciences, chemistry and related business areas. To date, external investors have invested around EUR 5 billion in the HTGF portfolio in more than 2,000 follow-on financing rounds. In addition, the fund has already successfully sold shares in more than 170 companies.
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, KfW Capital, and 45 companies from a wide range of industries.