Whether manufacturing returns to the United States at scale is yet to be determined. However, one thing that is certain is that with the advent of 3D printing and robotics, manufacturing will not be the same. Voodoo Manufacturing is poised to capitalize on this with its software driven 3D printing factory that minimizes costs associated with manufacturing and cuts lead times for mass production. Founded in Brooklyn in 2015 by former MakerBot employees, the startup has raised a total of $6.65M over three rounds and this latest funding is providing the firepower to build the future of automation in manufacturing.
Today we sit down with Max Friefeld, cofounder and CEO of Voodoo Manufacturing to discuss the startup, the future of manufacturing, and the company’s latest funding round.
Who were your investors and how much did you raise?
We raised a $5M seed extension round led by General Catalyst, with participation from NextView Ventures, 645 Ventures, and Y Combinator’s Continuity Fund.
Tell us about your product or service.
Voodoo Manufacturing is a software-enabled 3D printing factory that works with major brands to produce high-quality products, prototypes and parts at scale. We have manufactured 3D printed parts for major brands like Microsoft, Viacom, Mattel, Intel, Autodesk, and more.
At Voodoo, we minimize the cost and lead-time for mass production and customization, making it possible for consumers to have a completed customized product overnight. Compared to traditional manufacturing, 3D printing increases design freedom and serves as a low-cost alternative to traditional manufacturing.
What inspired you to start the company?
The idea for Voodoo started while our team was at Makerbot. They had internal “Bot farms” where they made sample parts and ran select projects for customers. At one point, we realized this could be turned into a larger business and convinced them to let us take it out on our own. We left MakerBot in May 2015, publicly launched in October 2015, and have been growing since.
How is it different?
At Voodoo, we use commoditized 3D printing technology to manufacture plastic parts and products. Our unique approach to manufacturing allows us to produce anywhere from 1-10,000 parts in less than 2 weeks at prices that are competitive with injection molding. The fact that we are able to cost-compete with injection molding is what makes us a viable alternative for producing many different types of parts. Until today, 3D printing has remained a technology used primarily for prototyping, but at…