Asimov Ventures Announces Investment in Collider: 3D Printing Startup Promises to Deliver High Speed & New Materials

When a major new technology arises, it grows from several directions. Take 3D printing, for example. As it begins to supplant traditional manufacturing methods, older manufacturing companies are integrating it into their services and, in many cases, creating new divisions specifically dedicated to additive manufacturing. However, the most exciting and innovative ideas in 3D printing tend to come out of the startups, which is what drove the formation of Asimov Ventures, the venture capital firm that launched last summer.

Dedicated solely to funding startups in emerging technology fields, particularly 3D printing and robotics, Asimov Ventures has already invested in several promising companies such as CleverPet, Metamason and Wiiv. The latest addition to the company’s portfolio is Collider, a Chattanooga-based startup that was born from the city’s GIGTank accelerator program. Collider’s founder, Graham Bredemeyer, worked for GIGTank as the head of the program’s 3D printing track; he also previously worked for Shapeways.

Details about Collider are being kept fairly under wraps thus far, including a fairly sparse website (which teases “All new speeds” and “All new materials”), but the information they have offered is enticing: a new, proprietary technology that will allow industrial companies to 3D print parts in materials that have to date only been available for traditional manufacturing processes.

Collider’s new technology will allow the additive manufacturing of industrial grade plastic parts that will have mechanical properties identical to traditionally manufactured parts. This should greatly appeal to companies who have so far been hesitant to use 3D printing for low volume production grade parts, functional prototypes and rapid tooling.

“Collider’s technology is a game changer and we are thrilled to be an early stage investor,” said Alan M. Meckler, General Partner at Asimov Ventures. “Many industrial companies will no longer have to sacrifice material capabilities in producing 3D printed parts as they will be able to use the exact same materials they use today to make parts.”

Furthermore, Collider expects that their new technology will allow for print speeds that will match the latest high speed printing technologies. A pilot program will be launched this year, with several top industrial companies involved. While details about the types of materials developed by Collider have not yet been released, the technology is expected to lend itself to several new materials that will be valuable to target customers.

Collider is also benefiting from an investment from the Chattanooga Renaissance Fund, a capital fund dedicated to driving economic growth and entrepreneurship in the region. More details about Collider and their new technology will be forthcoming before long, but at this time a lot of information is being kept under wraps for intellectual property reasons. However, private inquiries can be made directly to Asimov Ventures at info@asimovventures.com.  Discuss this investment in the Collider forum on 3DPB.com.