Jewelry 3D Printing Company Stilnest Gets Major Investment

Designer 3-D printed jewelry platform Stilnest announced recently that it received major funding. The investment from IBB in Berlin via VC Fonds Technologie as well as angel investors, was an undisclosed amount in the six-figure range. It will help the German startup expand its global visibility, further develop its online platform and recruit designers.

Julian Leitloff, CEO Stilnest, said that the funding the young company received will also help prove the viability of 3-D printing.”The funding we receive can prove that 3-D printing has a fundamental influence on the way we produce and offer products at last, as well as the exciting new business models it allows. After the hype surrounding experimental applications of 3-D printing, it is now time to bring really nice and high quality products to the market.”

This round of financing also sees the headquarters of the young company shift from Friedrichshafen, Germany to the more cosmopolitan Berlin. This is Stilnest’s third-round of investments. Early investors included private equity firm GmbH & Co. KG and Zeppelin University’s holding company.

Christoph Zeller, an IBB representative, said it was important to invest in StilNest because of 3-D printing’s up-and-coming nature. “We are convinced that we will see a massive application of this new technology and look forward to have won a leading representative for Berlin with Stilnest.”

Stilnest, which translates to Style Nest, was launched in 2013 at Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen by Leitloff, Raoul Schäkermann, Michael Aigner, Tim Bibow, Florian Krebs and Mike Schäkermann.

The company is primarily a curation platform. They bring together jewelry designers from around the world, along with their best designs, and present them to a global audience. At the moment, the Stilnest website features more than 100 pieces, designed by 37 international designers. Each chosen design is displayed on the Stilnest website. Stilnest also gives users the backstory and inspiration behind each piece, so that consumers have a more personal connection to the jewelry they select. When someone orders a piece of jewelry, it is 3D printed in Germany and finished. Then it is delivered. Typically, pieces are available in sterling silver and fine polyamide. The company plans to add gold jewelry to its repertoire in the near future.

Without a doubt 3D printing will play a significant role in the future of jewelry design.  Companies like Stilnest are paving the way towards the future.  Let’s hear your thoughts on the future of jewelry manufacturing and design, in the jewelry 3D printing forum thread on 3DPB.com.