A sister company to polymer and metals sintering leader EOS, AM Ventures is trying to find the next wave of firms that will fundamentally change the 3D printing industry. To help find as well as reward talented entrepreneurs and teams the firm has just launched a new prize, the AM Ventures Impact Award, together with the Formnext team.
AM Ventures is an investor that is solely interested in investing in 3D printing companies that are making manufacturing with 3D printing a reality. The company invests in hardware, materials, and software especially if they are disruptive. They then hope to connect the startup with expertise, large firms and each other.
The AM Ventures Impact Award will be given to one of the Formnext Start-Up Challenge participants. Past Start-up Challenge winners have included Fortify, Sinterit, Kumovis and Dye Mansion. To participate, entrants have to be 3D printing startups less than five years old. The deadline for submissions is September 4, 2020. Winners will be announced that same month. You can win a Formnext exhibition and marketing package that includes an exhibition booth in the Formnext 2020 Start-up Area, as well as publicity in the form of Formnext marketing and communication.
Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext commented on the challenge, saying:
“The Start-up Challenge is a well-publicized success story that has been rewarding very interesting young companies from additive manufacturing for a number of years. Among other advantages, it has given them the opportunity to showcase their business to a specialist international audience as part of Formnext and get off to a flying start in the AM market,”
The AM Ventures Impact Award 2020 will go to one of the selected firms this year. This will be an award related to sustainability and the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations. This includes environmental considerations, like resource conservation and renewable energy technologies, as well as social consideration, like improving education and equality.
For this award, entrants win a chance to pitch for AM Ventures and 5,000 Euros. In order to apply, contestants are required to a maximum six-slide pitch deck that describes how the business can impact the sustainable development goals.
AM Ventures Chief Venture Officer Arno Held said of the award:
“The potential offered by additive manufacturing for addressing the major global sustainability challenges is significant. The technology can be used to make drives more efficient, minimize material consumption, accelerate repairing cycles, and extend battery ranges. In all areas, AM can improve the world if we use the technology correctly. The Impact Award aims to help raise awareness of this.”
You can find out more and enter the competition here.