Thursday, June 20, 2013

Timing Is Everything With MakerBot Buy

In a demonstration that timing is everything, the huge, $604M acquisition of 3D printing maker MakerBot Wednesday probably has those who were involved in Southern California 3D printing startup Desktop Factory shaking their heads. MakerBot was developing low cost, 3-D printers for hobbyists to create their own, 3D printed objects--precisely the market that Desktop Factory had been pursuing. However, Desktop Factory had pioneered 3D printing way back in 2007, before the recent obsession and craze over 3D printed objects. Instead of a giant exit, the Idealab-backed startup shut its doors and sold its assets in 2009. Like MakerBot, Desktop Factory had been developing a sub-$3000 3D printer. Makerbot wasn't founded until 2009.