NEW YORK, June 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Shapeways, the world's largest 3D printing service, marketplace and community, today announces a new round of funding, led by The Netherlands based investor, INKEF Capital. Hewlett Packard Ventures and Presidio Ventures, the investment arm of the Tokyo-based Sumitomo Corporation, also participated in the round, as well as current investors Andreessen Horowitz, Union Square Ventures, Index Ventures, and Lux Capital. Robert Jan Galema of INKEF Capital joins the Shapeways board.

"Shapeways is redefining how products are being made," says Peter Weijmarshausen, CEO and Co-Founder of Shapeways. "The partners in this funding round share our vision that manufacturing is moving from analog to digital and as a result it will disrupt product creation, and make it more accessible to everyone."

Galema sees Shapeways as the clear leader that has established the perfect positioning in its value chain. "The 3D printing industry itself is at an inflection point shifting the user base beyond the innovating group of designers only. The long term impact of industry game changers is very often underestimated and no one really knows how fast things will happen, but it is happening now!"

Shapeways will use the capital to invest in its community, continue to work on new features and materials for its platform, and boost the company's world-class production environment and supply chain, which already includes two factories and many manufacturing partners. The partnership announced last year between HP and Shapeways to pilot new printers that promise to increase the speed and quality of 3D printed products is one such example.

"Hewlett Packard Ventures is excited to help Shapeways accelerate their momentum and scale their business around the world," said Lak Ananth, Managing Director, Hewlett Packard Ventures. "As a strategic partner, we will build upon our existing relationship with Shapeways to help make the vision and promise of 3D printing and additive manufacturing a reality."  

With this investment, INKEF Capital confirms its strategic direction to invest in Dutch rooted globally relevant technology companies. "Considering the Dutch roots of the company, as a Netherlands based investor we are especially delighted to support Shapeways in this next stage of development," Galema adds.

Since Shapeways launched in 2008, the service has 3D printed more than 2.5 million products, with 150,000 new designs uploaded to the website monthly. Of the 620,000 community members, 30,000 sell their unique products on the Shapeways marketplace, which draws a global audience.

Media Contact
Blair Baumwell, Press@shapeways.com

ABOUT SHAPEWAYS
Shapeways is the world's leading 3D printing service and marketplace, empowering designers to bring amazing products to life. By giving anyone the ability to quickly and affordably turn ideas from digital designs into real products, Shapeways is fundamentally changing how products are made and by whom. Headquartered in Manhattan, Shapeways also has factories and offices in Eindhoven, Long Island City and Seattle.

ABOUT INKEF CAPITAL

INKEF is an Amsterdam, the Netherlands, based venture capital firm that is focused on the long-term collaboration and active support of innovative technology companies. INKEF was founded in 2010 by Dutch pension fund ABP and with € 200 million under management it is one of the largest venture capital funds in the Netherlands. INKEF focuses on investment opportunities in Healthcare, Technology and IT/NewMedia and prefers to participate from series A round financing onwards. www.inkefcapital.com

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SOURCE Shapeways