AM Ventures: Pioneering Industrial 3D Printing Investment with a Landmark €100 Million Venture Capital Fund

AM Ventures, a prominent investor in industrial additive manufacturing (AM), has announced the launch of a groundbreaking venture capital fund, exclusively dedicated to the industrial 3D printing sector. This pioneering fund, which targets an impressive 100 million euro, signifies a profound commitment to fostering innovation and accelerating growth within the global industrial 3D printing landscape. Its core mission is to provide crucial early-stage funding and strategic support to burgeoning startups focusing on hardware, software, materials, and diverse applications across the industrial 3D printing value chain worldwide.

This significant financial initiative underscores the unwavering confidence investors place in the transformative power of industrial 3D printing. The industry is not merely a futuristic concept but a vital technology already playing a critical role, one that is expected to expand exponentially in the coming years. This launch further solidifies the observable and sustained growth trajectory of the additive manufacturing sector. Remarkably, this expansion has continued steadfastly over the past year, defying the challenging global health and economic crises that have impacted many other industries.

The fund has already achieved substantial momentum, reaching 50% of its targeted commitment. Its initial closing saw multi-million euro commitments from a robust and diverse investor base. This prestigious group includes high-net-worth individuals and seasoned entrepreneurs who have joined as limited partners, bringing invaluable experience and capital to the venture. Furthermore, major shareholders with deep roots and extensive experience in the additive manufacturing industry, such as the LANGER GROUP (encompassing the renowned EOS Group and Scanlab Group), have also committed their support. Their involvement provides not just financial backing, but also profound industry insight and strategic guidance.

Adding further gravitas to the fund, KGAL, a leading European investment and asset manager widely respected for its expertise in real capital investments, has also joined the formidable shareholder consortium. This partnership amplifies the fund’s reach and stability. According to AM Ventures Managing Partners Johann Oberhofer and Arno Held, the establishment of this new fund marks a pivotal continuation of their successful journey. They state, “AM Ventures continues its successful journey of significantly contributing to the rapid growth of Additive Manufacturing.” This sentiment highlights the fund’s role as a catalyst for the industry’s evolution, leveraging AM Ventures’ established track record in identifying and nurturing promising additive manufacturing ventures.

KGAL’s Strategic Partnership: A Foundation for Growth and Sustainability

Founded in 1968, KGAL boasts an impressive legacy, having accumulated over 15 billion dollars in investment volume and launched more than 390 funds across various sectors. With such extensive expertise and formidable financial resources, KGAL is exceptionally well-positioned to amplify and facilitate the substantial growth trajectory envisioned for AM Ventures’ new fund. Their involvement brings a layer of institutional rigor and broad investor access that is critical for a fund of this scale and ambition.

Dr. Klaus Wolf, Chief Investment Officer at KGAL, eloquently articulated the synergy between the two entities, commenting: “This is a perfect match. The expertise of AM Ventures and KGAL ideally complement each other. AM Ventures, through their shareholder base, bring in-depth knowledge of industrial 3D printing thanks to their long commercial presence in this field; KGAL in turn has a proven track record in access to investors. Additive Manufacturing offers impressive potential to produce industrial goods in a resource effective and sustainable way. Through this joint venture we are laying the foundations for a long-term partnership and for further funds in a strong growth market.” This statement underscores the strategic alignment: AM Ventures provides deep domain expertise in the highly specialized field of industrial 3D printing, while KGAL contributes unparalleled financial acumen and a vast network for attracting capital. This partnership is designed to not only fuel the current fund but also to establish a blueprint for future collaborations in the burgeoning AM market, particularly highlighting the resource efficiency and sustainability benefits that additive manufacturing brings to industrial production.

Driving Innovation Across the Additive Manufacturing Ecosystem

The fund’s strategic focus on hardware, software, materials, and applications encompasses the entire additive manufacturing ecosystem. Investing in hardware startups means fostering the next generation of 3D printers – faster, more precise, larger scale, and capable of handling a wider array of materials. For software, this includes everything from design optimization and simulation tools to manufacturing execution systems (MES) specifically tailored for AM, enhancing efficiency and integration into existing industrial workflows. Materials innovation is critical for expanding AM’s utility, developing new alloys, polymers, ceramics, and composites that unlock novel applications and performance characteristics. Finally, investing in application-focused startups helps to identify and scale new uses for 3D printing, from specialized medical implants and aerospace components to customized consumer goods and sustainable manufacturing processes.

By nurturing startups across these diverse yet interconnected pillars, AM Ventures aims to create a robust and resilient additive manufacturing industry. This holistic approach ensures that advancements in one area can positively impact others, fostering a synergistic environment for technological breakthroughs and market adoption. The fund doesn’t just provide capital; it offers mentorship, industry connections, and strategic guidance, leveraging the deep expertise of AM Ventures and its partners to help these young companies navigate the complexities of industrialization.

Additive Manufacturing’s Resilient Growth and Future Outlook

The success and promising trajectory of this newly formed fund serve as a clear indication of the growing recognition of additive manufacturing as a highly valuable investment opportunity. It also emphatically underscores the indispensable role the industry is poised to play in the years to come, influencing diverse sectors from aerospace and automotive to healthcare and consumer goods. The past year has been particularly telling; despite the widespread disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the AM industry experienced massive growth. This resilience demonstrates the inherent adaptability and critical utility of 3D printing in a world demanding agile and localized production capabilities.

This positive trend has continued unabated into 2021, with a flurry of strategic acquisitions and significant mergers dominating the first half of the year, signaling a maturing market and consolidation of key players. The launch of the AM Ventures fund further accentuates the incredible dynamism and upward trajectory of the 3D printing industry. It provides a dedicated financial instrument to support the next wave of innovation, ensuring that groundbreaking ideas can move from concept to commercial reality with the necessary backing.

Dr. Hans Langer, a founding partner in the fund and the visionary behind EOS, one of the world’s leading industrial 3D printing technology providers, succinctly summarized the profound implications of this venture. He concludes, “This step is a massive opportunity for all AM startups around the world and will help to further accelerate the adoption of Additive Manufacturing.” Dr. Langer’s perspective, rooted in decades of pioneering work in the field, highlights the catalytic potential of the fund to democratize access to capital and expertise for global AM innovators, thereby pushing the entire industry forward at an unprecedented pace.

The fund’s final closing is anticipated to occur in the spring of next year, marking another milestone in its development. Further comprehensive information regarding this groundbreaking initiative can be found on AM Ventures’ official website HERE.

Join the Conversation: Your Thoughts on the Future of Industrial 3D Printing

The launch of AM Ventures’ new fund represents a pivotal moment for the industrial 3D printing sector, promising to inject significant capital and strategic guidance into promising startups. This initiative is expected to foster an environment of accelerated innovation, enabling breakthroughs in manufacturing processes, materials science, and application development. It signifies a robust belief in the future capabilities and economic impact of additive manufacturing, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of modern industrial production.

What are your thoughts on AM Ventures’ ambitious new fund and its potential impact on the industrial 3D printing landscape? We encourage you to share your insights and predictions by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can engage with our community and join the discussion on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages. Stay informed about all the latest developments, industry news, and technological advancements in the world of 3D printing by signing up for our free weekly Newsletter here, delivered straight to your inbox!

*Thumbnail Photo Credits: EOS