Snapmaker, Chinese language producer of multifunctional 3D printers, has raised “tens of thousands and thousands” in a Sequence B funding spherical co-led by main funding agency Hillhouse Ventures and Chinese language expertise firm Meituan, with the funding supposed to speed up core expertise R&D, international expertise acquisition, and the growth of its 3D printing ecosystem as the corporate prepares for broader worldwide adoption.
The spherical additionally included participation from Shunwei Capital, an funding agency co-founded by Xiaomi founder Lei Jun, together with Longzhu Capital (Meituan), Nanshan Innovation Funding, and help from current shareholders Cowin Capital and Orient Securities Capital.
Snapmaker says the brand new capital will help its transition from product-led progress to a broader ecosystem technique. “We are going to deal with three key areas: First, accelerating core expertise R&D to handle consumer ache factors in multicolor printing, high-speed fabrication, and extra; Second, increasing our international expertise community, particularly recruiting prime expertise in {hardware} R&D, AI software program, and content material ecosystem improvement; Third, constructing a complete ecosystem by collaborating with creators, builders, and supply-chain companions to decrease the boundaries to creation and make 3D printing a common instrument accessible to everybody,” mentioned Snapmaker founder Daniel Chen.
Progress Fueled by Crowdfunding and Multicolor Capabilities
Based in 2016 with the acknowledged mission to “allow anybody to create freely within the bodily world,” Snapmaker has carried out a number of giant crowdfunding campaigns alongside the event of its shopper 3D printing programs.
In 2019, the Snapmaker 2.0 Kickstarter marketing campaign raised greater than US$7.85 million, which in accordance with the corporate set a crowdfunding document for expertise merchandise on the time and contributed to the visibility of the corporate’s 3-in-1 multifunction design. In 2025, Snapmaker carried out one other marketing campaign for its U1 3D printer, producing greater than US$20 million in help from over 20,000 backers. The system’s multicolor printing options had been a outstanding aspect in its promotion.
In keeping with Snapmaker, improvement of the U1 integrated substantial consumer suggestions, together with the overview of hundreds of submissions and interviews aimed toward figuring out challenges in current multicolor printing programs, akin to restricted throughput and better ranges of fabric waste.
The corporate subsequently launched the SnapSwap four-head parallel tool-changing system, designed to allow quicker materials modifications and help multicolor versatile filament printing. Snapmaker states that this technique can enhance printing pace by as much as 5 instances and cut back materials utilization by the identical issue in contrast with extra typical multicolor setups.
All U1 items from the crowdfunding spherical have been delivered, and the product is scheduled for international retail availability in Q1 2026. The corporate expects additional exercise as distribution expands.
Funding Traits in AM
Additive manufacturing continues to attract curiosity from international buyers. Information from IDTechEx signifies that roughly $650 million was invested in 3D printing throughout 40 offers in 2024.
Early in 2025, Floridian 3D printing service supplier Sintavia acquired a $10 million subordinated debt funding from the Stifel North Atlantic AM-Ahead Fund, a Small Enterprise Funding Firm (SBIC). The funding is meant to strengthen Sintavia’s aerospace 3D printing capabilities, refinance current tools loans, and help common working capital wants.
In a separate improvement, Firehawk Aerospace raised $60 million in a Sequence C funding spherical led by investor 1789 Capital, a enterprise agency with roughly $150 million below administration. The corporate plans to make use of the capital to advance the event of U.S.-made strong rocket motors and 3D printed rocket gas. Firehawk states that its method permits strong gas grains to be 3D printed in hours, in distinction to conventional casting and curing strategies that may take months.
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Featured picture exhibits Snapmaker Closes Sequence B Spherical. Picture through Snapmaker.