Shapeways raises $30M Series E round to breathe fresh life into 3D printing
Remember a couple years back when 3D printers were all the rage, and the world was convinced that “a 3D printer in every home” was the new “a chicken in every pot.” Alas, the trend never really caught on, as access to printers and materials remained relatively out of reach for the masses.
Enter Shapeways, the Netherlands-born, NYC-based company that just raised $30 million in funding to help everyone become a veritable 3D printing master. Presently, the company allows individuals to upload a model of their product, have it printed at one of Shapeways’s factories, and hand-delivered back to your door. The company currently targets those developing new products or tools, as well as designers of jewelry, decor and toys looking for an alternative to traditional manufacturing.
In an interview with Venture Beat, the company says they plan to use the latest round of funding to help transform Shapeways from a company that simply prints stuff, to a company that helps individuals launch businesses with the power of 3D printing. Soon, Shapeways will offer design consulting services to help people take their bright ideas to the next level. Could we be looking at the 3D printing revolution 2.0?
Wait, what? MedMen marijuana dispensary opens its doors on 5th Avenue
Just so we’re clear: marijuana is currently illegal for recreational use in New York state, and legal for medical use under extremely strict circumstances (i.e. terminal illness). Yet as cultural attitudes shift and state after state legalizes the drug for recreational use, a pair of savvy businessmen are attempting to get ahead of the game by opening a glamorous dispensary right in the heart of New York City.
MedMen, as the facility is called, is the product of CEO Adam Bierman and President Andrew Modlin. Their shop, notably, is located on 5th Avenue, home to some of the most exclusive retailers in New York City. With its sleek design and bright graphics (think the Apple store) it certainly doesn’t stick out in a high-end world. In an interview with Crain’s the founders say that’s precisely the point: to make marijuana “mainstream.”
While the premise may be well and good, one can’t help but wonder how a business that can’t necessarily push much product will be able to continue paying rent on one of the most expensive streets in the world. If anything, MedMen is sure to set a precedent for others looking to cash in on the green.
A university in Ohio to begin offering scholarships for Fortnite players
Here’s something guaranteed to make you feel like an old person: Ashland University — an Ohio-based school with a robust roster of Division II sports teams — is set to start offering scholarships to individuals who competitively play Fortnite, a first-person shooter game that has exploded in popularity in recent weeks (Drake is a fan). Individuals will represent Ashland and compete in the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE).
NACE, established in 2016, currently represents more than 60 universities across the country whose students compete against each other in a variety of video game-based competitions. Universities are recognizing the growing popularity of esports and are eager to incorporate it into their traditional athletics programs. Players don’t quite yet get the same star treatment as, say, a Division I basketball recruit. The aforementioned Fortnite scholarship maxes out at $4,000.
Still, it remains worth keeping an eye on the trajectory of e-sports, both professional and semi-pro, as each day they gain fans, legitimacy and recognition.
Odds and Ends:
Have you been keeping up with the beef between these two virtual-reality Instagram models? Yep, it’s 2018 and that’s a real sentence, people. Get the details on the feud here.
Apple is offering battery replacements for a number of its Macbook Pro models. Find out if your machine qualifies.
A new report indicates Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has helped the company become a little more diverse. But hey, one percent of progress is still progress, I guess.
