Dan Shapiro's Glowforge Raises $9 Million Series A Funding Round to Bring 3D Laser Printer to Market

Glowforge Inc. recently announced a $9 million Series A funding round to bring its 3D Laser Printer to market this year.

After discovering the beauty of 3D Printers, the former Googler, programmer, and entrepreneur, Dan Shapiro is now planning to build a new type of 3D printer which provides a laser cutting machine called the Glowforge.  

Shapiro's new Seattle-based startup offers the services of 3D printing in a much lower cost compared to high-end 3D printers but also quite expensive than those of the lower resolution competition (which starts at around $200); and to make the 3D printers possible, Glowforge Inc. raised a $9 million in Series A Funding.

Glowforge has been able to get investors, from big firms to successful entrepreneurs and those who are willing to help establish a consumer market for said product. The shareholders include Foundry Group, True Ventures, and former MakerBot executives Bre Pettis and Janny Lawton.

According to Glowforge's founder and Chief Executive Dan Shapiro, the company is set to use the gathered money primarily for hiring and manufacturing.

Glowforge is set to pack the skills and experiences of a woodworker, paper crafter, leatherworker and multimedia artisan into one device. The printer is designed with capabilities of cutting wood, fabrics, leather, paper, linoleum, food and certain plastics like acrylic. The company believes that by putting the laser cutter/engraver technology, cloud software, and smartphone sensors together, creators can instantly proceed from designing to production.

Glowforge provides not only fast, precise, and versatile tool for artists but also an affordable way for professional designers to expand their businesses.

The release date and specific price of Dan Shapiro's new Glowforge 3D Laser Printer might still be under the wraps, but it is expected to be available for purchase later this year for less than $2,800.