You no longer have to be a billion-dollar behemoth to enter and impact the additive manufacturing (AM) field. There is a need for new thinking, new ideas, and new approaches for solving both industrial and major global issues, and startups are shaping the industry far more than they get credit for. In this episode, Host Fabian Alefeld speaks with Arno Held, Managing Partner of AM Ventures about the startups his team is funding and how their innovative impacts are shaping the future of AM. 

During today's episode, Fabian talks to Arno about some exciting trends and industry insights AM Ventures has identified in recent years, the necessary innovations in technology, materials, applications, and software essentials for success. Arno busts a few AM myths and offers a glimpse into his thoughts about post-processing and post-build automation opportunities. 

Comments about the show or wish to share your AM journey? Contact us at [email protected]. The Additive Snack Podcast is brought to you by EOS.

Key Takeaways:

[3:01] After speaking with hundreds of startups, Arno shares exciting trends popping up in the AM space.

[10:35] Innovative designs offer opportunities for alternative materials in AM applications.

[15:29] Design software is finally catching up to the potential of AM technology.

[18:59] With new complexities come new responsibilities but the possibilities of AM are endless. 

[20:03] Technologies that may positively impact the advancement of AM technology. 

[23:57] Experienced and hopeful are the two most common types of pitches AM Ventures is approached with and Arlo’s advice for startups.  

Shareables:

“A big part of AM Ventures’ mission is we want to support industrial additive manufacturing startups all around the world.” — Arno Held, Managing Partner, AM Ventures

“My advice for startups — Find a real problem and companies who are willing to pay money for it to be solved.”— Arno Held, Managing Partner, AM Ventures

“We have software out there that is utilizing the freedom of design our technology enables.” — Arno Held, Managing Partner, AM Ventures