Makerbot Case Analysis
Introduction
MakerBot is a Brooklyn, New York-based company founded in January 2009 producing 3D printers. MakerBot(MB) builds on the early progress of the RepRap Project with the goal of bringing desktop 3D printing into the home at an affordable price.
The company started shipping kits in April 2009 and has sold approximately 3,500 units as of March 2011. Demand for the kits was so great in 2009 that the company solicited MakerBot owners to provide parts for future MakerBots from their own MakerBots. The seed funding was $75000. In August 2011, venture capital firm The Foundry Group invested $10 million in the company and joined its board.
Competitive Analysis | Revenues | Market Share | R&D | Strategic Partnerships and advantages | Focal firm: MakerBot | ~8 million | 18-22% (consumer market) | Replicator 2, Thingvese website | Most patents have expired, focus on ecosystem (thingverse - 3700+ designs, open source freee to use. Ford/GE garage events, printers on designers tables. MB store (retail) and philanthropy efforts. New OUYA partnership. Autodesk partnership. | 3D systems NYSE DDD | 345-360 million expected 2013 revenuesMarket cap 2.97B | 22% (consumer market) | CubeX printer (award winner) | Cubify 935 designs, fee based. …show more content…
* This technology is just now viable - in the next few years it will become incredibly robust * Service providers will be able to print professional grade models at a fraction of the cost * If 3D printing takes off, it will create new markets for a wide variety of items and disrupt traditional providers very quickly * The technology is very immature at the consumer market (toys/playthings/keychains) but is improving exponentially * New materials will be printable (and edible) over time | * Remains to be seen how 3D printing could both positively and negatively impact global trade, manufacturing in the long run * Consumer market could impact commodity items (paper clips to screws to simple tools and beyond)
MakerBot is a Brooklyn, New York-based company founded in January 2009 producing 3D printers. MakerBot(MB) builds on the early progress of the RepRap Project with the goal of bringing desktop 3D printing into the home at an affordable price.
The company started shipping kits in April 2009 and has sold approximately 3,500 units as of March 2011. Demand for the kits was so great in 2009 that the company solicited MakerBot owners to provide parts for future MakerBots from their own MakerBots. The seed funding was $75000. In August 2011, venture capital firm The Foundry Group invested $10 million in the company and joined its board.
Competitive Analysis | Revenues | Market Share | R&D | Strategic Partnerships and advantages | Focal firm: MakerBot | ~8 million | 18-22% (consumer market) | Replicator 2, Thingvese website | Most patents have expired, focus on ecosystem (thingverse - 3700+ designs, open source freee to use. Ford/GE garage events, printers on designers tables. MB store (retail) and philanthropy efforts. New OUYA partnership. Autodesk partnership. | 3D systems NYSE DDD | 345-360 million expected 2013 revenuesMarket cap 2.97B | 22% (consumer market) | CubeX printer (award winner) | Cubify 935 designs, fee based. …show more content…
* This technology is just now viable - in the next few years it will become incredibly robust * Service providers will be able to print professional grade models at a fraction of the cost * If 3D printing takes off, it will create new markets for a wide variety of items and disrupt traditional providers very quickly * The technology is very immature at the consumer market (toys/playthings/keychains) but is improving exponentially * New materials will be printable (and edible) over time | * Remains to be seen how 3D printing could both positively and negatively impact global trade, manufacturing in the long run * Consumer market could impact commodity items (paper clips to screws to simple tools and beyond)