When we announced the USV investment in Shapeways a little over a year ago, I pointed out the potential to make New York City a global center for 3D printing.  Since then the Shapeways team has done a lot to make that happen.  Here are just a few of the highlights.  First, the founders relocated themselves and their families from Eindhoven in the Netherlands to New York City.  Then they proceeded to assemble an amazing team here that is building incredible stuff and fostering a great community. 

Team Shapeways also started a research collaboration with NYU that’s pushing the frontiers of analyzing 3D models for printability.  With over 300,000 different 3D printable parts and thousand of new parts being uploaded, Shapeways has reams of data for analysis.

Now I am super excited that we are moving another step closer to making New York City a global center for modern manufacturing: in collaboration with NYCIF which is providing a loan, Shapeways will be opening a production facility right here in New York City. Oh and while they were at it, they launched a redesigned site with an awesome new tag line - the future of stuff! - and an awesome tool that lets you create a beautiful completely customized vase (sake size) in minutes.