CreoPop Raises Seed Financing Round Led By Wavemaker Partners and Singapore National Research Foundation to Advance 3D Printing

SAN FRANCISCO, June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - CreoPop, http://www.creopop.com, the world's first 3D pen with cool ink, today announced that the company has raised a financing round led by Wavemaker Partners (DFJ Global Network) and the Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF).  Co-investors include Modal Perdana through E&E Catalyst, Ruvento, 333D and a number of private investors.

"We are delighted to expand our investor base with a number of prominent investors from the venture capital industry, government and industry," said Andreas Birnik, CEO of CreoPop. "Following this investment round, CreoPop has raised more than SGD 2 million in seed funding which provides a solid foundation for the future."

Singapore-based CreoPop is a 3D printing company with deep expertise in material sciences. CreoPop has developed a game-changing 3D printing technology using proprietary high-viscosity photopolymers. The company's first product is a 3D printing pen with a range of different inks including magnetic ink, glow-in-the-dark ink, temperature sensitive ink, aromatic ink and more. Beyond the 3D printing pen, CreoPop's core IP can be used for a wide variety of 3D printing applications in the consumer and industrial areas.

"We invested in CreoPop because we are very impressed with what the company has achieved to date with limited funds," said Dennis Goh, Partner at Wavemaker Partners. "CreoPop has made significant breakthroughs in terms of both core 3D printing technology as well as in material sciences for 3D printing inks. At Wavemaker Partners, we look for companies to invest in that has the potential to disrupt entire industries and this is why we decided to back CreoPop."

The CreoPop 3D pen uses light-sensitive ink called photopolymers. While this has previously been used for professional applications within the 3D printing industry, CreoPop is the first application of the technology in a portable consumer device. When CreoPop is operated, the ink is immediately solidified by LED diodes surrounding the nozzle of the pen. This is in contrast to other 3D pens that typically rely on heating ABS and PLA plastic to temperatures of around 250 degrees Celsius / 480 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to representing a safety hazard, melting plastic also emits an unpleasant smell which is avoided with CreoPop's technology. Since no heating is required, CreoPop is safe in a home environment with children and pets around. 

"3D printing holds the potential to radically change the global manufacturing landscape. It will lower the barriers to entry significantly for new manufacturing players in the same was as cloud computing lowered the barriers to entry for internet startups," said Gene Berger, Managing Partner at HAX Asia/Venture Partner at Ruvento. "CreoPop's deep expertise in material sciences has the potental to play a key role in defining this brave new world." 

For additional product and company information: www.creopop.com

Videos about CreoPop are available here: https://www.youtube.com/user/CreoPop

--- New Investors in CreoPop ---

Wavemaker Partners (http://wavemaker.vc/)

Wavemaker Partners is an early-stage, cross-border venture capital firm with dual headquarters in Los Angeles and Singapore.  It aims to back the best founders in Southern California and Southeast Asia.  Since 2003, it has invested in more than 150 Internet, Mobile and Enterprise technology startups.  Wavemaker Partners is a member of the DFJ Global Network, the world's leading venture capital collective with 15 firms spread across 4 continents.

National Research Foundation (http://www.nrf.gov.sg)

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is a department within the Prime Minister's Office. The NRF helps set the national direction for research and development (R&D) by developing policies, plans and strategies for research, innovation and enterprise. It funds strategic initiatives and builds up R&D capabilities by nurturing scientific talent. The NRF aims to transform Singapore into a vibrant R&D hub that contributes a knowledge-intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial economy, and make Singapore a magnet for excellence in science and innovation.

Kumpulan Modal Perdana via E&E Catalyst (http://www.modalperdana.com/)

Kumpulan Modal Perdana is a Malaysian venture capital firm mandated to invest in high-growth technology based companies that can generate superior returns, locally and internationally. Our fourth fund, the E&E Catalyst, focuses on the electrical and electronics sector including 3-D printing. With more than a decade of investment experience into more than 30 companies, where 12 are already listed on various stock exchanges including on NASDAQ, we have a proven track record in identifying and growing promising companies. We are committed and have the capability to help entrepreneurs translate their great ideas into world class products by funding them from start-up all the way to late-stage financing rounds.

333D (http://333d.com.au/)

333D has been established with a clear strategy to become Australia's leading integrated multi-platform 3D printing  company.  333D understands  the enormous potential of this technology and the extraordinary opportunity it has to re-engineer the way  industries  operate and to change  the  entire  dynamics  of  design  and  development.  333D believes  that  this  technology  will  create  new  business  and  industry  opportunities  that  previously didn't exist. We also understand that Australia is perfectly positioned to participate in this new manufacturing  paradigm, and  333D  intends  to  be the  market leader and showcase Australia's skills and manufacturing excellence to the world.

--- Existing Investors in CreoPop ---

500 Startups (http://www.500.co/)

500 Startups is the world's most active seed stage investor with over 1,000 investments in 50+ countries. Founded by PayPal and Google alumni, based in Silicon Valley, it also provides growth services and accelerator programs for its companies. It has a dedicated Southeast Asian fund called 500 Durians and has invested in leading Southeast Asian companies like Grabtaxi, iMoney, Carousell, and now Creopop.

Ruvento (http://ruvento.com)

Ruvento Ventures is Singapore based venture capital firm with global exposure. We are a focused team of successful entrepreneurs and investors investing in early-stage startups with significant technological background. Our investment scope includes interactive digital media, big data and data-mining and hardware 2.0 (Internet of Things, drones, robots and 3D printing).

HAX Asia (http://www.haxasia.com/)

HaxAsia is a seed capital firm and accelerator focused on hardware 2.0 startups. Build your global hardware business via a 6-month program around the world: Singapore - San Francisco - Shenzhen.

For further information: Zack Teperman - ZTPR - [email protected]

SOURCE ZTPR