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3Diligent

PlatformEl Segundo, CA, USAFounded 2014· One of 203 Platform companies tracked by AMPulse

Cloud-based digital manufacturing platform connecting customers to a global network of ~350 pre-qualified manufacturers for on-demand 3D printing, CNC machining, casting, and injection molding services.

CEO / Founder
Cullen Hilkene
Team Size
1-10
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$5.24M
Key Investors
Tech Coast Angels; Pasadena Angels; Frontier Venture Capital; BAM Ventures; Grit Ventures; Mucker Capital; Wavemaker Partners; K5 Ventures; Siemens Next47; Plug and Play Ventures

Technology & Products

Key Products

ProdEX (Vulcury) - RFQ platform for instant quotes; Shopsight - ERP software for manufacturers; Industry 4.0 consulting services; 3Depot - technology advisory; API integrations for enterprise customers

Technological Advantage

Network effect moat with 250+ pre-qualified manufacturing facilities across six continents creates switching costs for both customers and vendors; proprietary matching algorithms protected as trade secrets.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Reduces procurement lead times from weeks to days by providing instant quotes and access to 250+ global manufacturing facilities, eliminating capital investment in equipment while ensuring quality through pre-qualified vendors.

How They Differentiate

Unlike Xometry's AI-powered instant quoting (5,000+ partners), 3Diligent focuses on double-blind bidding for price transparency and maintains a curated network of ~350 pre-qualified manufacturers rather than open marketplace; compared to Protolabs' in-house capabilities, 3Diligent offers broader technology access without capital investment.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Manufacturers, engineers, product developers, and businesses of all sizes requiring rapid custom parts production

Industry Verticals

Aerospace; Defense; Automotive; Medical; Consumer Products; Industrial Equipment

Competitors

Xometry; Protolabs; Fictiv

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Expanded manufacturing network to nearly 250 locations across six continents by 2019; selected as one of 'Top 15 Industry 4.0 Companies To Watch'

Major Milestones

2014: Company founded; 2019: Manufacturing network expanded to 250+ locations across six continents; 2020: Launched 3Diligent Portal for manufacturers to build online shops; Selected as 'Top 15 Industry 4.0 Companies To Watch'

Notable Customers

Walters & Wolf (commercial cladding company - 140 unique aluminum nodes)

https://www.3diligent.com

Why this company matters

3Diligent operates a cloud-based digital manufacturing platform that connects buyers to a curated network of roughly 350 pre-qualified manufacturing facilities across six continents. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in El Segundo, California, the company positions itself as a challenger to larger on-demand platforms like Xometry and Protolabs by emphasizing price transparency through a double-blind bidding system. In this process, both customers and vendors remain anonymous during the initial RFQ stage, which 3Diligent argues reduces bias and ensures competitive pricing.

The platform covers a broad range of additive and subtractive technologies, including LPBF, EBM, DED-LB, MJF, SLA, DLP, binder jetting, and material extrusion for both polymers and metals, as well as CNC machining, casting, and injection molding. Customers receive instant quotes and are matched to optimal manufacturing solutions via proprietary algorithms that 3Diligent protects as trade secrets. The company also offers ProdEX (Vulcury) for RFQ management, Shopsight ERP software for manufacturers, and API integrations for enterprise procurement workflows.

Key end markets include aerospace, defense, automotive, medical devices, consumer products, and industrial equipment. One named customer is Walters & Wolf, a commercial cladding company that used the platform to source 140 unique aluminum nodes. 3Diligent has raised approximately $5.24 million from investors including Tech Coast Angels, Siemens Next47, and Mucker Capital. The company has also partnered with America Makes and ASTM's F42 Committee.

3Diligent's primary competitive risk is scale: Xometry's open marketplace of over 5,000 partners and Protolabs' in-house production capacity both offer faster turnaround for standardized parts. 3Diligent's curated network and double-blind bidding create a different value proposition for buyers who prioritize price discovery over speed, but the model depends on maintaining sufficient vendor density across technologies and geographies to remain competitive.