How much funding has Currant3D raised?

Currant3D has raised $6.45M in total funding. Key investors include 3D Systems.

Who is the CEO of Currant3D?

Kyle von Hasseln is the CEO of Currant3D. The company was founded in 2020.

Where is Currant3D located?

Currant3D is headquartered in Los Angeles, USA.

What funding stage is Currant3D at?

Currant3D is currently at the Active stage.

How many employees does Currant3D have?

Currant3D has approximately 11-50 employees.

Currant3D

Name: AM Companies Database
Creator: AMPulse
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

HardwareLos Angeles, USAFounded 2020· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Currant3D develops and manufactures 3D printers and materials for food, with a focus on creating plant-based meat alternatives and intricate sugar-based confections.

CEO / Founder: Kyle von Hasseln
Team Size: 11-50
Stage: Active
Total Funding: $6.45M
Latest Round: Seed
Key Investors: 3D Systems

Technology & Products

Key Products

["CURRANT C1 3D Printer","3D printed food ingredients (e.g., sugar, plant-based proteins)","Custom 3D food design services"]

Technological Advantage

The ability to create custom and complex food designs at scale provides a significant advantage for high-end culinary applications and marketing activations. Their established brand, Sugar Lab, gives them a strong foothold in the custom confections market.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Providing the tools and technology to create novel and customized food experiences, enabling chefs and food companies to innovate and differentiate their offerings.

How They Differentiate

Currant3D differentiates itself through its focus on both hardware (C1 Printer) and a direct-to-consumer brand (Sugar Lab). Their binder jetting technology is noted for its ability to create high-resolution, full-color designs, particularly with sugar, and they are expanding this expertise to savory applications like plant-based meat.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Culinary professionals, restaurants, event planners, and food manufacturers.

Industry Verticals

["Food & Beverage","Hospitality","Events"]

Competitors

Redefine Meat; Natural Machines (Foodini); byFlow

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

In May 2022, raised $5 million from investors to acquire Currant 3D printer technology, achieving a post-money valuation of $16 million. After the 2022 acquisition, expanded to a larger commercial kitchen managing a 20+ printer fleet for rapid growth, selling printers and supplies. The company announced closure on January 22, 2025 amid challenging market conditions.

Major Milestones

["2012: The Sugar Lab is founded.","2013: The Sugar Lab is acquired by 3D Systems.","2020: The technology is reacquired by the original founders.","2021: Rebranded as Currant3D and raised $1.45M in startup capital.","2022: Raised a $5M funding round."]

Notable Customers

Apple; Amazon; Netflix; Google

https://www.currant3d.com

Why this company matters

Currant3D occupies a niche at the intersection of additive manufacturing and food technology, using binder jetting to produce edible products. Unlike extrusion-based food printers (e.g., byFlow, Natural Machines), Currant3D's approach enables high-resolution, full-color designs with complex textures, initially proven with sugar-based confections under the Sugar Lab brand and later extended to plant-based protein formulations.

The company's core product is the CURRANT C1 3D printer, which deposits a liquid binder onto powdered food ingredients such as sugar or plant-based proteins to build up layers. This process allows for intricate geometries and multi-color outputs that are difficult to achieve with traditional culinary techniques. Currant3D also offers custom design services and sells proprietary food ingredients optimized for its printing process.

Target customers include high-end restaurants, event planners, and food manufacturers seeking novel presentation or texture differentiation. Notable clients named by the company include Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google, suggesting use cases in corporate events, marketing activations, and employee dining. The company also positioned itself as an early entrant in 3D-printed meat alternatives, a segment contested by Redefine Meat and others using different technologies.

Currant3D's strategic moat rested on its early mover advantage in binder jetting for food and the Sugar Lab brand recognition. However, the company announced closure in January 2025, citing challenging market conditions. The exit highlights the difficulty of scaling food 3D printing beyond novelty applications and achieving unit economics that compete with conventional food manufacturing at volume.