Desktop Metal
Desktop Metal was a pioneer in metal and sand 3D printing systems for mass production applications.
- CEO / Founder
- Ric Fulop
- Team Size
- 201-500
- Stage
- Defunct
- Total Funding
- $1B
- Key Investors
- Google Ventures, BMW, Ford, NEA, Lux Capital, Koch Disruptive Technologies, GE Ventures
Technology & Products
Key Products
Shop System, Production System, X-Series (sand printing), Studio System
Technological Advantage
Bound metal deposition and binder jetting technologies for production-scale metal parts
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Made metal 3D printing accessible for mass production through binder jetting and bound metal deposition.
How They Differentiate
Production-focused systems vs. prototyping-only competitors; acquired multiple AM technologies
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Manufacturing companies, automotive OEMs, aerospace suppliers
Industry Verticals
Manufacturing, Automotive, Aerospace, Dental
Competitors
HP Metal Jet, Markforged, 3D Systems
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Raised over $1B total funding; 2018: Fastest-growing unicorn in US history ($1.2B valuation in 21 months); 2020: SPAC IPO at $2.5B valuation; 2025: Acquired by Nano Dimension for $183M; Never turned a profit
Major Milestones
2015-10: Founded in Cambridge, MA by 7 founders including MIT professors; 2018-05: Fastest unicorn in US history at $1.2B; 2019-01: Raised $160M at $1.5B valuation; 2020-12: SPAC IPO at $2.5B valuation (NYSE: DM); 2021-02: Acquired EnvisionTEC for $300M; 2024-07: Agreed to Nano Dimension acquisition ($183M); 2025-03: Court ordered Nano to close; 2025-04: Acquisition completed; 2025-07-28: Filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Notable Customers
Ford Motor Company, BMW, Various aerospace and automotive manufacturers
Recent coverage of Desktop Metal
- ARC Gains ORNL Supercomputer Access for AI-Driven Defense Manufacturing via Exascale Foundry
- Researchers at the University of South China have developed a new class of ultra-high strength, rust-resistant steel specifically engineered for laser-directed energy deposition (L...
- Desktop Metal has launched the PureSinter Furnace, a thermal processing system engineered for high-purity debinding and sintering of metal parts produced via binder jetting, bound ...