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Layered Prints

PlatformAmsterdam, NetherlandsFounded 2012· One of 203 Platform companies tracked by AMPulse

3D printing procurement and management platform

CEO / Founder
Nikolas and Jens
Team Size
1-10
Stage
Growth Stage
Total Funding
$31.5M
Latest Round
Series C
Key Investors
Balderton Capital, Endeit Capital, EQT Ventures

Technology & Products

Key Products

3D printing services

Technological Advantage

Claimed: Automated digital supply chain orchestration. Verified: The technology successfully scaled as the core foundation of the 3D Hubs (now Hubs/Protolabs) platform.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Automates 3D printing procurement by routing orders to optimal service bureaus, eliminating management overhead for mass customization firms and ensuring orders are matched to the most cost-effective provider.

How They Differentiate

Operates as a decentralized management layer rather than a single service bureau, offering broader material access and lower overhead than Shapeways by leveraging a distributed network of providers.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Mass customization companies and e-commerce brands looking to integrate automated 3D printing into their digital supply chains.

Industry Verticals

Consumer Goods; E-commerce; Industrial

Competitors

Shapeways; Sculpteo; Ponoko

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Grew to $3.6M revenue and 20,000 customers by 2021, raised $31.5M total funding, achieved $10.7M valuation in 2021, acquired by Protolabs

Major Milestones

2012: Founded; 2013: Launch of Cupus platform; 2013: Rebranded and pivoted to 3D Hubs.

Why this company matters

Layered Prints operates as a decentralized management layer for 3D printing procurement, distinguishing itself from single-service bureaus like Shapeways by routing orders across a distributed network of providers. Its proprietary Cupus algorithm matches orders to service bureaus based on real-time capability data and material availability, reducing overhead for companies that require frequent, varied production runs.

The platform focuses on polymer additive manufacturing, serving consumer goods, e-commerce, and industrial clients. Target customers include mass customization companies and e-commerce brands seeking to integrate automated 3D printing into digital supply chains. By 2021, the company had grown to 20,000 customers and $3.6 million in revenue.

Layered Prints raised $31.5 million from investors including Balderton Capital, Endeit Capital, and EQT Ventures, reaching a $10.7 million valuation in 2021 before being acquired by Protolabs. The Cupus algorithm, originally developed in 2013, later scaled as the core foundation of the 3D Hubs platform, demonstrating its viability in automated digital supply chain orchestration.

The company's network-effect model offers broader material access and lower overhead than centralized bureaus, but faces competitive pressure from platforms like Sculpteo and Ponoko. Its acquisition by Protolabs validates the procurement automation approach, though the long-term independence of the platform within a larger service bureau remains an open question.