Protoprint
Produces recycled 3D printer filament from waste plastic collected by urban waste pickers in India, offering a price-competitive, ethically sourced alternative to virgin plastic.
- CEO / Founder
- Sidhant Pai
- Team Size
- 1-10
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- $110,000
- Latest Round
- Grant
- Key Investors
- European Union’s SWITCH-Asia Programme
Technology & Products
Key Products
Recycled 3D printer filament (e.g., from HDPE waste)
Technological Advantage
Proprietary low-cost filament production technology deployed at grassroots level, enabling waste pickers to earn 15x more per plastic unit; partnerships with SWaCH and National Chemical Labs for quality enhancement.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Provides recycled filament that boosts waste-picker incomes by 15x while offering a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to virgin plastic, with quality improvements via National Chemical Labs.
How They Differentiate
Focus on social impact by empowering waste pickers with ownership and higher earnings (15x income boost), decentralized production at dump sites, and fair-trade certification efforts, unlike competitors focused solely on commercial recycling.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Global 3D printing consumers and businesses seeking sustainable filament
Industry Verticals
Additive Manufacturing; Recycling; Social Enterprise
Competitors
Reflow; Filabot; 3D Systems (Ekocycle)
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Pilot filament production facility set up at a garbage dump in Pune; working with National Chemical Labs to improve filament quality to match virgin offerings
Major Milestones
Pilot filament production facility established at a garbage dump in Pune (2014); Partnership with SWaCH waste picker cooperative; Support from European Union’s SWITCH-Asia program for certification