Voovo
Crowdsourced 3D printing marketplace connecting makers and hobbyists with a distributed network of independent print shops via a reverse-auction pricing model.
- CEO / Founder
- Phillip Raffi
- Team Size
- 1-10
- Stage
- Defunct
Technology & Products
Key Products
3D Print Crowdsourcing Platform; Reverse-Auction Quote Engine; 3D Model Repository
Technological Advantage
CLAIMED: Dynamic pricing algorithm that guarantees competitive rates by leveraging idle printer capacity across a distributed network. VERIFIED: Reverse-auction mechanism documented in 2015 launch coverage and F6S profiles. DEFENSIBILITY: Replicable; relies on two-sided network liquidity rather than proprietary IP or patents.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Eliminates capital expenditure on 3D printers by providing on-demand access to a distributed print network, reducing per-part costs by 30-50% through competitive reverse-auction bidding while cutting prototype turnaround from weeks to days.
How They Differentiate
Unlike fixed-price bureaus (e.g., Shapeways) or standard quote platforms (e.g., 3D Hubs), Voovo utilized a reverse-auction model where print providers actively bid down prices, specifically targeting the price-sensitive hobbyist and maker segment rather than industrial clients.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Makers, hobbyists, students, and independent designers seeking affordable, on-demand 3D printing
Industry Verticals
Consumer Goods; Education; Hobbyist/Maker; Prototyping
Competitors
3D Hubs (now Hubs); MakeXYZ; Treatstock
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
The company was launched in 2015 and featured in 3DPrint.com, Fabbaloo, and Tech.co in April 2015. It was incubated at Digital Media Zone, Ryerson University. The domain voovo.co appears expired or suspended in 2023, and the company is described as defunct in historical context.
Major Milestones
Launched crowdsourced 3D printing platform (March 2015); Featured in 3DPrint.com, Fabbaloo, and Tech.co (April 2015); Incubated at Digital Media Zone, Ryerson University