While we were amazed at MyMiniFactory’s current operations during our recent tour, what’s even more interesting are their plans for the future.
The 3D printing community, now a couple of years old, has been viewed by many as just another 3D model repository. Indeed, they definitely do have a 3D model repository, which we’re told now houses over 6,000 fully tested and curated objects – with hundreds more arriving each month. Currently their user base includes more than 55,000 registered members worldwide.
But we think their focus is not simply “3D content”, but instead “enabling 3D content”.
The services they provide beyond a mere repository tell the story. In addition to 3D models and 3D print services (which, we are told, may soon add higher-resolution resin-based 3D printers), they’ve introduced some services to help people create or obtain 3D content, including an instructional 3D printing online video channel and a new 3D job connection service.
The key seems to be the incredible amount of 3D printing they perform as certification for objects submitted to their repository. This huge amount of activity provides them a platform from which they can observe design activities, printing operations and even client reactions. These observations have led them to develop highly-refined new services for their growing venture.
MyMiniFactory makes a big deal focusing on social technology to promote their various services and activities, which is in line with their presumed goal of enabling 3D content. It seems to be working, given the number of registrants for their services.
While MyMiniFactory focuses on their online presence, their sibling company, iMakr, provides a brick and mortar anchor in New York and London from which their services can be deployed in a retail manner.
We expect MyMiniFactory to continue to grow, but also to innovate. For example, the size of their user base is now such they could reasonably attempt to attract professional 3D designers to participate in a form of customized “designer” web shop within their online environment.
You might wonder who’s paying for all this. Presently MyMiniFactory is in pre-revenue mode. In other words, their initial investors have provided funding for the company to simply grow to a point where they can begin charging for products and services, although they do make some money from web advertisements and the like.
This will change soon, as the company announced they’ll soon launch a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for even more growth. We suspect soon after that you’ll see some new fee-based products and services to put the company fully into revenue mode.
Via MyMiniFactory
