Industry Groups Invest in High Performance 2PP 3D Print Technology

Vienna, Austria 17. October 2024 – UpNano GmbH (Vienna, Austria) today announced the completion of its EUR 7M Series A round co-led by aws Gründungsfonds, Novacapital and IGO Innovation GmbH. The funds raised will allow UpNano to accelerate the development of its next generation 2-photon polymerization (2PP) 3D printing technology at a time when this innovative technology is becoming an integral part of many industrial processes.

The successful completion of an international financing round will further strengthen UpNano’s technological leadership in the global 2PP 3D printing market. The company is already considered by many to be the manufacturer of the highest performing 2PP 3D printers. The additional investment will now enable UpNano to further establish this position by preparing the market entry of its next generation 2PP 3D printers, while accelerating the international market penetration of its existing NanoOne series of printers.

2PP 3D printing offers unparalleled precision, enabling the creation of intricate micro- and nanoscale structures with exceptional detail. Its ability to produce complex geometries in a wide range of materials opens the door to advances in fields such as biomedicine, electronics, and photonics. As the technology evolves, 2PP has the potential to revolutionize industries by enabling new applications in medical technology, tissue engineering, drug delivery and high performance electronic and optical devices. In this competitive field, UpNano offers solutions that combine the highest resolution and tolerance of 2PP with unmatched printing speed resulting in the highest performing 2PP 3D printer series on the market. Its state-of-the-art, high-definition 3D printing systems of the NanoOne family enable scalable production of innovative designs.

The current investment comes from aws Gründungsfonds, a renowned venture capital fund backed by the Republic of Austria, NovaCapital, an Italian investment holding, and IGO Innovation, the start-up investment arm of IGO Industries. ILUM Tec, an existing key investor in UpNano, has also joined the consortium as a co-investor.

“With our investment in UpNano, we are pleased to be part of one of Austria’s most innovative companies, which has already achieved considerable market success in the early stages of its existence. UpNano makes a fantastic contribution to the rapid development of high technology from university research to market maturity and global distribution.” says Markus Jandrinitsch, Managing Director at aws Gründungsfonds.

Carlo Germano Ravina, Managing Director of NovaCapital, agrees and adds: “Our portfolio consists of well over 30 technology companies that we support with money and expertise. We are entrepreneurs and managers with extensive experience and connections in technology-driven industries. With this mindset, we believe that UpNano can be the turning point of the 2PP 3D printing sector, being able to finally bridge the gap towards industrial, series production.”

Iris Ortner, CEO of IGO Innovation adds: “UpNano achieved technology leadership in the high-precision 3D printing market very early on and has managed to defend this position ever since. Now, at a stage where industry is beginning to integrate this powerful technology into their production processes, we believe it is the right time to provide UpNano with a solid financial position for further market penetration and the innovative R&D that has become a hallmark of the company.”

“We are delighted that our existing technology, IP position and marketing strategy have been externally evaluated by experienced investors”, says Bernhard Küenburg, CEO of UpNano, “and that they agree on the great potential of our company. The new investment of EUR 7 million as well as the extensive experience of our investors in supporting young and successful companies on their growth path are great assets for UpNano”.

UpNano is currently showcasing its portfolio of printers, materials, and services at the µTAS in Montreal, Canada, from 13 to 17 October. At the formnext from 19. to 22. November 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany, the company will launch its latest innovation, which will set new standards in 2PP 3D printing.

About UpNano GmbH (2024)

UpNano is a Vienna (Austria) based high-tech company with the focus on development, manufacturing, and commercialization of high-resolution 3D-printers. The systems are based on 2-photon-polymerization which offer industry-leading speed and resolution below 0.2 µm. UpNano is committed to providing customers with a holistic package of hardware, software, and optimized printing materials, for the fabrication of polymeric microparts as well as the unique possibility of bioprinting in a native cell environment. Using UpNano’s cutting-edge technology makes it possible to print objects with sizes ranging from the sub-micrometer to the centimeter range and up to 40 mm in height – within times and precision never achieved before.

About IGO Innovation

IGO Innovation, based in Innsbruck, Austria, is the investment arm of IGO Industries, an internationally active and highly specialized group of technology companies, leading in the fields of technical building equipment and industrial plant construction.

About NovaCapital

NovaCapital is an Italian holding company controlled by Merloni Holding. It invests in innovative B2B companies in Italy, Europe, and the USA, placing a strong emphasis on relationships with entrepreneurs, innovation, and business growth. In venture capital, NovaCapital specifically targets verticals like energy transition, new materials, circular economy, industrial automation, and B2B SaaS.

About aws Gründungsfonds

The aws Gründungsfonds is an Austrian venture capital fund with a fund volume of about EUR 70 million. As investor, we support startups from their initial growth phase through subsequent financing rounds (Series A/B) up to their exit. We see ourselves as a long-term, stable partner with a hands-on approach, actively working alongside founding teams as a sparring partner. Since 2013, with our predecessor fund and in collaboration with national and international co-investors, we have invested more than EUR 500 million in over 45 investments and have successfully achieved numerous exits.