Dec 28, 2016 | By Tess
Estonian 3D scanning startup Wolfprint 3D, the maker of these innovative 3D scanning pods, has just announced that it has successfully raised $500,000 through a successful Seedinvest crowdfunding investment campaign. The half-a-million in funding will help Wolfprint 3D to push forward its mission of making 3D scanning and personalized virtual reality more accessible than ever.
Founded in 2014 by Timmu Tõke, Wolfprint 3D recently unveiled its compact 3D scanning pods called Luna 3D, which are capable of capturing detailed 3D scans of people's faces. Resembling an elongated egg, the pods are designed to be placed almost anywhere, such as shopping malls, airports, or other public spaces, and can capture scans and generate 3D digital models of its users at only a fraction of the cost of studio 3D scanning.
The 3D scanning pods, which could be used to generate 3D printable models, are primarily geared towards generating personalized virtual reality content. In other words, Wolfprint 3D is hoping to bring the user into virtual reality environments in a simple and cost-effective way. According to the Estonian startup, it has already 3D scanned more than 5,000 people, whose avatars are already being used in VR environments.
One of the main appeals of the 3D scanning pods is their cost. As Tõke explained about his company’s product: “Previously, if you wanted to get a high-quality scan of yourself, you’d have to go to a special 3D scanning studio…We can do those same $400 scans, but at almost zero cost.” Equipped with six high-definition cameras, the 3D scanning pod can capture high-quality 3D scans of people’s faces and generate digital models of them in under 90 seconds.
Using the Wolfprint 3D API, VR and gaming companies can then access the database of 3D scans and integrate the personalized digital characters into virtual reality environments. The idea is that the user will be able to sign in to the company’s online platform and use their own 3D scan as an avatar in multiple VR applications and games.
The 3D scanning booths reportedly cost $8,000 to purchase and install, though they are expected to bring in yearly revenues as high as $50,000. So far, Wolfprint 3D has built four 3D scanners and has installed three of them at various locations. Future prospects include potential licensing deals with companies as high profile as Paramount and Nike. According to the startup’s Seedinvest page, it has also signed an agreement with a U.S. photo booth company.
Wolfprint 3D estimates that the global 3D scanning and virtual reality market will grow to $120 billion by 2020. And while they still have a long way to go before their 3D scanning pods are available in your local shopping mall, the new investment will surely help to boost their efforts.
Posted in 3D Scanning
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