Backflip Raises $30M to Transform Text into AI Designs

Revolutionizing 3D Design with Artificial Intelligence

Imagine a scenario where creating a functional 3D model is as straightforward as providing a prompt to a large language model like ChatGPT. This is the core objective driving Backflip, a new company established by experienced professionals in the 3D printing industry. They have recently secured $30 million in funding from prominent investors including Andreessen Horowitz and New Enterprise Associates.

The Challenge of Traditional 3D Design

The creation of physical objects typically demands significant time and specialized expertise utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) software. Greg Mark, CEO of Backflip, and David Benhaim, the company’s CTO, both previously founded 3D printing firm Markforged, aim to reduce this process to mere minutes through the implementation of Backflip’s innovative foundational models.

Benhaim explained that while AI language models replicate human thought processes, and vision models mirror human perception, Backflip is developing foundational models that emulate the process of construction.

Backflip’s Foundational Models and Training Data

Backflip asserts that its models have been trained on an extensive dataset comprising approximately 10 million 3D components. This dataset, partially generated using AI, required two years to assemble. With this new funding, Backflip intends to launch its application and make the design process accessible to a wider audience, encompassing both manufacturers and individual users, as Mark conveyed to TechCrunch.

The AI’s capabilities extend beyond text-based prompts; it can also generate designs from sketches, photographs, or other visual inputs.

Democratizing Design and Accessibility

“This technology empowers anyone to participate,” Mark stated. “Users can simply input text prompts, create a sketch, upload an image, or even take a photo with their smartphone – and then bring their ideas to life through 3D printing. It’s a truly remarkable development.”

Addressing Safety Concerns

A valid concern regarding the widespread democratization of design is the potential for misuse. The incident involving the use of a 3D-printed firearm in the death of a United Healthcare CEO highlights this risk. Mark assured TechCrunch that Backflip prioritizes safety and currently employs a dual-layered content safety system to prevent the generation of potentially dangerous designs.

Investor Confidence and Key Backers

Backflip’s funding round was jointly led by NEA and a16z, with contributions from various angel investors. These include Kevin Scott, CTO of Microsoft; Rich Miner, the founder of Android; and Ashish Vaswani, a key author of the groundbreaking “Attention Is All You Need” paper that spurred the advancement of large language models.

A Growing Trend in AI-Driven Innovation

Backflip has operated in stealth mode since its inception in December 2022, having previously secured an undisclosed seed funding round. This substantial Series A investment reflects a broader trend of venture capital interest in leveraging AI to enhance, or even replace, labor-intensive processes across various sectors, from software development to legal services. The demand for companies like Anysphere, with its AI-powered code editor Cursor, is currently very high among venture capitalists, as reported by TechCrunch.

Focus on 3D World Generation

For Lila Tretikov, a partner at NEA, Backflip aligns with a strategic focus on investing in startups dedicated to the creation and generation of 3D environments and products. This trend has also been observed by TechCrunch. Tretikov spearheaded NEA’s investment in World Labs, a startup founded by AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, which aims to generate interactive 3D scenes from single images.

“The combination of AI with other technologies holds immense potential to assist engineers and designers in developing innovations beyond our current imagination,” Tretikov explained to TechCrunch.

From Hardware to Software: A Strategic Shift

Backflip’s founders previously established Markforged, a company specializing in 3D printing systems, including the printers themselves. Markforged went public through a $2.1 billion SPAC merger in July 2021, having raised $137 million in capital. However, both Mark and Benhaim departed the company within a year following the SPAC transaction. (Markforged’s stock value has since decreased by approximately 97%, mirroring the performance of many SPACs.)

Mark expressed his pride in Markforged but emphasized that hardware development is a considerably slower process compared to concentrating solely on design software, which is Backflip’s primary focus. “The fundamental challenge in 3D printing, and in advancing humanity as a whole, lies in the design aspect,” Mark stated. “I am eager to witness the future, to explore the stars, and we cannot achieve this with conventional design tools.”