In June 1999, Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins provided $25 million in funding to a developing search engine company known as Google, fundamentally changing how information was accessed and disseminated online.

Now, Sequoia Capital is making a new investment in a distinct type of search engine—one focused on three-dimensional physical objects—coinciding with the anticipated rise of spatial computing driven by advancements in three-dimensional sensing technology integrated into consumer mobile devices.

This is the core belief of Shaun Maguire of Sequoia Capital, as he invests in Physna, a startup located in Columbus, Ohio.

Maguire and Sequoia are spearheading a $20 million investment in the company, joined by Drive Capital, a venture firm also based in Columbus, Ohio, and established by former Sequoia partners Mark Kvamme and Chris Olsen.

Maguire explained, “A longstanding challenge in mathematics involves performing searches in three dimensions. Defining a metric to identify comparable three-dimensional objects has a rich history within the field.” He continued, “Upon meeting Paul Powers, Physna’s founder, I discovered he had already devised a remarkably innovative distance metric for comparing three-dimensional objects. With a single metric, you can locate other objects at a specific distance. The underlying principles of his approach are exceptionally inventive. Expressed in contemporary mathematical terms… it incorporates sophisticated concepts that are, in fact, functional.”

The development of Powers’ concept—and Physna’s technology—was a considerable undertaking.

Powers, a trained lawyer and natural entrepreneur, approached the problem of three-dimensional search through his previous work as an intellectual property attorney.

He entered the field of IP law because he believed it offered a unique vantage point at the intersection of technology and legal principles—and would provide a solid foundation for his future entrepreneurial endeavors. During his practice, Powers encountered a significant issue: while instances of intellectual property theft involving software and services were readily detectable, identifying the theft of physical products or components as trade secrets proved more difficult. “We could consistently identify two-dimensional intellectual property infringements,” Powers stated, “but detecting three-dimensional IP theft remained a challenge.”

From its inception in 2015 through 2019, Powers collaborated with co-founder and chief technology officer Glenn Warner Jr. to build the product, initially designed to safeguard product designs from unauthorized duplication. Sadly, as the company prepared to transition into the three-dimensional search engine it would ultimately become, Warner passed away.

Powers persevered, rebuilding the company and its leadership team with the assistance of Dennis DeMeyere, who joined in 2020 after a period at Google’s office of the chief technology officer and as a technical director for Google Cloud.

“Upon relocating, I traveled with two checked bags and stayed in a hotel until I could secure a fully furnished residence,” DeMeyere shared with Protocol last year.

Other prominent figures were also attracted to the Cincinnati-based company, largely due to the connections of Olsen and Kvamme within Silicon Valley. These include Jason Warner, GitHub’s chief technology officer, who holds a seat on the company’s board of directors alongside Drive Capital’s co-founder Kvamme, who serves as chairman.

Kvamme, Maguire, and Warner envision Physna as a blend of GitHub and Google—particularly following the launch last year of the company’s public-facing platform, Thangs.

This platform enables users to search for three-dimensional objects using text descriptions or by uploading a model or image. As Mike Murphy of Protocol observed, it resembles platforms like Thingiverse and Yeggi, commonly used by 3D-printing enthusiasts. The site also displays the collaborative history of each model and its individual components—when applicable.

This functionality mirrors the combination of GitHub and Google. Furthermore, users can create profiles to store their own models and engage in collaborative discussions on public models.

Maguire was particularly impressed by the organic growth of users on the free site. “Tens of thousands of individuals were utilizing it daily,” he noted. This mirrors the strategy employed by many successful companies that offer a freemium or hybrid professional-consumer model. “They provide a free version that is widely used and appreciated, creating a solid base for future development,” Maguire explained.

Maguire also believes the expansion of spatial computing is imminent. “The latest iPhone includes lidar technology… This is the first consumer device equipped with a 3D scanner utilizing lidar, and I anticipate three-dimensional technology will experience rapid growth.”

Ultimately, Physna has the potential to become a central hub where users can scan three-dimensional objects with their phones, creating digital representations for either virtual use or conversion into files for 3D printing.

Currently, numerous businesses have contacted the company with diverse requests regarding the application of its technology, according to Powers.

“A forthcoming feature will allow users to photograph an object and not only identify it or determine its placement, even within an assembly. For example, if a vase is broken, we can use the shards to illustrate how the pieces fit back together,” Powers stated.

Standard contracts for the company’s software typically range from $25,000 to $50,000 for enterprise clients, but the technology underpinning Physna’s product extends beyond a single application, Powers emphasized.

“We are more than just a product; we are a foundational technology,” Powers said. “There is a disconnect between the physical and digital worlds.”

For Sequoia and Drive Capital, Physna’s software represents the technology to bridge that divide.