3D Hubs raises $4.5M Series A funding to bring local 3D printing to your doorstep

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3D Hubs now links 7,000 print locations worldwide; aims to make 3D printing accessible to everyone

How 3D Hubs WorksA 3D printer is much like a local micro-factory that can produce a variety of products with the press of a button. The majority of 3D printer owners use their device less than 10 hours per week. 3D Hubs allows them to sell the remaining capacity of the 3D printer to others, allowing them to earn money with their 3D printer.3D printer owners simply join the Hubs listing in their city to offer 3D printing services in their neighborhood. Each Hub decides how much money it wants to earn, and sets its own prices. For people who want to use the 3D Hubs network it’s as simple as uploading a design file, selecting a Hub, and picking up the 3D print around the corner.3D Hubs’ major driving force is its local maker communities. These communities are powered by roughly 100 ambassadors – better known as 3D Hubs Mayors – who organize local meetups, workshops and presentations to educate and inspire local makers, establishing strong social connections within their local maker community.About 3D Hubs3D Hubs is the world’s largest and fastest-growing network of 3D printers with over 7,000 locations in 140 countries. We are on a mission to make 3D printing accessible to everyone by unlocking the world’s idle 3D printers, facilitating transactions between 3D printer owners (Hubs) and people that want to make 3D prints. 3D Hubs empowers people to create a new type of product which is personalized, on-demand and locally produced.3D Hubs was founded in April 2013 in Amsterdam by two former 3D Systems employees, Bram de Zwart and Brian Garret. Currently based in New York and Amsterdam, 3D Hubs is a privately held company backed by Balderton Capital and Dutch investors DOEN and Zeeburg.For more info about the funding, check out the Medium post.