3D Model Warehouse

Technology Entrepreneurship, Fall 2012Rock, Paper, ScissorsBrian Hart, Jon Lazar, Tony Hanberg, Joshua Maynez, Eric Chang

Setting the Stage

What is 3D Printing?Turns digital files into physical objectsBuilds objects up layer-by-layer

Why 3D print?Create your own jewelry or gadgetsRapid prototypingDevelop your own replacement partsPrint a kidney?

What have people printed?

JewelryOrnamentsiPhone cases, iPad standsCustom chess piecesGames for children and adultsGun partsReplacement parts for broken itemsParts to build new 3D printers

One possible process

Acquire a designCreate new model in Google Sketchup, AutoDesk, etc.Download someone else’s and customize

Upload to 3D printing site like shapeways.comChoose a material

Plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, and morePlace orderReceive in mail

Opportunity

Each 3D printing web site has their own warehouse of models

Takes time to find what you needMakes it hard to comparison shop

Thingiverse has free models but no orderingInterest will grow as printers become:

CheapLocally ubiquitousEasy to use

Proposal

Provide a vendor-neutral marketplace for modelsMake it dead simple for users to:

Buy and print an existing modelBuy and download an existing model (so they can customize it)Find a pro to help design somethingBuy printers, accessories, and materials

Incorporate gamification & reputation

Customer Feedback - Interview

Interviewed potential users and designers:Do you know what 3D printing is?Are you aware 3D printing technology exists?Do you know difference between 2D & 3D printing?Where to buy 3D models or goods online?Would you buy a 3D printed product if a service made it seamless to do so?What factors are important to you in purchasing a 3D good? Price? Material quality? Warranty?

User Feedback

Prospective user interviews uncovered key points

Unfamiliar with 3D printing in generalThought it was future techUnclear on process for finding modelsUnclear on how to turn models into physical objectsThought the technology was “cool” and exciting

User Feedback - Takeaways

Simplify sales funnel into basicsDon’t make assumptions about pre-existing knowledge – we need to help educate!Over-deliver on promise of simple & seamless user experienceWebsite should be very visually drivenMake sure the customer understands exactly what they’re buying (download vs real object)

Designer Feedback

Prospective designer interview uncovered key points

Make the seller tools easy to useAnalytics helpful for tuning sales

How many people viewedHow many boughtWhat options they choseReferring site, search keywords

Highlight popular and top-rated designsAvoid printing errors early in the process

Designer Feedback - Takeaways

Provide rendering defaults that users can overrideStreamline upload process

Accept multiple formatsTimely error-checking

Allow designers some flexibility in customizing their sales pagesProvide solid analytics

Low fidelity prototype

Please visit:

http://3dprint.leanlunchlab.com

Comment/critiques welcome at:

http://bit.ly/VentureLabs