The 3D printing industry has been heralded with borderline ridiculous fanfare and anticipation. The potential is truly exciting, but… before the economy is revolutionized and saved – before we’re all printing replacement shoes and organs in our home office – there is work to be done.
Drew Taylor, CEO and Co-Founder of 3DaGoGo, makes the situation clearer: “An informal survey we conducted revealed that up to 70 percent of free 3D designs on the internet are severely flawed and would result in a failed print and wasted filament…” 70%? Ouch! The good news is that the team at 3DaGoGo has an easy solution to right 3D fails.
Based in California, startup 3DaGoGo is a marketplace for 3D designs tested and proven to be printable. 3DaGoGo serves as a community platform for great designers to showcase their work and grow their audience. Discover creative and unique designs in a variety of categories including Art, Craft, Gadgets, Toys, Jewelry, and Tools, among others. Daniel Arroyo (CTO) tells us more:
What’s your company about?
We are a 3D design marketplace focusing on designs that are ready to print on home 3D printers. We connect 3D designers with printer owners looking for awesome designs to print.
What’s the greatest thing about your company/website? Why is it better than the competition?
We focus on designs that will print on home printers. Our search interface allows you to quickly filter designs that will print on YOUR printer.
What time do you usually start work each day? How many hours a day do you usually work?
8:30a.m. For 10-12hrs.
When’s the last time you went on vacation and where did you go?
about 1 year ago to Finland & Spain.
What’s the very first thing you do at work every day?
Check the admin dashboard at 3DaGoGo.
When do your best ideas come to you?
On long road trips.
How many people did you start the company with and how many people work for you now?
2 other people. Nobody works for me yet.
A lot of people have big ideas. What gave you the confidence to actually go after yours?
I’m passionate about the future of 3D printing as replacement for mass manufactured items. It’s going to change the way things are made and sold. I want to see this happen, and I’m having fun with it.
Remember the early days of starting up? Describe the struggles you went through.
I’m still there. Getting people to notice your company and know that you exist is the biggest challenge.
What’s your office environment like? Do you listen to music? Watch movies? Play video games?
It’s in my guest room. I listen to music and sometimes sing out loud.
How do you picture your company in 5 years?
Profitable with about 20-30 people in a modest office in downtown San Diego.
How’d you fund this venture?
Self funding. Part of a local incubator (Springboard San Diego) and getting ready to raise money from angle investors.
Got any great bootstrapping tips for the lean startups out there?
Yes. Don’t get an office. Count your pennies. Decide on your 2-3 goals for the month and don’t spend ANY money on anything that’s not related to them.
What other advice do you have for other entrepreneurs struggling to get started?
Go do it. The only better day to start than today was yesterday. Enjoy your highs with caution and don’t dwell on your lows.
What would you do if you had a year off and $500,000 to spend (on something other than work)?
I would travel through China and Tibet.
Do you consider yourself a successful entrepreneur? If not, what’ll make you feel successful?
Not yet. A company with either an exit or driven to profitability.
Top 5 websites you couldn’t live without and why?
- Google Analytics – Free data to run my startup.
- Facebook – Keeps in touch with friends.
- CNN – Get my news fix.
- Google Finance – I keep tabs with the market.
- GitHub – Keep my code organized and helps me find open source.
What is your music streaming player of choice, and what are you listening to now?
Pandora, Fireflies by The Pitchforks.
Three people (other than you) we should follow on Twitter and why?
- @BenedictEvans – He can see the future in mobile.
- @howardlindzon – Financial advice with sense of humor.
- @SeanEllis – Startup Marketing.
Can you please share some specific numbers (funding, revenue, visitors) that highlight your growth?
No Funding. No Revenue. 5,000 visits per month (3,000 unique). 25,000 page views per month.
Where can our readers reach you?
