Additive manufacturing has disrupted the entire manufacturing process paving the way for the rapid adoption of 3D printing to create stronger, lighter, more complex parts and systems. nTopology is the first engineering design software built natively for this shift to generative design. The company’s nTop platform accelerates the design process through reusable workflows, allowing design teams to model different materials virtually and on the fly rather than having to build multiple prototypes. Used by engineers working in a range of industries from aerospace, automotive, medical, and consumer products, the platform can run 3,000 possible iterations in an hour. Within the next 5 years, engineering companies will shift production of 30% of all parts to additive or advanced manufacturing processes. nTopology customers include organizations like GE Health, Renishaw, U.S. Airforce, and Lockheed Martin.
AlleyWatch caught up with nTopology Founder and CEO Bradley Rothenberg to learn more about nTopology, how the nTop Platform supports generative design and 3D printing, and the company’s latest funding round, which brings total funding raised to $135.7M across four rounds.
Who were your investors and how much did you raise?
We raised $65M in Series D funding. The round was led by Tiger Global with participation from Oldslip Group, as well as existing investors Root Ventures, Canaan Partners, Haystack, and New York-based Insight Partners.
Tell us about the product or service that nTopology offers.
nTopology’s software is a unique combination of generative, manual, and simulation-based design tools. It allows engineers to create parts whose functional requirements are baked right in. With nTopology’s diverse generative design tools, unique design automation capabilities, and unbreakable geometry engine that can handle the complexities of advanced manufacturing, you can tackle even the most challenging problems of your industry.
What inspired the start of nTopology?
Seeing engineers frustrated in CAD and experiencing it myself is one of the main reasons my company exists. Standing on the shoulders of CAD giants, I created nTopology to actually solve engineering problems through innovative solutions.
How is nTopology different?
nTop allows engineers to create extraordinarily complex parts that were previously impossible. A main differentiator that our customers cite is speed and efficiency. Our GPU acceleration allows engineers to design in real-time, making the process more seamlessly interactive. nTop’s Lightweighting Toolkit enables users to reduce overall weight through the creation of simplified and optimized parts. Between the efficiency of the design process and its lightweighting capabilities, nTop allows users to cut time and costs associated with design and manufacturing.
What market does nTopology target and how big is it?
nTop is used by leading companies in Aerospace/Defense, Automotive, Medical Device, & Consumer product companies. The CAD market is a ~$9B market today & Engineering software is ~$30B industry
What’s your business model?
We offer user-based yearly licenses to use the software.
What are your post-COVID office plans??
We currently have a hybrid-work model, allowing employees to work remotely or the option to come to our office located at 101 Avenue of the Americas in Soho. Of our 117 employees, the majority are located in the U.S– however, we do have representation in Europe and Asia as well.
What factors about your business led your investors to write the check?
We have incredible software fueling an entire new generation of products in a gigantic market and our customers love us.
Where do you see the company going now over the near term?
Our immediate goal is to use our new capital to expand the types of applications nTopology serves in the product development process and strengthen its global footprint.
What’s your favorite outdoor dining restaurant in NYC?
We’re regulars @ Kiki’s on Division street, both indoor & outdoor if the weather is nice.
