What happens when VR incorporates itself into 3D design? Well, you could definitely design an Ironman suit for yourself, just like Tony Stark! That’s true! As AR and VR technology is maturing globally, it is possible to bring your 3D designs to life, just like in the Avenger movies, although you might need a VR headset.
London-based Gravity Sketch is doing the same, and now the next generation cross-platform 3D design tool platform has announced a raise of a $33M Series A funding round.
The investment was led by Accel, with participation from GV (formerly Google Ventures) and existing investors Kindred Capital, Point Nine and Forward Partners. Angel investors, including Tony Fadell, Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s Thirty Five Ventures, Paul Robson, Supercell, also participated in the round. This latest investment brings the total amount raised by Gravity Sketch to more than $40M as it accelerates its mission to revolutionise long-neglected design and engineering processes, enabling teams to think and create in 3D, and collaborate in real-time.
Disrupt 3D designing process
Launched in 2014 by veteran industrial designers Oluwaseyi Sosanya (CEO) and Daniela Paredes Fuentes (CXO), the UK firm is set out to disrupt and democratise the 3D design process and transform the inefficient processes that have been used for decades.
The platform enables users to think and create in 3D while also bringing real-time collaboration to the front of the design process. With Gravity Sketch, designers, engineers and other stakeholders can share feedback and discuss issues at every stage of product development, experiencing the design through virtual reality.
With the increase in remote working globally and brands taking their first steps into the metaverse, now is the ideal time for the design industry to shift to a completely digital pipeline and Gravity Sketch’s huge momentum is set to continue.
Already, the platform gets more than one million downloads and a community of 100,000+ monthly users and has clients like brands including Adidas, Nissan, Volkswagen, Ford and Reebok. The firm has recorded 4x revenue growth in the last 12 months and a 40+ team across the UK, US and Germany. It also empowers professors and students to enhance classroom creativity at 170+ schools and universities and has launched on the iOS, Steam and Oculus stores.
The investment will be used to continue developing Gravity Sketch’s LandingPad collaboration features to better support the non-designer stakeholders essential to the design process — a reflection of Gravity Sketch’s belief that greater diversity in the design industry and more voices in the development process will result in better-performing products on the market. Companies – including the likes of Miro and Figma – have already disrupted the 2D space, enabling teams to co-create and collaborate quickly and inclusively in online workspaces, and now Gravity Sketch’s inclusive features are set to shake up the 3D environment. The funds will also be used to enhance the platform’s creative tools and scale the company’s sales, customer success and onboarding teams.
Seyi Sosanya, co-founder and CEO of Gravity Sketch, said: “3D design is the backbone of our consumer economy; integral to the production of every car we drive, every shoe we wear, every film we watch, and every video game we play. Yet the modern design process remains inefficient, convoluted and costly, with teams forced to alternate between 2D and 3D tools not fit for purpose in our hyper-collaborative, remote-working era. At Gravity Sketch, our aim is to combat these challenges by empowering teams to create and communicate their 3D ideas in the quickest and most intuitive ways possible — whether they’re designers or otherwise. We’re excited to continue disrupting 3D design with this new investment round.”
Harry Nelis, Partner at Accel, said: “In today’s climate, online collaboration tools have emerged as a necessity for businesses that want to stay agile and connect their teams in the most interactive, authentic and productive way possible. Design is no different, and we’ve been blown away by Gravity Sketch’s innovative, forward-looking suite of collaboration design tools that are already revolutionising workflows across numerous industries. Moreover, we expect that 3D design – coupled with the advent of virtual reality – will only grow in importance as brands race to build the emerging metaverse. The early organic traction and tier one brands that Oluwaseyi, Daniela and the Gravity Sketch team have already secured as customers are extremely impressive. We’re excited to partner with them and help them realise their dream of a more efficient, sustainable and democratic design world.”
