Bend is a technology company.
Bend has raised $500K across 1 funding round.
Bend has raised $500K in total across 1 funding round.
Bend-Tech is a U.S.-based technology company specializing in CNC plasma tube and pipe cutters and proprietary CAD software for fabrication. It serves manufacturers, fabrication shops, and hobbyists in industries like aerospace, automotive, agriculture, trailers, and metal fabrication by automating tube and pipe design, cutting, and processing to boost accuracy, production speed, and quality.[2][3][4] With over 50 employees, U.S.-made products, and a focus on "Versatile by Design®" tools, Bend-Tech has expanded manufacturing capabilities and leads the market with machines like the Dragon series (over 1,100 units sold).[2][3]
Bend-Tech was founded in 2001 by Cris Merry, a fabrication industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in fabrication and software. He launched it as 2020 Software Solutions, creating innovative CAD software tailored for tube and pipe profiling and bending, which quickly became the industry leader despite a small team of under ten employees.[2] Key milestones include entering hardware in 2015 with the Dragon A150 CNC plasma cutter, followed by the larger A400 model and the A250 replacement in 2020; the company has since grown to over 50 employees, added a second U.S. manufacturing site for faster production, and maintained a family-like culture.[2][3]
Bend-Tech rides the wave of advanced manufacturing automation, where CNC plasma cutting and CAD integration address labor shortages, precision demands, and supply chain pressures in metal fabrication. Timing aligns with Industry 4.0 trends—rising demand for versatile, software-driven tools amid reshoring and customization needs in automotive, aerospace, and agriculture.[2][3] Market forces like plasma tech adoption favor it, as competitors lag in integrated software-hardware combos; Bend-Tech influences the ecosystem by setting standards for tube/pipe processing, enabling smaller shops to compete with large manufacturers through accessible innovation.[2][3][4]
Bend-Tech is poised for expansion by iterating on Dragon cutters, enhancing software AI for predictive design, and targeting emerging sectors like EV manufacturing and custom robotics. Trends like sustainable fabrication and edge computing will amplify its tools' efficiency, potentially growing via partnerships or acquisitions. Its influence may evolve from niche leader to broader manufacturing platform, solidifying U.S. fabrication dominance as Cris Merry's vision scales from software roots to full production ecosystems.[2][3]
Bend has raised $500K in total across 1 funding round.
Bend's investors include Y Combinator.
Bend has raised $500K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $500K Seed in July 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2022 | $500K Seed | Y Combinator |