Fluent Metal is a technology company.
Fluent Metal has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round.
Fluent Metal has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Fluent Metal has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Fluent Metal's investors include FAST — by GETTYLAB, Trucks Venture Capital, Cyril Grislain.
Fluent Metal is a startup developing production-grade liquid metal 3D printing technology using a drop-on-demand process with ultra-thin metal wire to create functional, sustainable metal parts without waste or post-sintering.[1][2][5] It serves industries like aerospace, defense, mobility, medical devices, and consumer goods such as jewelry by solving key barriers in metal additive manufacturing, including high costs, waste, complex setups, and limited material compatibility.[3][4][5] The company launched from stealth in March 2024 with $5.5M in total funding, enabling rapid prototyping and scalable production of complex components with multi-metal capabilities.[1][3]
This innovation addresses inefficiencies in traditional powder-based metal 3D printing, offering energy efficiency, easy material changeovers, and operation in standard environments without clean rooms.[1][2][4] By 2024, Fluent Metal was named Startup of the Year by 3Dnatives, signaling strong early momentum amid growing metal AM adoption at events like Formnext.[5]
Fluent Metal was founded in June 2020 by Peter Schmitt, who previously served as chief designer at Desktop Metal during its early years, bringing deep expertise in metal 3D printing.[4] Schmitt left Desktop Metal to pursue a novel approach avoiding lasers and powders, focusing instead on liquid metal drop-on-demand technology using standard wire feedstock.[1][4] The idea emerged from recognizing limitations in existing metal AM—such as waste, energy use, and setup complexity—aiming for a more accessible, versatile system.[2][3]
The company emerged from stealth on March 14, 2024, announcing $5.5M in funding: $3.2M in a new VC round led by E15, with Pillar VC and industry angels, building on prior seed capital.[1][3][4] Early traction included demonstrations of multi-metal printing and compatibility with refractories like tungsten, positioning it for industrial applications.[1][5] Schmitt emphasized unlocking "new creativity and problem-solving" through operational flexibility.[1][3]
Fluent Metal stands out in metal additive manufacturing through its proprietary drop-on-demand liquid metal printing, which uses wire feedstock for precise droplet deposition in a single-step process. Key advantages include:
These features lower barriers to entry, making advanced metal printing viable for diverse users.[2][5]
Fluent Metal rides the surging wave of metal additive manufacturing (AM), fueled by supply chain disruptions, sustainability mandates, and demand for customized parts in aerospace, defense, and mobility.[3][5] Its timing aligns with 2024's metal AM boom—highlighted at Formnext—where powder-based limitations like waste and safety needs hinder scalability.[4][5] Market forces favoring it include global pushes for greener manufacturing (e.g., reduced energy/waste) and on-demand production amid reshoring trends.[1][3]
By enabling easy, multi-material printing, Fluent Metal influences the ecosystem by democratizing metal AM, sparking designer/engineer innovation, and potentially reshaping industrial footprints toward rapid, localized production.[3][4] It challenges incumbents like Desktop Metal, positioning liquid metal as a benchmark for efficiency in a market projected to grow with AM's expansion.[4][5]
Fluent Metal is primed for expansion with its $5.5M war chest, targeting industrial pilots in defense, aerospace, and jewelry while scaling printer deployments.[1][5] Upcoming milestones likely include commercial machine releases, broader material certifications, and partnerships leveraging its Formnext 2024 buzz as 2024 Startup of the Year.[5] Trends like AI-optimized designs, sustainable supply chains, and hybrid manufacturing will amplify its edge, potentially capturing share in a metal AM market growing beyond powders.[3][5]
As Schmitt envisions, this technology unlocks "unmatched scalability," evolving from prototypes to revolutionizing custom metal production and broadening metal's power across industries—echoing its launch promise of functional, economical parts.[1][2]
Fluent Metal has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Seed in December 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2022 | $2.0M Seed | FAST — by GETTYLAB, Trucks Venture Capital, Cyril Grislain |