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§ Private Profile · Seattle, WA, USA
3D laser printer company selling laser printers that cut, engrave, and create products from digital designs for makers and hobbyists.
Glowforge has raised $134.2M across 8 funding rounds.
Key people at Glowforge.
Glowforge has raised $134.2M in total across 8 funding rounds.
Based in Seattle, Washington, Glowforge develops and manufactures 3D laser printers that allow professional designers, engineers, and hobbyists to cut and engrave physical products directly from digital designs. The hardware company operates a direct e-commerce business model that initially gained significant market traction through a record 30-day crowdfunding campaign, which successfully generated approximately $27.9 million in initial preorder sales. These specialized desktop manufacturing devices simplify the complex laser cutting process for a diverse customer base spanning independent makers, professional design studios, and broad educational institutions. To date, the company's hardware ecosystem has been adopted by over 3,600 schools to support various technical education programs, while also securing venture capital backing from prominent institutional investors including Foundry Group, True Ventures, and DFJ. Glowforge was officially founded in 2015 by technology entrepreneurs Dan Shapiro, Mark Gosselin, and Tony Wright.
Glowforge is a technology company that builds desktop laser cutters and engravers, enabling users to precisely cut, engrave, and score hundreds of materials like wood, acrylic, leather, and fabric.[1][2][4] It serves crafters, educators, hobbyists, entrepreneurs, and businesses, solving the problem of accessible, high-precision fabrication without requiring technical expertise, design experience, or specialized training—allowing rapid creation from ideas to finished products via an intuitive app and button-press operation.[1][2][3] Growth momentum stems from its product lines (Craft Series for personal use, Performance Series like Pro and Plus for professional demands), a vast catalog of thousands of premade designs, AI-enhanced software, and community-driven applications in classrooms, workshops, and production workflows.[1][4][6]
Glowforge emerged as an innovative hardware startup focused on democratizing laser cutting technology for everyday creators, though specific founding details like year or founders are not detailed in available sources.[2] The idea stemmed from addressing barriers in traditional fabrication—complex setups, safety concerns, and expertise needs—by developing elegant, Wi-Fi-connected desktop machines with simple software that work on standard devices like Macs, PCs, tablets, or phones.[1][5] Early traction built through its maker community, evolving from home crafting tools to robust business solutions like the Pro series, which support all-day production and large-scale projects via features like passthrough slots.[3][6]
Glowforge rides the maker movement and desktop manufacturing trend, bringing industrial-grade CO2 laser capabilities (10,600 nm wavelength, high-speed precision) to homes, classrooms, and small businesses amid rising demand for personalization, rapid prototyping, and on-demand production.[1][2][5] Timing aligns with AI design tools and accessible hardware, fueled by market forces like e-commerce customization, supply chain localization post-pandemic, and STEM education pushes—reducing outsourcing costs and enabling in-house innovation without specialized hires.[3] It influences the ecosystem by empowering non-experts (51-200 employees scaling global maker community), bridging consumer crafting with pro workflows in sectors like hospitality, labs, and entrepreneurship.[2][3]
Glowforge is poised to expand with AI-enhanced software updates and filter tech for broader placement, targeting growth in business personalization and educational tools amid trends like sustainable materials and home-based entrepreneurship.[1][4][6] Evolving influence may grow through ecosystem integrations (e.g., more software compatibility) and pro features scaling small-batch production, solidifying its role in accessible fabrication.[3][8] As desktop lasers mature, Glowforge's user-first design positions it to capture more of the $multi-billion cutter market, turning passion projects into profitable ventures.[2][8]
Key people at Glowforge.
Glowforge has raised $134.2M across 8 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $20.0M Series E in May 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2023 | $20M Series E | Barry Schuler, Foundry Group | Bolster Ventures, DFJ, BRE Pettis, TOM Williams, Revolution Growth, True Ventures | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2022 | $43M Series E | Barry Schuler | Bolster Ventures, DFJ, BRE Pettis, TOM Williams | Announced |
| Apr 23, 2018 | $10M Venture Round | Foundry Group, True Ventures | — | Announced |
| Aug 1, 2016 | $22M Series B | — | Brad Feld, Tony Conrad | Announced |
| Oct 26, 2015 | $27.9M Angel | — | — | Announced |
| May 1, 2015 | $9M Series A | Brad Feld | Bolster Ventures, DFJ, Scout Ventures, BRE Pettis, TOM Williams, Jennifer "Jenny" Lawton, MAX Temkin, Tony Conrad | Announced |
| Feb 27, 2015 | $1.3M Venture Round | — | — | Announced |
| Feb 1, 2015 | $1M Seed | — | — | Announced |
Glowforge has raised $134.2M in total across 8 funding rounds.
Glowforge's investors include Barry Schuler, Foundry Group, Bolster Ventures, DFJ, Bre Pettis, Tom Williams, Revolution Growth, True Ventures, Brad Feld, Tony Conrad, Scout Ventures, Jennifer "Jenny" Lawton.
