02-11-2014: Intel invested in a growing 3D model marketplace—CGTrader
Today, the Lithuanian company is one of the largest 3D model platforms in the World
On February 11, 2014, the 3D model marketplace CGTrader announced that it had closed a funding round with Intel Capital and existing investor Practica Capital. The funding was aimed at expanding CGTrader’s marketplace and community while strengthening its position in the 3D printing market. Founded in 2011, the platform already had a database of over 45,000 unique designs and more than 35,000 registered users at the time. Today, those numbers are just a little bigger…
CGTrader was founded in 2011 in Lithuania by Dalia Lašaitė and Marius Kalytis. The platform was designed to give 3D designers a space where they could sell their models and earn money on more favorable terms than on existing platforms. From the beginning, CGTrader stood out with its business model, allowing creators to keep up to 90% of their sales revenue, in contrast to competing platforms that took much higher commissions.
In its early years, CGTrader pulled off something impressive—despite facing Thingiverse, the largest library of free 3D printable models, and countless clones offering similar services, it maintained its position as a leader and even secured further funding for growth. The business model was fairly simple: users could buy high-quality, unique 3D models unavailable elsewhere, and designers could sell their own creations through the platform. Customers could order 3D prints (similar to Shapeways), while users could commission custom 3D designs based on their own ideas or visions.
After securing funding, CGTrader continued its expansion, adding new features and growing its user base. During this period, the platform diversified its offerings beyond 3D printing to include models for video games, films, architectural visualization, and VR/AR.
This led to the creation of CGTrader Marketplace, which became one of the largest online markets for 3D models. The company also launched CGTrader Enterprise, a service tailored for businesses needing customized 3D content.
In 2020, CGTrader introduced CGTrader ARsenal, an AI-powered service allowing companies to quickly generate 3D product models for e-commerce applications.
Today, CGTrader is one of the largest 3D model platforms in the world, boasting over 10.7 million users and 2.27 million 3D models. The platform serves both independent designers and major corporations, offering a wide range of 3D content services for e-commerce, gaming, and industry.
There’s a hypothesis that CGTrader’s success stems from its decision to move beyond the 3D printing bubble and embrace much broader market sectors. But I don’t know… that sounds a bit like a conspiracy theory.
Source: www.cgtrader.com