MakerBot In Acquisition Talks or Looking to Raise Money At $300 Million Valuation

A report by The Wall Street Journal is saying that 3D printer maker, MakerBot is currently engaging in potential acquisition talks, however, no companies have been named.  While details are still scarce, apparently MakerBot was recently gauging its options for raising a new round of venture capital at a valuation of $300 million when the discussions led to interest from possible acquirers.

The talks are still ongoing, which means anything is far from a done deal.  MakerBot, whose investors include Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos, may end up raising more venture capital to continue building its business instead of cashing out.  According to the report, last year, MakerBot generated  around $10 million in revenue and the company projects it will reach or exceed $50 million in sales this year.

3D printing is typically still very expensive, with most 3D printers costing thousands of dollars.  One of MakerBot’s latest models, the Replicator 2X runs for $2,000 to $2,800.  The printers have become popular with hobbyists and manufacturers that use them to quickly build prototypes.

In fact, companies like Boeing, United Technologies, and Ford have shown extreme interest in 3D printing, even using the printers to create prototype parts and three-dimensional models. But it’s not just manufacturers who have shown an interest in 3D printing, venture capitalists have too.  If you remember, we recently wrote about how Chris Dixon, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, is also very interested in the technology and the space.

3D printing is a hot space, one with a lot of potential behind it.  Personally, I’d love to see MakerBot make a go of it on their own.