The line between the physical and virtual world continues to blur. At the cutting edge of all computing advancements has been the push to create 3D simulations in virtual worlds that mirror the real world. That holy grail is within reach now thanks to the convergence of 3D photorealism born out of gaming and VFX with complex physics-based simulations born out of engineering.
These 3D mirror worlds unlock everything from virtual training for robots to social simulations to designing digital twins of products where what you see is what you get. But the process of designing the 3D world remains stubbornly slow and complex. The tools to design and build the 3D digital models at the heart of both the virtual and physical world have lagged behind broader computing gains.
That’s why today we’re excited to announce our investment in Backflip. Backflip is building a 3D AI foundational model that promises to revolutionize how we design, simulate, and construct the world around us.
Backflip’s core technology and tools let anyone conceive real models, parts and products from text, photos, and sketches. It’s simple enough for anyone to create a 3D (printable) model and will shortly have the precision and control for experienced designers and engineers too.
What excited us most about Backflip is the deep domain expertise and proven execution of the founders. CEO Greg Mark and CTO David Benhaim previously co-founded Markforged, where they revolutionized 3D printing by inventing carbon fiber and mixed metal printing processes. They successfully took the company public in 2021, and their technology is trusted in mission-critical applications from the International Space Station to US nuclear submarines.
Achieving this required innovations in both material science and in bringing CAD to the cloud. Now, they’re turning their attention to AI and have recruited a team of top notch researchers from MIT and beyond.
This isn’t just an incremental improvement – it’s a fundamental reimagining of how we design and build the physical world from pixels to parts. We’re excited to see Backflip play a critical role in this next chapter of modern American manufacturing.
We’re thrilled to partner with Greg, David, and the entire Backflip team. If you’re excited to join the revolution you can learn more [here].
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Troy Kirwin is a partner on the A16Z GAMES team at Andreessen Horowitz, where he focuses on the tech, tools, and infrastructure powering games and the metaverse.
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Andrew Chen is a General Partner for A16Z GAMES, focused on the intersection of tech and gaming — this includes AI, studios, infrastructure, and consumer apps.
