After the first week of the fall semester, Aerospace
Engineering student Brett Potter decided to have some fun. After buying a kit
for a 3-D printer off the internet for $300, he spent an entire Saturday
putting it together. Now a semester later, the sophomore from Team TESLA is
working on a startup with a few friends, with the printer at the center.
Potter first gained experience with the up-and coming
technology in high school, and thought it would be cool to get his own desktop
model. Roommate and fellow Gemstone student Ben Tunick (Bioengineering, Team
BASIC) soon took an interest in Potter’s creation, followed closely by their across-the-hall
neighbor Sam Thomas (Criminology and Criminal Justice major). After Thomas
mentioned the possibility of turning the printer into a business venture, the
three sophomores realized it could be a great idea.
Once they embraced the opportunity, the trio soon began
spreading the word and preparing to open for business. It wasn’t long before
they branched out. Their startup, christened “Mindforge Design,” has an Xbox
Kinect to scan objects and people into their computers, and can print bobble
heads and small copies of said object from the scanned model. In addition to
offering a line of small Maryland-themed products, Mindforge offers printing of
custom designs, regardless of whether the client can make a model in CAD.
Since then, Mindforge Design opened for business and even
turned a few heads. Late in the semester, the three entrepreneurs were accepted
into the Startup Shell, an on-campus club aimed at guiding new startups and
helping them succeed through collaboration and support. In addition, the group
has been contacted by Route 1 Apparel. The two parties are currently
negotiating the sale of a few 3D printed Maryland items through the popular
retailer.
Keep a lookout for these guys going forward! Their website
is http://www.MindforgeDesign.com/
-Ben Tunick: Team BASIC: Class of 2016
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