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Carbon
Carbon was founded in 2013 by Joseph DeSimone, a chemist and serial entrepreneur who previously co-founded Liquidia Technologies (now public).
Carbon
Carbon was founded in 2013 by Joseph DeSimone, a chemist and serial entrepreneur who previously co-founded Liquidia Technologies (now public). The company's core innovation is the Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) process, which uses photopolymer resins cured by light and oxygen — a method first described on the cover of Science magazine. Carbon operates as a venture-backed hardware, software, and materials company, not a family office. The firm sells its 3D printers (M3, M3 Max, L1) paired with proprietary resins and design software. Customers span automotive, medical/dental, consumer goods, and industrial sectors. Confirmed deployments include adidas's 4D shoe midsole, Ford's production vehicle parts, and Becton Dickinson's medical devices (per firm website). Carbon also operates the Carbon Production Network, a global ecosystem of contract manufacturers. Geographic reach covers North America, Europe, and Asia, with offices in Sunnyvale, Neu-Isenburg, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Carbon has raised over $1B in venture capital from investors including Sequoia Capital, Silver Lake, and Granville Capital. The board is chaired by Ellen J. Kullman, former DuPont CEO; members include Alan Mulally (former Ford CEO) and Jim Goetz (Sequoia). The company does not disclose its valuation or revenue. In recent years, it has shifted focus toward dental and medical applications, releasing new resins and printers for the dental lab market. Carbon is not a capital allocator but a product company: it owns its manufacturing equipment, materials IP, and software platform. Its structural differentiator is the combination of hardware, chemistry, and software sold as a unified service, rather than licensing or selling printers alone.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
2013
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Sunnyvale
Corporate office
Sunnyvale, CA, United States
Additional offices
Neu-Isenburg, Germany · Shanghai, China · Tokyo, Japan · Herzogenaurach, Germany · Jacksonville, United States
Principals
Craig Carlson
Office of the CEO
Philip DeSimone
Office of the CEO
Joseph DeSimone
Co-Founder & Board Member
Ellen J. Kullman
Executive Chair
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Carbon?
Carbon is a venture-backed operating company, not a family office. The Office of the CEO comprises Craig Carlson and Philip DeSimone. Joseph DeSimone remains a co-founder and board member. Investment decisions are made by the executive team and board, which includes Ellen Kullman, Alan Mulally, and Sequoia Capital partner Jim Goetz (per firm website).
How does Carbon source proprietary deal flow?
Carbon does not source deal flow as an allocator; it sells 3D printing solutions directly to businesses. Customer relationships are built through its sales and applications engineering teams, plus a network of production partners called the Carbon Production Network. The firm targets industries such as automotive, medical, consumer goods, aerospace, and dental.
Is Carbon structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Neither. Carbon is a venture-backed private company, classified as an additive manufacturing technology firm. It has raised over $1B from institutional VCs and is not a family office or asset manager. Its board includes family-office-affiliated investors such as Granville Capital, but Carbon itself does not invest in other companies.
Does Carbon participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Carbon does not make fund commitments. It raises equity from venture capital and growth equity investors. The company uses those funds to finance its own R&D, manufacturing, and operations. It does not operate as an allocator of third-party capital.
What investment stages does Carbon typically target?
Carbon is not an investor; it is an operating company. It targets customers at any stage of product development, from prototyping to mass production. The firm's platform is designed to scale from one-off prototypes to millions of end-use parts.
Which sectors does Carbon explicitly avoid?
Carbon does not publicly state any avoided sectors. Its sales focus is on medical/dental, automotive, consumer goods, industrial, and aerospace. Based on its customer list and product offerings, it does not serve defense or weaponry, but has not ruled them out.
How is Carbon related to its investors?
Carbon is majority-owned by its venture investors, including Sequoia Capital, Silver Lake, and Granville Capital. These investors hold board seats and participate in governance. The company's executive chair, Ellen Kullman, is a former DuPont CEO, not a representative of any one investor.
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