ICON focuses on transforming the construction industry through the use of 3D printing technology. The company utilizes advanced robotics, software, and materials to build homes and structures more efficiently and at a lower cost than traditional construction methods. Their 3D printing technology allows for the rapid construction of residential buildings, making it possible to create sustainable and affordable housing solutions. ICON differentiates itself from competitors by not only offering 3D printed homes but also by engaging in partnerships for large-scale projects, including collaborations with government agencies and organizations like NASA. The goal of ICON is to address the housing crisis by providing dignified and affordable housing while promoting sustainable architectural practices.

Cercano Management

Shadow Ventures

Emaar

MicroVentures

Oakhouse Partners

Trust Ventures

CAZ Investments

Capital Factory

Citi

Crosstimbers Capital Group

Next Coast Ventures

Ironspring Ventures

Moderne Ventures

Bjarke Ingels Group

Wavemaker Partners

Norwest Venture Partners

Bond

Tiger Global

Bjarke Ingels

Len X

Ensemble Hotel Partners

Fifth Wall Ventures

Sand Hill Angels

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Industrial & Manufacturing

Social Impact

Aerospace

ICON

Over the years, Austin-based ICON has raised over $450 million in funding from investors such as Tiger Global Management, Norwest Venture Partners, 8VC, and others.

ICON, a builder of 3D-printed homes last valued around $2 billion, cuts about 25% of staff

From Hype To Bust and Back AgainAdditive Manufacturing, also known as ‘3D Printing', has been an ongoing technological revolution for many years now. However, it disappointed its early supporters, who expected it to replace traditional manufacturing completely.This misjudgment can be explained by the “hype cycle” almost always driving the adoption of new technologies. It essentially goes this way:A rising phase, where the exponential growth of tech capabilities makes everything seem possible. A downtrend phase, where reality and real-life limitations become apparent, making the previous hype appear as “just a fade.” A slower, but more sustainable rise back of the technology, with maturing of the industry and expanding adoption by more users over time.This cycle was very much at play with 3D printing. What made it even more complex is that 3D printing can be done with many materials and for many applications, meaning that different sub-sections of additive manufacturing are located at different points of the hype cycle.In 2018, the Gartner expert consulting company published a snapshot of the 3D printing industry at the time.In hindsight, this was a pretty accurate view. Many 3D printing technologies are going through or finishing the “trough of disillusionment.” This is especially true for potentially world-changing techs like organ 3D printing or domestic 3D printing.At the same time, the applications that had already entered the consolidation phases, like prototyping or dental implants, now form the core revenues of most 3D printing companies.Consolidation Before Further ExpansionThe “trough of disillusionment” is a period marked by a loss of interest in the technology that has “disappointed” investors

3D Printing Consolidating Into The Future Of Manufacturing

Urban development and design provider ICON announced the launch of Network of City Innovators, a pioneering CSR initiative aimed at addressing today's urban challenges through collaborative, cross-disciplinary innovation.

Cityscape Global 2024: ICON reveals Network of City Innovators, a platform for collaborative urban solutions

ICON, a premier internet-first direct-to-consumer luggage and travel accessories (LTA) startup, has raised $1.2 million in seed funding.

Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (May 7, 2024)

In Austin, Texas, ICON has partnered with non-profit organizations to develop affordable housing solutions utilizing 3D printing.

3D Printing: A Curtain Raiser For Affordable Housing

Rees joined Icon from Mahlab, where she was marketing director, and has a background leading integrated clients and teams at agencies in London and Sydney.

Icon Agency appoints ex-CHEP PR director Nick Zonnios as director of consumer; Georgina Rees joins as director of brand and campaigns

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, ICON Technology laid off 114 people on Tuesday.

Austin-based ICON announces layoffs as it focuses on cost-cutting robotic system

Travel accessories startup ICON secures $1.2 mn seed funding DSG Consumer Partners.

Travel accessories startup ICON secures $1.2 Mn seed funding DSG Consumer Partners

Homeownership, A Fading Dream?Rising prices and rising interest rates in the last few years have made homeownership increasingly difficult to achieve. This is especially true for the younger generations like millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and Gen Z (born from 1997 to 2012).The problem is compounded by inflation, rising population, growing inequalities, and a limited supply of new housing.This is a global phenomenon, especially acute in the “Anglosphere”, and now widely recognized as a problem:71% of renters in Canada say “I have given up ever owning a home” in December 2023, up from 63% in April 2023.Meanwhile, 2/3rd of young people are giving up on home ownership in Australia,In Sydney and Melbourne, since 2005, the median house price has climbed 3.5 times the inflation rate and 2.5 times the increase in average weekly earnings.The Sydney Morning HeraldAnd 61% of American renters said they are worried they will never be able to own a home. It Wasn’t Always Like ThatThis situation is rather unique to our time period, and previous generations faced a very different housing market.This is easily demonstrated by flash interviews like in this video, where older people answer the question “How expensive was your first house?”. And the answers range are $16,000, $26,000, and $37,000.Of course, such amounts need to be adjusted for inflation. But since the 1970s, housing has consistently been rising quicker than overall inflation, making the real estate market more and more expensive.This creates a situation where the entry point and down payment on a home keep rising higher and higher, quicker than savings and salaries rise can keep up with.Since 1985, US housing prices have gone up 5.5x, while median household income went only up 3.3x.The same is true in the UK, where average property prices have risen twice as fast as wages in the UK over the past four decades.“Policy missteps over the past three decades have contributed to a situation that is undermining the living standards of future generations.I don’t understand why younger people today aren’t out on the streets, protesting against their parents and their grandparents for what they’ve done to the cost of housing in this country,”Independent economist Saul Eslake – The Sydney Morning HeraldOf course, in addition to the disparity between the rise in housing prices and income, there is added disparity in the job market, where young people are in a very different job market than baby boomers at the same age and are more likely to struggle with unemployment, student debt, need more diplomas and experience for the same jobs.Why Did This Happen?There is no clear-cut explanation of why the housing market has spiraled out of control that much.But there are a series of factors that contributed to the current dire situation.Increased SizesOne comment often made by older people about the housing market is that modern homes are more expensive because they are a lot nicer than houses in the 1970s.And to be honest, there is some truth to that. Modern houses tend to be better equipped, notably with central heating and air conditioning.They are also, on average, much bigger.In 1970, the average square footage of a house was 1,500 square feet (up from 1,048 in 1920) and was 2,014 in 2023.Not Enough Building  Increased RegulationAnother factor in rising housing prices has been an increase in the cost of building them

Home Ownership Is More Prohibitive Than Ever Before In North America – Can 3D Printing Change This?

Moderne Ventures announces the eleven companies selected to join its exclusive Moderne Passport industry immersion programCHICAGO, April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Moderne Ventures, a strategic venture capital and growth equity firm investing in technology companies in and around the industries of real estate, finance, insurance and sustainability, announced its 2024 Spring Moderne Passport Class. The Moderne Passport Program is an intensive six-month industry immersion program providing its participants education, exposure, insight, and relationships to drive customer growth.Moderne Ventures announces the eleven companies selected to join its exclusive Passport industry immersion program Post this Welcome Spring Passport Class!"At Moderne, we take a generalist approach to vertical investing, looking outside of our core industries to find technologies that can be applicable within them," said Constance Freedman, Founder and Managing Partner at Moderne Ventures. "This latest Passport cohort includes technology innovators pushing the boundaries in predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, sustainability, government policy, pet insurance and last-mile delivery. We look forward to helping them gain exposure and grow their customer base in Moderne's industries."The Moderne Passport program hosts companies of all stages – in this cohort, companies range from seed to Series C, and have raised over $678M+ in aggregate of funding with collective valuations of $1.3B to date. The eleven companies are:Abodu ( abodu.com ) – ( Redwood City, CA ): Transforming backyard space into livable homes for multi-generational households, aging in place, full time rentals, and more with beautifully designed and built accessory dwelling unitsAcreto ( acreto.io ) – ( Jersey City, NJ ): Enterprise-grade cybersecurity platform that identifies, connects and protects any technology, anywhereCompanion Protect ( companionprotect.com ) – ( Leawood, KS ): Pet insurance and wellness plan administration trusted by property and casualty insurers, employee benefits providers, retail, residential real estate managers and animal shelter channel partnersDimension ( getdimension.com ) – ( San Francisco, CA ): A fully digital platform that enables waste and recycling management of all waste streams and reduces carbon emissionsFluidLytix ( fluidlytix.com ) – ( Dallas, TX ): Intelligent water management that reduces water bills up to 30%Polco ( polco.us ) – ( Madison, WI ): Modernizing interactions between constituents and governments. Polco's platform empowers constituents to engage with governments, and governments to make informed decisions based on constituent input with online polls, industry-leading research and performance data analyticsProof ( proof.com ) – ( Boston, MA ): As a pioneer of remote online notarization with the largest network of professional notaries in all 50 states, Proof (formerly known as Notarize) is helping to secure the digital economy with notarization and identity verification services, making every transaction more seamless, less costly and more securePublic Grid ( onepublicgrid.com ) – ( Cambridge, MA ): A smarter, green energy management platform that saves residential consumers money on electricity bills and reduces GHG emissionsQloo ( qloo.com ) – ( New York, NY ): Advanced AI platform used to understand and predict global consumer tastes, unlocking advanced personalization, improved customer experiences, and data-driven marketing and growth strategies for companiesRealSage ( realsage.com ) – ( Toronto, ON ): AI-driven decision support system for asset owners and operators - consolidating data across the asset lifecycle from existing technologies to provide actionable insights and improve NOIsThe Rounds (therounds.co) – ( Brooklyn, NY ): Automated "inventory management" of recurring household essentials, delivering scheduled weekly refills via its own two-way last mile logistics network and using reusable packaging to maximize delivery efficiency and reduce waste"This is our 19th Moderne Ventures Passport class and we've now brought more than 125 companies through the program

Moderne Ventures Announces 2024 Spring Passport Class

3D printing technology for affordable housing

ICON

3D printing technology for affordable housing

ICON

3D printing technology for affordable housing

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