Interview with Shri Shetty, CEO at PrinterPrezz

May 31, 2020

SHRI SHETTY, CEO, PrinterPrezz

Shri Shetty led an advanced technology group at Applied Materials, reporting directly to the Office of the CTO, before starting PrinterPrezz. Prior to his time at Applied Materials, he was Vice President at Ultratech. He brings extensive expertise from the semiconductor industry and advanced additive manufacturing. Shri will be speaking on the Metal and Orthopedic 3D Printing Panel during 3DHEALS2020.

Jenny: When was the first encounter you had with 3D printing? What was that experience like? What were you thinking at that moment?

Shri: I was first exposed to 3D printing while working at Applied Materials. I knew it would completely change the way we thought about manufacturing. I was fascinated by the conversion of complexity into tangible reality. I also immediately saw huge potential in the design freedom that comes with being able to 3D print in various materials.

Jenny: What inspired you to start your journey in 3D printing?

Shri: I always believed that the early traction additive manufacturing had in aerospace and auto would move to the medical industry. The difference is that in the medical industry, the innovators are the clinicians. No ecosystem exists to easily convert ideas from them into new products. I decided to start PrinterPrezz to enable that connection, bringing together expertise in medicine, technology, and manufacturing.

Jenny: Who inspired you the most along this journey in 3D printing?

Shri: Greg Morris formed Morris Technologies and later sold the company to GE. He helped bring 3D printing to industrial manufacturing. He’s talented, thoughtful, and smart. For me, he has been a trusted advisor, a wealth of information, and a terrific friend.

Jenny: What motivates you the most for your work?

Shri: I love what I do because it changes people’s lives. I truly enjoy the challenge of taking designs that were not possible in the past and building upon them to create life-changing medical devices.

Jenny: What advice would you give to a smart driven college student in the “real world”?

Shri: Anything is possible!

Jenny: If you could have a giant billboard to promote a message to millions and even billions of people in our community (i.e. healthcare 3D printing and bio-fabrication), what message would that be?

Shri: Healthcare 3D printing is a responsibility. You can do things now that were not possible ten years ago and you will impact people’s lives and lifestyles directly. Quality, safety and innovation are the hallmarks of medical device design and manufacturing.

Jenny: What were/was the best investment you made in 3D printing?

Shri: Metal and high-end SLA 3D printing have been the highest value technologies so far.

Jenny: What was the worst investment you made in 3D printing?

Shri: A lot of scanning technologies are still early and not always the most user-friendly.

Jenny: What was/is the biggest risk you took in your career?

Shri: When I left a 20-year career at a large public company to start a startup business (PrinterPrezz), it was a risky career move. Thankfully, my wife has been supportive, but I’m still explaining it to her on some days!