All content of this email is for entertainment purposes and not investment advice. All the news we share via social media can be found here. To subscribe to this email, click here. Alternatively, we also have a LinkedIn version of this newsletter. All past issues are here. This edition includes insights, news, and events.
“Never accept the opinions of other people as being facts until you have learned the source of those opinions and satisfied yourself of their accuracy.”
A Journey Through Innovation and History: Conversations That Matter
For me, travel is more than checking off monuments, admiring museum artifacts, or sampling local dishes. What stays with me are the conversations—the fleeting but profound exchanges with people whose lives are shaped by places I’m only passing through. It’s in these moments, when someone shares their hopes, fears, and views on the world, that a destination begins to feel real. These interactions offer a window into the soul of a place, turning the travel experience into something far more personal and memorable.
Over several weeks, I journeyed across four countries, each with its unique cultural and historical backdrop. I began my adventure in Berlin, traversed the majestic fjords of Norway, explored the cultural heart of Copenhagen, and concluded in the vibrant city of Stockholm, part of “the Silicon Valley” of Europe. Of all the towns, Berlin left a deep impression on me.
A Glimpse Into the Future of 3D Printing
While in Berlin, I had the rare opportunity to visit Quantica, a startup I had previously encountered only through online webinars. Quantica is known for its pioneering work in high-viscosity 3D printing, particularly in dental applications. Their work exemplifies the kind of innovation I usually follow from afar, but this time, I was able to witness it firsthand. Meeting the team in person and sitting down for an on-site interview with co-founder Ben Hartkopp was an enriching experience.
You can listen to the full interview with Ben Hartkopp here: Jetting the Impossible – Ben Hartkopp on Printing Ultra Viscous Materials Podcast.
Quantica’s advancements in 3D printing are reshaping many industries, including the dental industry and bioprinting, by pushing the limits of material science. They are breaking boundaries in a field where innovation is often incremental. Be sure to reach out to them if you are looking for an R&D partner in these verticals.
For more insights into global 3D printing trends, be sure also to check out my recent conversation with Tuan TranPham on Mega Trends in 3D Printing.
Beyond Technology: A City’s Unease
But my interest in Berlin extended beyond technology. What struck me deeply was the depth of concern Berliners expressed about current American policies and global instability. In candid conversations, it became clear that many felt anxiety, not only about their own country’s direction but about America’s outsized role in shaping global outcomes. The international political landscape, from trade wars to climate change, has left many with a sense of unease, and Berlin is no exception.
History’s Lingering Presence
What I hadn’t anticipated, however, was how deeply history permeates the city of Berlin. Before this trip, the Berlin Wall was just a concept to me—something that had fallen with the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, Berlin wears its history openly, and it is impossible to ignore the monumental impact that the fall of the Wall had on the city and the world.
From the remnants of the Wall scattered throughout the city to the powerful Holocaust memorials, Berlin invites confrontation with its past. Those quiet, solemn moments—standing in memorials dedicated to the murdered Jews of Europe—were among the most sobering of my trip. The physical and emotional scars of World War II are etched deeply into the German landscape and psyche. For Berliners and many other countries, war is not an abstract concept but a lived experience.
In every moment I spent talking with people—whether about technology, global policy, or personal concerns—I was reminded of the profound impact travel has, not just as a way to experience new places, but as a way to better understand the forces that shape them.
Nothing is more educational than visiting another country.
3DHEALS Events Recap
I’ve been a bit behind on writing these newsletters (blame it on some expert-level procrastination), so there’s plenty to catch up on. If you don’t want to miss future updates—especially about our live events—make sure you’re subscribed to our event newsletter!
3D Printing in Healthcare: Key Takeaways from Recent 3DHEALS Events
🧪 Microfluidic Devices & 3D Printing
This event explored how additive manufacturing is transforming microfluidics—from research tools to real-world diagnostics. Speakers highlighted the dramatic time savings enabled by 3D-printed prototypes, with traditional weeks-long workflows compressed into days. A key takeaway was that interdisciplinary collaboration—between biologists, designers, and engineers—is essential to push the field from experimentation to reproducibility and scale. 3D printing is proving not just to be fast, but to empower open innovation in bioengineering.
🧬 San Francisco: Bioprinting & Medical 3D Printing
Held in San Francisco, this hybrid event spotlighted how emerging tech—especially AI and AR/VR—is shaping the future of personalized medicine. Dr. Jesse Courtier gave a fascinating demo of large language models converting simple prompts into anatomical 3D models. Meanwhile, panelists like Rajan Patel and Bhushan Mahadik emphasized practical, clinically grounded use cases such as radiation shields and organoid scaffolds.
The overarching message: simplicity and usability should guide innovation. Additive tools must integrate into the clinical workflow while adding measurable value—whether through training, planning, or patient outcomes.
🐶 3D Printing in Veterinary Medicine
This event revealed how the veterinary field is adopting 3D printing with the same rigor and creativity as human medicine. Bill Oxley of Vet3D illustrated how pre-surgical planning using 3D-printed guides enabled a successful osteotomy on a dog named Rolo. Speakers like Luca Manassero and Mateusz Pawlik stressed the importance of imaging accuracy and quality control—even in a field with fewer regulatory constraints. Education was another central theme, with calls for standardized training to help veterinarians harness 3D design for better diagnostics, prosthetics, and surgical tools. The takeaway: animal care deserves tech that’s just as personalized and precise as its human counterpart.
🦴 3D Printed Devices in Orthopedics
This orthopedic-focused webinar brought together experts from industry and academia to examine how 3D-printed implants are moving from niche applications into mainstream surgical care. With a market now exceeding $1 billion globally, companies like Stryker and DePuy Synthes are leading the charge in producing personalized implants for hips, knees, and spines. Panelists emphasized the growing need for surgeon-led design processes, the importance of regulatory readiness, and the shift toward bioactive and expandable devices. It’s clear that orthopedics is becoming one of the most commercially and clinically validated spaces for 3D printing in medicine.
💹 3DHEALS 2024 Investment Outlook
This forward-looking event offered insights into the funding landscape for healthcare 3D printing in 2024 and beyond. The Pitch3D platform was highlighted as a critical bridge between startups and investors, helping catalyze early-stage innovation. Investors are increasingly drawn to scalable platforms, cost-effective clinical tools, and regulatory-aligned business models.
From bioprinting to point-of-care manufacturing, the message was clear: success hinges on products that demonstrate ROI, meet unmet clinical needs, and are built to navigate the complex healthtech ecosystem.
Upcoming Partner Events
3rd International Conference on Progress in Digital and Physical Manufacturing (ProDPM’25) – Call for Submission
1 – 3 October | 2025
Leiria | Portugal
https://prodpm.ipleiria.pt/index.html
The Organizing Committee would like to welcome you to Leiria for the third International Conference on Progress in Digital and Physical Manufacturing (ProDPM’25), organized by the School of Technology and Management (ESTG) of the Polytechnic of Leiria (IPL). This international event aims at providing a major international forum for the scientific exchange of multi-disciplinary and inter-organisational aspects performed by academics, researchers and industrial partners in order to exchange ideas in the field of digital and physical manufacturing and related areas. The conference expects to foster networking and collaboration among participants to advance the knowledge and identify major trends in the field.
All submitted papers will be peer reviewed. All accepted and registered papers will be published in the Scopus indexed e-book Series “Springer Tracts in Additive Manufacturing” with an ISBN number.
EHFAM 2025: Advancing Healthcare with Additive Manufacturing through Research, Practice and Implementation.
June 26-27, 2025
Basel, Switzerland
Following the success of the 2024 forum, the European Healthcare Forum for Additive Manufacturing (EHFAM) returns on June 26-27, 2025, at the FHNW Campus Muttenz in Basel. This event continues to unite key stakeholders from healthcare and additive manufacturing sectors to discuss and shape the future of healthcare in Europe. EHFAM 2025 will dive into critical topics such as bioprinting, medical devices, 3D printing in hospitals, patient involvement, and policy and regulations. The forum offers a comprehensive platform for collaboration, innovation, and the exchange of ideas aimed at enhancing patient care and outcomes. Special ticket pricing is available for health professionals, including those from academic and research institutions, hospital staff, health regulatory bodies, patients, and medical students, at 250 CHF. Tickets for industry professionals, legal experts, and additive manufacturing enthusiasts are priced at 450 CHF. Registration is open through the official EHFAM website. For more information and to register, visit https://ehfam.eu/
News & Thoughts
🏥 Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Models Better Health Care with 3D Printing
A stellar example of how the VA system is using 3D printing to cut costs and improve veteran care, with one case alone saving over $20K by leveraging custom surgical planning and assistive devices.
✔️ Quality Assurance Protocol for Clinical 3D Printing
This publication validates a multi-site, low-cost QA protocol, signaling a major step toward regulatory-grade, point-of-care 3D printing operations in hospitals and clinics.
🧒 Seattle Children’s Hospital Uses 3D Printing for Surgical Planning
By creating patient-specific models for complex pediatric cases, Seattle Children’s is pioneering safer and more precise surgeries for infants and children.
👶 Michigan Medicine Trials 3D-Printed Airway Splints for Infants
This clinical trial is testing bioresorbable splints that dissolve over time—offering new hope for infants with airway disorders like tracheobronchomalacia.
🧬 Ultrasound-Guided In Vivo Bioprinting at Caltech
A breakthrough in non-invasive bioprinting, this technology enables deep-tissue implants without surgery using ultrasound—a game-changer for future therapeutics.
🚀 Materialise Forum 2025: Highlights from Hospital 3D Printing
A major event recap that outlines how surgical workflows are being transformed by 3D printing—from faster osteotomies to VR-aided organ transplants.
🧠 Meteora3D Accelerates Surgical Planning
This UC Venture Lab startup is delivering patient-specific anatomy models in hours, not days—fundamentally reshaping precision medicine workflows.
😴 Custom CPAP Masks Improve Sleep Apnea Outcomes
A J Clin Sleep Med study finds that 3D-printed nasal masks significantly boost user comfort and adherence, potentially transforming OSA treatment.
🧠 Sleep Apnea Modeling for Personalized Airway Devices
This study uses computational models of upper airway muscle activity to support the creation of personalized 3D-printed diagnostic tools.
🚑 UVMMC Trains Rural Docs with 3D-Printed Body Models
Rural hospitals are benefiting from 3D-printed models used to train physicians in high-stakes emergency procedures, improving outcomes in underserved areas.
🧠 Stratasys & Siemens: AI-Ready Medical Imaging with Phantoms
This collaboration creates 3D-printed phantoms to train AI diagnostic tools, enhancing precision and safety in radiology.
🧫 Northeastern University 3D Prints Elastic Blood Vessels
Researchers have developed hydrogel-based vascular structures that mimic real vessels—paving the way for functional organ printing.
🧵 Medical Students Train Better with 3D-Printed Organs
Suturing skills see a measurable boost when students practice on 3D-printed intestines instead of traditional training pads.
🦴 Croom Medical Launches TALOS for Tantalum Implants
A next-gen platform designed for precision orthopedic implants—this launch signals growing commercial maturity in 3D-printed prosthetics.
💓 Georgia Tech & Emory: Bioresorbable Pediatric Heart Valve
A game-changing innovation for pediatric cardiology, this implant adapts and dissolves as the child grows—avoiding repeated surgeries.
🌸 ASU 3D Prints Flower-Inspired Vascular Grafts
Using biomimicry, ASU researchers designed self-expanding vascular grafts modeled after petals—flexible and effective.
📉 Challenges to Widespread Medical 3D Printing Adoption
While promising, hurdles like regulation and workforce training remain key barriers to mainstreaming 3D printing in hospitals.
🇸🇪 Akira Science: Biodegradable Scaffolds for Soft Tissue
Akira’s bioabsorbable scaffolds represent a sustainable, patient-specific solution for soft tissue regeneration.
🫀 3Deus Dynamics Partners with MALIC on Surgical Training Models
Ultra-realistic vascular models are revolutionizing surgical simulation and device testing, helping train the next generation of surgeons.
🤖 MIT’s STAMP: Growing Artificial Muscles
This 3D-printed mold system guides muscle formation—bridging bioengineering and robotics for soft prosthetics and rehab tools.
🛰️ Auxilium Biotech 3D Prints Nerve Implants in Space
In a stunning demo, nerve-repair implants were manufactured aboard the ISS—demonstrating the promise of space-based biomanufacturing.
⚙️ AI Fine-Tunes Metal 3D Printing
Machine learning is enabling real-time process control in metal AM, with huge implications for aerospace, medtech, and precision engineering.
🧠 3D-Printed Wig Protectors Aid Craniotomy Recovery
These custom protectors improve comfort, aesthetics, and healing for patients recovering from brain surgery.
😷 MDR-Compliant 3D-Printed Facial Implant in Basel
A milestone in European medtech: a fully MDR-compliant facial implant printed in PEEK for personalized craniofacial reconstruction.
👁️ Keratoprinter Aims to Restore Sight with Bioprinting
By printing corneal tissue on demand, this innovation offers hope for the millions suffering from corneal blindness worldwide.
🦷 Singapore’s NUS Combines AI & Bioprinting for Dental Care
Personalized dentistry takes a leap forward as AI helps automate 3D-printed dental prosthetics with high accuracy and reduced turnaround.
🧫 JetBio Spin-Out Unveils Next-Gen Bioprinter
Emerging from Newcastle University, JetBio’s new platform is built to accelerate regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and tissue engineering.
🦾 AI + Bioprinting Tackle Tendon Regeneration
This comprehensive review explores how AI can guide bioink optimization and scaffold architecture to restore functional tendons.
💼 BICO’s $80M Exit: MatTek and Visikol Acquired
A major bioprinting business move, signaling maturity in the field and sharpening BICO’s focus on core, scalable innovations.
Books
Napoleon Hill wrote numerous books, and one principle that has stuck with me is the concept of accurate thinking. I read multiple books last year to enhance my decision-making process, whether for investments or life choices, and this concept has served me well so far, saving time and energy.
It is also true that my own emotions often hinder my ability to think accurately.
In my recent blog, “Five Powerful Books Every Entrepreneur Must Read to Win—2025”, I share additional titles that have most influenced how I think and operate, not just as an entrepreneur, but as someone who wants to think like an investor. These books taught me how to make smarter bets, manage uncertainty, and build mental resilience. Feel free to check them out or let me know your thoughts on them.
Related Links:
The Illusion of Permanence, SHPWQ
May Newsletter: “Chip War”, True Frontier
April Newsletter: Are You A Neophiliac?
Year of Dragon 2024: Everyone Was Wrong in 2023
Lattice October 2023 Newsletter: “Elon Musk”
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