Augsburg 3D startup Scoobe3D finds investor

An investor has been found for the Augsburg-based 3D start-up Scoobe3D. The young company had to file for insolvency in February of this year. Since then, insolvency administrator Dr Alexander Zarzitzky from Anchor Rechtsanwälte, together with the company’s founders, Carolin Berlow, Julian Berlow and Benjamin Bönsch, had made a variety of efforts to find a long-term solution for the company’s continuation.

With the sale of the patents and technology to the digital manufacturing company Immensa, the company’s expertise has now been secured. The sale also raised a considerable sum, which will be used to cover the claims of creditors. ‘I am pleased that we have managed to find an investor solution. In the current times, it is not easy to find a buyer for young technology companies. However, it is now certain that Scoobe3D’s innovative technology will be preserved. In addition, we were able to achieve a pleasing amount for the insolvency estate in order to reimburse the creditors for part of their claims,’ explains Dr Alexander Zarzitzky from the Augsburg law firm Anchor Rechtsanwälte.

3D scanner in mobile phone format

The innovative start-up has developed a high-precision 3D scanner. With the mobile device in handy smartphone format, users can make three-dimensional scans quickly and without complicated preparation. Instructions on the scanner display guide users conveniently through the scanning process. The 3D scanner is based on a specially patented technology that allows even shiny or reflective surfaces to be scanned with an accuracy of up to 0.1 millimetres with little effort. Augsburg physicist Julian Berlow invented the Scoobe3D technology and applied for a patent in 2016. He then founded the company together with Carolin Berlow and Benjamin Bönsch at the beginning of 2018.

Investor Immensa comes from Dubai

‘We were already familiar with Scoobe3D’s patented technology from the market. We found the idea very impressive and therefore did not lose sight of the company. Now we can utilise the unique technological approach for high-precision 3D scans in combination with simple handling for our applications,’ explains Fahmi Al Shawwa, Co-Founder and CEO of Immensa. He continues: ‘The acquisition of Scoobe3D’s technology fits perfectly with Immensa’s mission to revolutionise the spare parts supply chain through digitalisation and advanced manufacturing. This high-precision 3D scanning capability will enhance our ability to create accurate digital twins of critical spare parts. In addition, the mobile and user-friendly nature of the Scoobe3D scanner will significantly accelerate our mass digitisation efforts and enable us to quickly build comprehensive digital inventories for our customers in the energy sector.’ Immensa is the largest digital manufacturing company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It offers solutions for advanced technologies such as additive manufacturing (AM) to transform physical spare parts into the on-demand digital world.

Several rounds of financing

In 2018, Scoobe3D launched a crowdfunding campaign and brought its first 3D scanner to market. At the beginning of 2020, Scoobe3D then successfully completed a seed financing round arranged by the BayStartUP investor network with the participation of Bayern Kapital GmbH, among others. A further financing round followed in 2021 – largely with the participation of the previous investors. BayBG Bayerische Beteiligungsgesellschaft also contributed mezzanine financing to support the company’s growth. Scoobe 3D’s customers included the tech companies Apple and Sony. Scoobe3D was increasingly struggling with growing competition from China. Furthermore, the market readiness for a new product generation was delayed. Unfortunately, attempts to find new investors failed and the company had to file for insolvency on 14 February 2024.