Spline, a no-code design tool for creating 3D assets, has announced that it has raised $15 million in a seed funding round. The funding was led by Gradient Ventures, with participation from First Round Capital, NXTP, Chapter One, Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch, Y Combinator, Webflow CEO Vlad Magdalin, and Backend Capital. This brings Spline’s total raised to $16 million, and the funds will be used for research and development (R&D) as well as expanding the startup’s team.
Spline, founded by Alejandro Leon, aims to simplify and streamline the 3D design process. The platform allows users to create 3D objects, edit materials, add interactivity and animations, and export them, all from a web browser. Collaboration features enable users to work together to fine-tune assets, provide feedback, and create real-time physics simulations and interactions. Designs can be exported as various file types or embedded in webpages.
In the past, there had been uncertainty around investments in 3D, but the landscape has significantly changed since then. 3D has become a default content format alongside images, audio, and video. As such, Spline has tapped into this growing demand and has seen rapid adoption, with over 1 million creators joining the platform.
The funding will enable Spline to continue innovating and exploring new avenues such as generative AI. By incorporating AI into its platform, Spline aims to make 3D creation more accessible and reduce the complexity associated with it. The addition of AI style transfer and AI texture tools demonstrates the company’s commitment to leveraging AI technology. With AI becoming increasingly prevalent in the 3D industry, Spline is positioned to stay at the forefront of creativity and innovation.
Darian Shirazi, a general partner at Gradient Ventures, expressed his admiration for Spline’s product and the community it has built. He emphasized the importance of 3D in the future of computing and communication, and believes that Spline, with its combination of creativity and AI, is well-positioned to lead this space.
Overall, Spline’s recent funding round not only validates the demand for its platform but also propels the company forward in its mission to simplify and democratize 3D asset creation. As technology continues to advance, Spline’s advancements in AI and collaboration tools will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and accessibility of 3D design for a broad range of creators.
