Novenda raises USD $6.1m to expand 3D printed dental tech

Novenda Technologies, a Dutch dental product manufacturing startup, has secured USD $6.1 million in funding to advance its 3D printing platform for producing dental night guards and dentures.

Funding details

The Series A round was led by Brightlands Venture Partners, with participation from KBC Focus Fund, Borski Fund, the Limburg Business Development Fund/LIOF, as well as several angel investors. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency supported the funding with an Innovation Credit. Novenda's technology enables the creation of dental products by combining hard and soft materials in a single 3D print process, eliminating manual labour and assembly steps traditionally required in dental manufacturing.

Industry context

Rising sugar consumption worldwide is contributing to an increase in oral diseases, now affecting approximately 3.5 billion people. With dental treatment becoming more expensive and fewer dental technicians available, the dental sector is experiencing greater demand for efficient manufacturing processes, particularly as markets shift toward centralised, digital workflows. Novenda aims to address these challenges by offering a fully digital, automated solution for dental laboratories.

The company was founded in 2019 by Klaas Wiertzema, Petra Doelman, and Joost Anne Veerman, following collaboration with dental professionals and extensive market research. Novenda installed its first printer at the High Tech Campus Eindhoven in 2021 and achieved a proof of concept for multi-material dental prints in 2023.

Technology platform

Novenda has developed proprietary multi-material 3D printing technology that allows hard and soft components of dental products to be printed simultaneously, resulting in more comfortable and lifelike appliances without the need for manual assembly. The platform's water-soluble supports dissolve in tap water, reducing post-processing requirements.

"The combination of water-soluble support and the absence of mechanical interventions to compensate for imprecisions ensures unprecedented long-term accuracy and eliminates the need for extensive post-processing. This is particularly important in a world where dental technicians are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive," Klaas Wiertzema, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, said.

Novenda's printers feature a colour management algorithm capable of producing unlimited shades using a minimal set of base colours. The company's current model, the LD100 printer, can produce up to 15 night guards and eight dentures per hour. The system uses only Novenda's approved materials to ensure products meet quality and biocompatibility standards.

Market dynamics

The dental industry has seen a move toward digital workflows, with oral scanners replacing traditional impressions. However, manufacturing techniques have struggled to keep pace, often relying on significant manual work. The introduction of Novenda's automated printing solution coincides with a trend towards centralised manufacturing in several countries, where the technology aims to provide efficiency and consistency in dental product output.

"As lead investor, Brightlands Venture Partners is proud to support Novenda Technologies in this next phase of growth. Their multi-material jetting technology is a breakthrough in digital dentistry, enabling scalable, high-precision manufacturing with minimal waste and post-processing. This innovation not only sets a new quality standard for dental products but also enhances affordability of dental care for patients that are unable to afford alternatives currently available in the market. This will ultimately drive the transformation of the dental industry towards a more sustainable and equitable future," Olga Goor, Investment Manager at Brightlands Venture Partners, said.

Novenda has assembled a 15-strong team with expertise across physics, chemistry, materials science, and software engineering. The company holds several patents, with additional filings planned.

According to feedback from industry professionals, the finish and appearance of Novenda's printed products are considered to be of high standard, with some experts stating that multi-material jetting could be the future of dental manufacturing.

"Having an idea for a disruptive technology is just the beginning. Realizing this vision requires the right people, the right drive, and the right team spirit. At Novenda, we don't just say that people are our most important asset – we live it. We are deeply committed to fostering a culture that stimulates and supports our team, ensuring that every member is motivated and empowered to achieve the extraordinary. This drive for excellence is reflected in our approach to providing customers with the most reliable and user-friendly printers, combined with the best support they could wish for," Wiertzema added.

Next steps

Novenda intends to scale its platform to additional dental applications and broaden its presence into new geographic markets. The immediate focus is on supplying large and mid-sized dental laboratories across Europe and the United States.

"At KBC Focus Fund, we invest in deep-tech companies that push the boundaries of innovation, and Novenda is a prime example of this. Their groundbreaking multi-material jetting technology has the potential to transform the dental industry by enabling cost-effective, high-quality production of dental products with minimal waste and post-processing. We are excited to support Novenda in this next phase of growth as they bring their pioneering solutions to market and redefine digital dentistry," Nuno Carvalho, Investment Director at KBC Focus Fund, said.