Jordan Taylor, a former industrial designer at Nvidia, left his job to create software that could help other industrial designers work more efficiently. Together with his middle-school friend, Kaelan Richards, Taylor founded Vizcom in his living room. With just a few million dollars in funding and no marketing, Vizcom quickly gained big-name customers like Ford and New Balance for its industrial design software. Now, the company is expanding with a recent $20 million funding round led by Index Ventures.
Vizcom’s industrial design software allows designers to turn their ideas into realistic photo renderings using natural language commands and explore various design variations quickly. This has significantly reduced the time it takes for designers to hone in on the best design, from hours to mere seconds. While Adobe and Autodesk have been key players in providing software for industrial designers, smaller startups like Vizcom have mostly been overlooked in this space. Vizcom’s success in attracting top clients showcases the demand for innovative tools in the industrial design field.
Taylor and Richards, both 28 years old, first met in fifth grade in Michigan, where Taylor’s passion for innovation was evident from a young age. Inspired by his own experiences working on car prototypes and creating graphic designs, Taylor recognized the need for a better, more efficient design process. This led to the creation of Vizcom, which has now grown to become a leader in the industrial design software market. Despite facing initial challenges and financial constraints, the founders’ dedication and vision have propelled the company forward.
After participating in the AI Grant accelerator program and securing seed funding, Vizcom caught the attention of industry giants like Ford and New Balance. By leveraging AI capabilities and incorporating vast amounts of data from previous product designs, Vizcom’s enterprise customers can create custom models to enhance their design processes. The company’s recent introduction of 3D modeling capabilities further solidifies its position as a cutting-edge provider of design software. With plans to streamline the transition from digital rendering to physical prototypes, Vizcom aims to revolutionize the industrial design industry.
Index Ventures’ investment in Vizcom reflects the potential seen in Taylor and Richards as young, driven founders with a strong customer focus. The company’s rapid growth and ability to attract major clients demonstrate the value of their innovative software solutions in the competitive industrial design market. With a valuation of $100 million and plans for further expansion in R&D and marketing, Vizcom is poised to continue its success and drive advancements in the field of industrial design. Through their passion, vision, and commitment to customer satisfaction, Taylor and Richards have positioned Vizcom as a key player in the evolving landscape of design technology.
As Vizcom continues to innovate and expand its offerings, the company is setting its sights on enabling a seamless transition from design concepts to physical prototypes. With a focus on incorporating AI technology and enhancing the user experience, Vizcom aims to revolutionize the design process for industrial designers worldwide. By leveraging their unique blend of creativity, technical expertise, and customer-centric approach, Taylor and Richards are poised to lead Vizcom to even greater heights in the rapidly evolving world of industrial design software.
