Stanley inks 10 startups for downtown Hartford accelerator

PHOTO | Contributed Stanley + Techstars is welcoming a new class of accelerator companies.

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By Joe Cooper

New Britain manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker and a Colorado-based venture capital firm on Tuesday announced 10 startups will participate in their new advanced manufacturing accelerator program in downtown Hartford.

Stanley Black & Decker and Techstars say the 10 companies -- from the U.S., Canada, Israel and Ireland -- will begin relocating to Stanley’s new advanced manufacturing center in Hartford at One Constitution Plaza before it opens in October. Companies were selected out of a pool of applicants from 11 countries, with about half from outside the U.S.

The accelerator will focus on technologies that build 3D objects with materials layering such as plastics, metals and concrete, among others. Technologies include 3D printing, layered manufacturing and additive fabrication and rapid prototyping, among others.

“Companies were selected for this accelerator based on their level of passion, talent and drive, as well as their innovations within additive manufacturing,” Stanley+Techstars Accelerator managing director Claudia Reuter said. “We worked hard to identify the most promising companies that we feel are best positioned to help move the manufacturing sector forward.”

The 10 companies include:

Astroprint (California) – Cloud platform designed to empower users to create and print with 3D printers.

Calt Dynamics (Ireland) – Socially beneficial 3D printing technology company.

Castor Technologies (Israel) – The first intelligent 3D printing software for manufacturing.

Distech Automation (Canada) – Develops an affordable and scalable solution for metal additive manufacturing.

Inventaprint (New York) – Product development platform for the hardware space.

Kwambio (New York) – 3D printing company focused on ceramics.

Mani.me (California) – Focused on joining additive manufacturing, photogrammetric processing and designers from across the world to innovate in consumer industries.

Micron3DP (Israel) – Developing high-speed 3D metal printers.

NanoQuan (Canada) – Focused on unlocking nano-material potential to make plastics electrically conductive.

Structure3D Printing (Canada) – Focused on enabling soft materials (beyond plastic filaments) 3D printing.

Marty Guay, Stanley’s vice president of business development, said additive manufacturing is a key area of technological transformation.

“We’re also proud to do this in Hartford, CT, and are confident that programs like this will create a robust entrepreneurial community right here in our Capital City,” Guay said.