Perseus Materials, a composite 3D printing startup founded in 2022 by Stanford researchers, recently convinced aerospace company Lockheed Martin to back up its vision.
Backed early by Roadrunner Fund and incubated by Roadrunner Venture Studios(opens a new window), a venture studio for deep technology company creation, the US-based company is behind the development of a massive manufacturing system that can produce large-scale composite parts “without molds, tooling, or delays”.
Its approach? “changing the nature of the materials requirements, leading to faster production, lower energy demands, and the ability to manufacture at full scale directly in the field.”
“We’re not interested in making marginal improvements to 3D printing,” said Daniel Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Perseus Materials. “The fabrication of large, complex, expensive, and time-consuming structures that drive manufacturing cycles require new approaches to engineering and design. That’s why Perseus has developed an entirely new method for additive manufacturing that shapes materials in ways previously thought impossible.”
While the investment made by Lockheed has not been disclosed, Perseus said it will help to expand its team, fulfill its first customer orders, and grow its physical footprint. As it scales from a breakthrough process into industrial production, the company also plans to explore defense-relevant manufacturing applications, including composite structures for more maritime use cases. The company has brought in millions in government grants and contracts to accomplish its mission.
The company’s modular system, designed specifically for large parts, will be exhibited at JEC World 2026 after winning the organization’s 2025 startup competition.
At JEC, Perseus will exhibit the fabrication of a 15-foot boat demonstrating the scale, throughput, and structural integrity of its manufacturing process.
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