When a Physicist meets a Chemist, the Result is:
Made of Light

xolo stems from a collaboration among experts in photo-switchable molecules, photonic imaging and deep science start-up creation. Led by Professors Stefan Hecht and Martin Regehly, and CEO Dirk Radzinski, xolo transforms advanced scientific research into innovative 3D printing solutions.

Xolography- a Story of Makers

The founding of xolo is a story of innovation, collaboration, and the drive to transform an idea into a groundbreaking enterprise. For over 20 years, Professor Stefan Hecht has been at the forefront of research on photo-switchable molecules, exploring how their unique properties can be remotely controlled using light. This persistent inquiry raised the question of whether these scientific advancements could be turned into a viable business.

 

Enter Dirk, a long-time associate of Stefan since the mid-2000s. With a background in launching deep-science start-ups. Dirk consistently encouraged Stefan to consider the commercial potential of his research. Their partnership was the catalyst that would eventually lead to the creation of xolo.

 

The final piece of the puzzle was added by Professor Martin Regehly, a physicist and former entrepreneur, who proposed the idea of a novel 3D printer that would leverage Stefan's photo-switch technology to overcome the limitations of existing printers. Traditional 3D printers, which work layer by layer, are slow, limited in the materials they can use, and often lack precision. Martin's vision was to print holograms. Since real volumetric imaging does not exist to date, he invented the use of dual-colored light beams in a printer called the Xube, where a vessel filled with photoactive liquid resin hardens precisely where the beams intersect, creating the entire product in one go.

 

This technology opened up a myriad of possibilities, from creating custom dental aligners and specialized lenses to scaffolds for bioengineered tissues and potentially even computer chips. As CEO, Dirk's role is to guide the startup into the most promising markets, while Stefan and Martin, though no longer involved in day-to-day operations, continue to advance the technology with their research teams. 

 

Together, this trio has set the stage for xolo to redefine the landscape of 3D printing, turning scientific curiosity into a transformative business poised to impact multiple industries.

Our Milestones

2019

Feb. 28: Founding

Pre-Seed EUR 500 k

2020

Moved to Own Labs

First Employee
First Patent Application

2021

Seed EUR 2 M

Nature Publication

First Customer

First Product

First Delivery

2022

Sold first BioXube

Smooth Surface Roughness

First Water Solvable DCPI Introduced

2023 

Series A EUR 8 M 

 

Isotropic Material

Ripple Free 

Visible Light Transparent 

 

DLR Zero G Campaign

14 new Patent Applications in 2023

Xube²

Visit us

xolo GmbH
Volmerstraße 9B
D-12489 Berlin

 

A short walk from Berlin Adlershof train station and 10-minute drive from Berlin Airport BER

 

Help us shape the future of volumetric 3D Printing

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