Ciespace

Founded in 2004 by Sanjay Choudhry and Kenji Shimada, Ciespace Corporation operated as a software and web-based services provider specializing in advanced 3D digital modeling and analysis. The company developed a cloud-based platform for computer-aided engineering (CAE) aimed at industries such as aerospace, automotive, and industrial manufacturing. Ciespace targeted mid-market manufacturing companies with an open and extendable engineering platform designed to enhance global competitiveness through improved collaboration, better product quality, and shorter design cycles.

The company's core technology was a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based CAE platform, recognized as the first commercially available end-to-end solution built entirely on an open, web services platform. A key feature was its patented BubbleMesh™ technology, developed by Dr. Kenji Shimada. In June 2013, Ciespace announced the commercial release of its Ciespace CFD product, the first application on its SaaS platform. This browser-based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solution integrated a Web 2.0 interface with advanced geometry and mesh generation capabilities, aiming to automate and simplify the traditionally complex model preparation process. The business model was structured around an on-demand, variable subscription and usage-based pricing, which sought to lower the overall cost of digital simulation for its clients.

Ciespace secured a total of $5.52 million in funding over multiple rounds, including a significant $4 million Series A round in August 2010, led by ARCH Venture Partners and The University of Tokyo Edge Capital. This capital was intended to advance the 3D digital modeling platform and commercialize the technology. The company was ultimately acquired by ESI Group on April 10, 2015. The acquisition was a strategic move for ESI Group to enter the cloud-based CAE market, leveraging Ciespace's platform to offer its simulation software to a broader audience, including smaller companies and a new generation of users. Keywords: Ciespace, computer-aided engineering, CAE software, 3D digital modeling, SaaS platform, mechanical meshing, engineering simulation, BubbleMesh, Sanjay Choudhry, Kenji Shimada, ESI Group acquisition, cloud-based engineering, computational fluid dynamics, CFD solutions, advanced mechanical design, engineering analysis, digital simulation, aerospace software, automotive engineering, industrial machinery software