Trove

Trove, established in 2014, operates as a platform focused on personalized 3D-printed jewelry, shifting the landscape of consumer 3D printing from a resource for technical experts to an accessible tool for the average user. The New York-based company was founded by Brian Park (CEO), Andrew Hong (Head of Design), and Tim Growney (CTO). The founding team recognized a gap in the market, observing that most consumer-facing 3D printing services were geared towards engineers and designers. Hong's background includes teaching digital design at the MIT Museum, and Growney previously served as a lead developer at Gallup.

The business model centers on providing an online platform where customers can discover, customize, and purchase their own jewelry pieces without needing any prior design experience. Users can browse a variety of design templates and utilize an intuitive, in-browser customization tool to personalize items. A social component is integrated into the platform, allowing users' creations to become part of a social stream where others can view and further modify existing designs. Revenue is generated directly from the sale of these 3D-printed items.

The service allows for the creation of jewelry in a range of materials, from stainless steel to 18K gold. A key feature of the customer journey is the ability to request a complimentary prototype before committing to a final piece in precious metals like sterling silver or 14K gold. Once a design is finalized and approved, the jewelry is produced and shipped directly to the customer. In October 2015, Trove secured $640,000 in a seed funding round from Resolute Ventures and Uprise Ventures. The company was later acquired by Classpass in 2016.

Keywords: 3D printed jewelry, custom jewelry, personalized jewelry, online design platform, consumer 3D printing, jewelry customization, collaborative design, in-browser design tool, precious metal printing, digital fabrication, Brian Park, Andrew Hong, Tim Growney, Resolute Ventures, jewelry e-commerce