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Kristo Lehtonen, CEO and the Co-founder of 3DBear

By Heeweon Joo on September 28, 2018

What is 3Dbear?

3Dbear creates a pedagogical solution using 3D printing and Augmented Reality that can be accessed using your mobile devices and tablets.

Today, there are different types of applications that allow children to use AR on pre-programmed games that are quite limited in terms of content. Also, those typical AR applications for students is not necessarily geared towards improving lessons and supporting creativity. 3Dbear is a different type of AR app in a way that it allows students to become the creator of their surrounding using 3D animation. They also try to tackle another pain point of new technologies like AR in classrooms being sold to schools without much support on how it can be implemented in the curriculum. Just like what is stated in the video, the combination of 3D design and AR allows the curriculum to come alive and applicable to any lesson, class or subject. Checking their web page, the app allows teachers to share their own lesson plans. 3Dbear doesn’t stop there, but it also allows the app to connect with a 3D printer for students to 3D print if they are willing to. The company has recently released a statement saying that they are starting a new project on creating a device that will allow someone to melt most type of plastics to make spools for a 3D printer, helping the school or user to save cost in affording pricey 3P printing spool.

3Dbear started with seed funding 1.5 million euros from major investors including Rethink Education VC and LearnStart VC.

Experiences

It was only 3 years ago that co-founder Kristo Lehtonen, with Jussi Kajala, decided to create 3Dbear. Prior to starting 3Dbear, Kristo had two major jobs where he likely gained necessary knowledge and characteristics to become a co-founder and a CEO. First, he worked as a Special Adviser to the Minister of Transport and Communications in Finland, where he gained interest in the impact of technology and innovation for a better world. Second, he worked at Nokia and Siemens for more than 10 years that gave him experience in business leadership and software development. On top of that, Kristo has two master’s degree: Master of Science in Technology and Master of Economics in International Marketing. When Kajala, co-founder of 3Dbear once running a 3D printing program at the Finnish Agency of Innovation, approached Kristo, they saw the potential of 3D printing and Augmented Reality in schools and started their own company.

Reflection

Reading about Kristo Lehtonen and learning about his venture was an eye-opener for me. Kristo has gained a lot of experience prior to starting 3Dbear, which is vital to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Experience is learning, and it never stops. Kristo’s biography has shown me that he continuously developed himself through a series of work he was passionate about. Once he has found his true passion, he found the perfect team to make his dream come true.  Quickly glancing at the team list, he had made quite of a connection with influential people in different fields like 3D designers, programmers, teachers, pedagogy specialist and lots more. 3Dbear even has Esko Aho, a Former Prime Minister of Finland, as an advisor who has enough connections himself to promote the business globally. Most importantly, even with 3Dbear’s success, he is continuously working on a new project that will further the potential of the business.

 

Additional Resources

https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/3dbear#section-overview

 

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30 Sep Posted on Kristo Lehtonen, CEO and the Co-founder of 3DBear

Great post Heeweon. Thanks for sharing information on 3D Bear and CEO Kristo Lehtonen. I really enjoyed the pitch video and loved his "hook" with the drone (created by a 12 year old with his 3D printing technologies) flying around during his introduction. $120000 in three months, 2.5% market penetration of all schools (over 100 schools) in Finland, and a signed deal in USA with 22,000 schools, wow! With previous experience in government and business, and an educational background in marketing and economics, Lehtoen, seems poised to satisfy the international demand and scale his company accordingly. This seems like a rockstar company with a very capable leader at the helm. Reg - we have a few 3D printers at my school in our tech ed department. I don't teach in that department, but I overtime I go there, the 3D printer is busily printing up some sort of contraption. Students have printed all sorts of creative things from xbox controller parts, to fun little practical creations such as key key chain clips, or miniature cars. It's really neat to see the kids getting super creative!

30 Sep
0 Thumbs Up!
dustin hyde @dmanhyde

Great post Heeweon. Thanks for sharing information on 3D Bear and CEO Kristo Lehtonen. I really enjoyed the pitch video and loved his "hook" with the drone (created by a 12 year old with his 3D printing technologies) flying around during his introduction. $120000 in three months, 2.5% market penetration of all schools (over 100 schools) in Finland, and a signed deal in USA with 22,000 schools, wow! With previous experience in government and business, and an educational background in marketing and economics, Lehtoen, seems poised to satisfy the international demand and scale his company accordingly. This seems like a rockstar company with a very capable leader at the helm. Reg - we have a few 3D printers at my school in our tech ed department. I don't teach in that department, but I overtime I go there, the 3D printer is busily printing up some sort of contraption. Students have printed all sorts of creative things from xbox controller parts, to fun little practical creations such as key key chain clips, or miniature cars. It's really neat to see the kids getting super creative!

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29 Sep Posted on Kristo Lehtonen, CEO and the Co-founder of 3DBear

Hi Heeweon, super liked! I enjoyed reading your post, speacial the way you have put it into words and alos beacuse 3D printers and AR interes me. I agree witth Evan and Reg, its is very much visisble throughout the post that Lehtonen has entrepreneurial skills as in a very short time he co-founded his own venture. After seeing the potential of 3D printing and Augmented Reality they took this idea to a next level.

29 Sep
0 Thumbs Up!
harshita rathore @hrathore

Hi Heeweon, super liked! I enjoyed reading your post, speacial the way you have put it into words and alos beacuse 3D printers and AR interes me. I agree witth Evan and Reg, its is very much visisble throughout the post that Lehtonen has entrepreneurial skills as in a very short time he co-founded his own venture. After seeing the potential of 3D printing and Augmented Reality they took this idea to a next level.

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29 Sep Posted on Kristo Lehtonen, CEO and the Co-founder of 3DBear

Hey Heeweon, Great post! I agree with Evan that Lehtonen's passion for this venture is clear. After checking out 3DBear's website, they detail that the product is aimed at capitalizing on the 'Maker' movement, whereby students can plan, design, and create their own products using 3DBear's lessons and AR design templates found within their app/software. The uniqueness of implementing 3D printing into their venture is innovative and the global demand of which Lehtonen speaks shows great market potential for 3DBear. His drive to continuously learn and innovate speaks to his character as a potential role model for future or would-be entrepreneurs, as evidenced by ensuring his plastic recycler for 3D printers is open source. His product pitch focuses on improving the quality of education for youth, and well as making it more interactive and fun. The Ultimaker 3D printer showcased in their promo video retails for approximately $4-8K depending on the model. With the advance in 3D printing technology and availability, hopefully the cost of the 3D printers declines such that they can become more widely adopted in learning environments such as those Lehtonen describes. I'm left wondering if their software/app is compatible with any 3D printer...or is limited to a certain brand or type? For the teachers in the group - do your schools currently have 3D printers? Have they been successfully integrated within the school's curriculum/teacher lessons? Thanks again Heeweon for the great read! -Reg

29 Sep
1 Thumbs Up!
Reg Surette @rsurette

Hey Heeweon, Great post! I agree with Evan that Lehtonen's passion for this venture is clear. After checking out 3DBear's website, they detail that the product is aimed at capitalizing on the 'Maker' movement, whereby students can plan, design, and create their own products using 3DBear's lessons and AR design templates found within their app/software. The uniqueness of implementing 3D printing into their venture is innovative and the global demand of which Lehtonen speaks shows great market potential for 3DBear. His drive to continuously learn and innovate speaks to his character as a potential role model for future or would-be entrepreneurs, as evidenced by ensuring his plastic recycler for 3D printers is open source. His product pitch focuses on improving the quality of education for youth, and well as making it more interactive and fun. The Ultimaker 3D printer showcased in their promo video retails for approximately $4-8K depending on the model. With the advance in 3D printing technology and availability, hopefully the cost of the 3D printers declines such that they can become more widely adopted in learning environments such as those Lehtonen describes. I'm left wondering if their software/app is compatible with any 3D printer...or is limited to a certain brand or type? For the teachers in the group - do your schools currently have 3D printers? Have they been successfully integrated within the school's curriculum/teacher lessons? Thanks again Heeweon for the great read! -Reg

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28 Sep Posted on Kristo Lehtonen, CEO and the Co-founder of 3DBear

Master of Science in Technology and Master of Economics in International Marketing. Two very fitting credentials for Kristo and his business. He sounds like he just wants to get back to the office and work, his passion is evident.

28 Sep
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Evan @evl255

Master of Science in Technology and Master of Economics in International Marketing. Two very fitting credentials for Kristo and his business. He sounds like he just wants to get back to the office and work, his passion is evident.

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