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CS undergrad's business makes Inc.’s 2016 list of Coolest College Startups

CubeForme, a 3-D printing subscription box service co-founded by computer science undergraduate Nick Nguyen, has been named one of Inc.’s Coolest College Startups of 2016.

The subscription-box service delivers curated 3-D printed products from independent designers to subscribers every month, including gadgets, games and art pieces. Individuals can also opt to purchase the products online without a subscription.

The six-employee student startup aims to inspire an appreciation of 3-D printing and give 3-D designers the recognition that they deserve. According to the Inc. profile, CubeForme was bootstrapped from $2,000 put up by Nguyen and his co-founder Kyle Pham, a student at the University of Southern California. Subscriptions launched in November 2015 while direct online sales came two months later, allowing artists to make a 10 percent commission on each product.

“To us, 3D printing has redefined possibility,” the CubeForme team says on their website. “The technology is a revolutionary outlet for innovation, allowing unrestrained creativity and unprecedented precision. The depth of ingenuity in every layer of the process truly fascinates us. There is truly a 3D printed invention for anyone and everyone to enjoy and benefit from.”

According to Inc., the startup recently “established partnerships with My Mini Factory, a 3-D printable object download platform; MatterHackers, a 3-D printer distributor and software developer; and a number of product and design sites such as Brit & Co. and Monthlyboxhub.” CubeForme also participated in last year’s Los Angeles Gadget Expo.

Inc.’s Coolest College Startups list highlights America’s top student-run businesses, voted in by a tournament-style competition. Inc.'s 16 Coolest College Startups were selected from a list of more than 100 companies from universities across North America, most nominated by schools and collegiate entrepreneurs organization. Criteria included originality of idea, pitch and growth potential, according to the magazine.