The US company Kind Designs has completed a financing round of five million US dollars. The investment was led by Overlay Capital, with further funding coming from investors in the construction, infrastructure and government sectors. Entrepreneur Mark Cuban also participated again and doubled his investment. This brings the company’s current valuation to 30 million US dollars.
Kind Designs develops and produces so-called “Living Seawalls” using large-format 3D printing. These are modular concrete structures that not only perform coastal protection functions, but also create targeted habitats for marine organisms. The geometry of the components is based on biomimetic design principles that replicate natural structures in order to minimize the effects of currents and promote colonization by mussels, sponges and algae.
“Investing in Kind Designs was an easy decision—they’re tackling critical challenges with a forward-thinking approach and innovative technology,” said Mark Cuban, an early investor in Kind Designs. “I’m excited to double down and continue this journey with them as they shape the future of coastal resiliency.”
“At Overlay, we invest in the built environment, where technology adoption is historically slow,” said Julieta Moradei, Managing Partner at Overlay Capital. “Kind Designs is moving at a rare pace, solving a $20B+ infrastructure gap with regenerative, scalable solutions. They’re transforming how critical infrastructure gets built.”
Following the start of series production in 2024, the company has expanded its production area in Miami to around 4,600 square meters. Production is automated using robot-assisted 3D printing systems. According to a study by Florida International University, initial installations on the coast of Miami Beach show significant colonization by over 1,000 species of organisms and eight species of fish within just 30 meters of wall length within nine months.
“This round is about scale — scaling production, scaling impact, and scaling coastal resiliency at a time when it’s needed most,” comments Kind Designs Founder & CEO Anya Freeman.
In parallel to entering the public sector market, funding has been acquired from the US Department of Defense. Current projects include the MacDill Air Force Base and an oceanographic research facility in South Florida. Kind Designs is currently working on a pipeline of contracts worth over 180 million US dollars, including several projects in New York City.
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