It began with a moment of frustration and curiosity. In 2016, Rahul Chandalia walked into a tech exhibition in Mumbai and saw a 3D printer priced between Rs 15,000 to Rs 20 lakh. “It struck me that this technology was only accessible to big institutions and government agencies. People like us had no access. Innovation shouldn’t be so exclusive,” Chandalia recalls.
That gap became the foundation for a Mumbai-based 3D printing company co-founded by Chandalia, CEO; Pradeep Jain, CTO; Saloni Chandalia, CFO; and Swati Jain, Joint Director. The company officially launched in November 2016 to bring 3D printing to the masses, making it affordable, accessible, and part of everyday innovation.
Before founding WOL3D, Chandalia studied commerce and management in Mumbai and briefly worked in real estate financing before joining his family’s textile business. There, he worked with brands like Aditya Birla, Kesharam, and Century Rayon. “I felt I could do something more impactful,” he tells YourStory.
WOL3D started by selling just 2 to 5 printers a month. Today, that figure has grown up to 1,000-1,200 monthly units. As per Chandalia, their flagship offering is still 3D printers, but the product range now includes 3D scanners, 3D pens, laser engravers, filaments, and in-house prototyping services. The company divides its offerings into five verticals: hardware, consumables, prototyping services, education and training, and end-product manufacturing.
“We don’t just sell printers,” Chandalia says, adding, “We offer an ecosystem—hardware, services, training, even AMC, and customised products. Everything related to 3D printing under one brand umbrella.”
The startup has experience centres across nine Indian cities—including Ahmedabad, Pune, Indore, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Bangalore—that function both as offices and hands-on training spaces. Over the next three months, WOL3D plans to expand to Kochi, Chennai, and Kolkata. Each experience centre employs 7-10 people; their Mumbai headquarters hosts 80-100 of their 160+ employees.
Education is a key part of WOL3D’s strategy. “Every Saturday, we run 3D printing courses at all our centers. A one-day session costs Rs 1,499, while a six-day course is Rs 7,000,” says Chandalia. These offline sessions include hands-on experience with over 15 printer models. The company also offers training in schools and corporations and provides internships to select trainees.
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Till date, WOL3D has trained students in over 7,000 schools through a network of 100+ resellers. “I believe if you teach a child how to use a 3D printer at eight, you are creating an innovator,” says Chandalia, “Innovation is not only for the rich.”
The startup’s B2B, B2C, and B2G clients span government agencies like ISRO, DRDO, and various IITs, as well as corporates such as Infosys, Reliance, JSW, Samsonite, Ola Electric, and Bolt. The entertainment industry has used WOL3D for props and masks, including for pieces such as the black villain mask in the film Kalki and the teddy bear mask from a Fanta ad featuring Kartik Aaryan.
“At DRDO, they use our printers to prototype drones, robots, even landscapes. It’s a more secure, in-house way to design,” says Chandalia.
The startup’s reach extends beyond India, too. They serve clients in Nepal, including the Pashupatinath enterprise, while in Bhutan, they are working with Jigme and Dean Education. Their machines are also available on Amazon and Flipkart, and will soon be listed on Blinkit and Zepto in July. However, WOL3D products can be purchased through their ecommerce site, at their experience centers, and in physical retail outlets like Reliance Digital and Crossword.
Though WOL3D does not manufacture 3D printers in-house, it has two OEM partners. All other components, including filaments, models, and toys, are produced internally. The startup also uses AI for product design, printing, and marketing. “AI has made product design faster. We use platforms like ChatGPT Pro and Gemini to convert voice or text input into 3D models,” Chandalia adds. Their printers also use inbuilt AI for print optimisation.
Product prices range from Rs 15,000 to Rs 5 lakh, making 3D printing and related equipment more accessible to educational institutions, corporates, and individual hobbyists alike. As Chandalia puts it, “If technology is too expensive, it’s useless. Affordability fuels innovation.”
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Initially, WOL3D invested Rs 4.5 crore from the founder’s savings and family funds. The company remained bootstrapped until 2024, when it raised Rs 25 crore through an IPO, becoming India’s first listed 3D printing company on the SME Exchange. The company reported Rs 48 crore in revenue and Rs 5.5 crore in profit for FY 2025, with a current valuation of Rs 90 crore. It was also the first Indian 3D printing company to appear on Shark Tank India Season 2.
The company also plans to expand internationally, starting with Amazon UAE and Amazon US. They also aim to open one office in every Indian state.
Additionally, WOL3D is launching its 3D-printed toy brand, Vinglits, at the Toy India Exhibition on July 4. “Our tagline is ‘play for every age’,” says Chandalia, “Many adults today enjoy playing with toys to feel like kids again. Vinglits are made for that.”
The toys include keychains, surprise eggs, and many, with prices starting at Rs 99 and going up to Rs 2,499. All the toys are made by WOL3D in-house.
However, Chandalia says competition is minimal. “There are a few regional players, but no national-scale competitor. We sell over 1,200 printers a month—others do 10.”
One of the biggest challenges WOL3D faced in the beginning was explaining what 3D printing is. “People used to think it was just paper with embossing,” says Chandalia. It took them nearly three years to educate customers, build the right product, and set up a distribution network, as per Chandalia.
Chandalia stated that the company’s long-term vision is to be the premier name in the 3D printing niche. “When people think of 3D printing, we want them to think WOL3D. Just like Bisleri means bottled water, WOL3D should mean 3D printing.”
The market opportunity is huge. With the Indian government promoting 3D printing through over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in schools, and aiming to reach 50,000 schools, WOL3D sees strong potential for growth. “If we can serve even 30,000 of those, the revenue is immense. And every school opens the door to 500-1000 future buyers,” he adds.
Edited by Jyoti Narayan
