Montreal Tech Watch

I wrote in march a rather quick summary of the “Anges Financiers” gala, with a last note stating how the featured companies had interesting ideas but without any potential “breakthrough” technology. Christian Laforte, CEO of FeelingSoftware, replied then with an elaborate analysis on what they’re doing and where they were going.

Since then, I’ve met and discussed with Christian and Joshua Koopferstock, through different events, and realized that while the company gets less attention or exposure than pure web plays, it’s actually an impressive technology and they are doing strong R&D.

Even then, all of these seemed distant since they did software for game producers and other highly specialized markets such as video fx.

I’m happy then to see that they are launching a new product this week that would give them a much broader appeal, both for artists and for consumers. Presto3D is a new online marketplace for high-quality 3D models, where any 3D artist can upload their work and earn up to 70% royalty for any successful sale.

The website in closed beta test right now, but Montreal Tech Watch readers can access the site with the code access presto0473

Of course, there are already websites doing this, such as the 8-year old Turbosquid. However Presto3D brings unique new features:

• customers can preview the 3D models prior to purchasing (this requires a plug-in that currently works for Internet Explorer and Firefox on Windows, with mac version under development)
• converts models to/from the most popular 3D formats
• will allow contributors and clients to embed the 3D models on their own web site, blogs, etc.

Christian Laforte stated that this is a niche market (evaluated at $3-6M in the US and Europe) that hasn’t evolved technologically, and they are working on developing new innovative features that would bring 3D modeling and manipulation to mainstream users, like working with Adobe to integrate 3D directly into Photoshop. There will also be an option to access their “Reconstruct” technology, which is automatic creation of 3D models from a set of photos, taken from different angles, a tool that was previously only avalaible on proprietary software.

While I am not (anymore) a user of 3D software, I certainly see a more exciting product in FeelingSoftware’s new offering, with a bigger potential (ok, I am biaised :-)