Mark Cuban & Anthropocene Ventures Back Climate-Tech Startup, Kind Designs

Fundraise & Demand Fuel Rapid Growth, Company Receives $4M in Seawall Purchase Orders

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Renowned entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban, alongside early stage climate tech VC firm Anthropocene Ventures, has joined Kind Designs’ seed round. The investment marks a significant milestone for the female-founded climate and construction tech startup, which has experienced exponential growth since its launch in June 2023. The new capital enables Kind Designs to triple production capacity and expand its team to meet explosive demand for its Living Seawalls™.

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Founder and CEO, Anya Freeman, with robot and team at Kind Designs' warehouse in Miami, FL. (Photo: Business Wire)

Major coastal cities in the United States, including Miami, New York City, and San Francisco, are at imminent risk from rising sea-levels with local and federal government agencies expecting to spend nearly $400B in seawall construction efforts. As a result, the United States could be on track to destroy over 50,000 miles of marine habitat by 20401. Kind Designs addresses this concern by producing the World’s first 3D-printed Living Seawall. Unlike traditional seawalls, which are typically flat, Living Seawalls incorporate biomimicry design principles and function as artificial reefs. The Living Seawalls also sequester carbon and collect essential water data. Kind’s innovative approach to seawall construction cuts production time by 95% and has zero green premium, making it both a sustainable and economical solution to at-risk communities.

"The investment decision was swift and resolute,” comments Anthropocene Ventures’ Managing Partner, Matthew McGraw. “Kind Designs surpasses our criteria with its immediate real-world application, clear business model, path to revenue, and the merging of nature's smarts through biomimicry with 3D printing technology. Yet, what truly solidified our commitment is the performance of the founder, Anya. In a brief span, she has demonstrated exceptional execution."

In under five months, Kind Designs launched its warehouse, became fully operational and achieved revenue by starting to deliver the first Living Seawall panels in November 2023. The company plans to triple its production capacity by February 2024, with its recent purchase of two additional printing robots, showcasing the widespread demand for its pioneering products.

This month, Kind Designs also reached a workforce milestone, hiring its tenth full-time employee, a testament to its commitment to creating meaningful job opportunities in tech and fostering local talent in Miami. Other hires joining Kind’s founder and CEO, Anya Freeman, include Leandro Fernandez as Lead Structural Engineer and Jeremy Morris as Chief Operating Officer. Morris previously held roles at The Boring Company and Icon.

Anya Freeman, Kind Designs’ Founder and CEO shared, "Having investors with a global reach, like Mark Cuban and Anthro Ventures on our team is a huge vote of confidence in our mission to regenerate marine ecosystems and protect coastal communities. With their strategic backing, we are positioned to propel Kind Designs into a massive global business, while simultaneously making an immense environmental impact. Together, we’re putting economical and environmentally beneficial coastal resilience on the map.”

Looking ahead, Kind Designs plans to further disrupt the coastal construction industry by working with government agencies to offer Living Seawall tax incentives on the county, state and federal levels. This program will be similar to incentives already in place such as solar energy and EV tax credits. Kind Designs’ Living Seawalls check several boxes by merging the structural integrity of traditional seawalls with a sustainable design that nurtures marine life and is more cost effective for coastal communities.

As Kind Designs continues to grow and innovate, this strategic investment will play a pivotal role in advancing its mission to protect coastal communities and marine life globally. Mark Cuban and Anthropocene Ventures join an impressive list of supporters within Kind Design’s $5M seed round.

For more information on Kind Designs and to get an estimate for your commercial or residential seawall project, visit www.kinddesigns.com.

About Kind Designs

Kind Designs is a climate-tech startup that’s addressing rising sea-levels by revolutionizing the outdated and traditionally toxic seawall construction industry. Through its use of sustainable materials, and patent-pending 3D printing technology, Kind Designs is producing the world's first 3D-printed Living Seawalls™️. The Living Seawalls protect coastal communities from floods and storm surges, while creating marine habitats, sequestering carbon and collecting essential water quality data. For more information on Kind Designs and to get an estimate for your seawall project, visit www.kinddesigns.com.

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1 “USA – Coastal Communities Face $400 Billion in Seawall Costs by 2040 Says Study,” Floodlist, July 2, 2019, https://floodlist.com/america/usa/study-costal-communities-face-more-than-400-billion-in-seawall-costs-by-2040.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231117385833/en/

Rachel Champlin: [email protected]

Source: Kind Designs

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