nTop secures investment from NVIDIA's NVentures

(Yes, many Ns, but that's actually correct spelling and capitalization.)

nTop, fka nTopology, just announced that it has received an unspecified investment from NVIDIA's venture capital arm, NVentures. The companies say these funds will be used to integrate NVIDIA's OptiX rendering framework and Omniverse technologies into nTop's computational design tools.

"Computational design" is the fancy term for using math to develop CAD models; rather than a designer trying out options, she sets up parameters and logic (length between 1 and 2cm, able to withstand a load of 100kg, connected to these points, etc.) to derive design alternatives. The most famous example of computation design predates computers: Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes, were created from triangles, for their superior strength. (Interested? More here: https://www.bfi.org/about-fuller/geodesic-domes/). Anyway ...

The intention behind nTop's+NVIDIA is to broaden the use of computational design — not specifically to create artificial intelligence capability, which is what most people think about today when NVIDIA comes up. A few specifics of the implementation are here: https://www.ntop.com/resources/blog/press-release-ntop-nvidia/?

nTop's CEO Bradley Rothenberg said this about the partnership: "Our goal in collaborating with NVIDIA is to provide the fastest computing solutions to our customers so they can iterate even faster through design options. We are seeing strong interest from customers and partners and are looking forward to sharing more capabilities later this year."

NVIDIA's Mohamed "Sid" Siddeek, corporate vice president and head of NVentures, said, "In collaboration with NVIDIA, the team at nTop is showcasing the benefits of accelerated computing in computational design by building incredible tools for engineering teams to design and deliver innovative products."

A couple of things of interest: first, not everything is AI. Notice that; there are still so many fascinating things happening in our PLMish world that don't have that sparkly dust thrown on them. These innovations often matter hugely and will come to market much more quickly than a lot of the AI being discussed. Not everyone needs to chase AI, all the time.

Second, funding comes from all sorts of unexpected places —did you expect NVIDIA to invest here? I didn't— and this news results directly (I believe) because nTop participates in the NVIDIA Inception program. Lesson for entrepreneurs: look around you. Are there similar programs you can join? Nothing guarantees an investment, of course, but as someone famous said: "All shots on goal not taken do not score."?Put in the effort to find a fit; take the shot. You don't know what might happen.

Very cool, nTop. Can't wait to see what happens next.