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S6E12 Greg Mark | Founding Markforged & Backflip.ai
Manage episode 472580933 series 2887096
In this fascinating episode of Being an Engineer, our host Aaron Moncur sits down with Greg Mark, a visionary entrepreneur who revolutionized 3D printing with Markforged and is now transforming design workflows with his AI company, Backflip. Greg shares insights into his entrepreneurial journey, technological innovations, and the power of persistence.
Main Topics:
- The origin story of Markforged and carbon fiber 3D printing
- Innovative design principles in manufacturing
- Backflip's AI-driven approach to converting 3D scans to CAD models
- Entrepreneurship, product development, and market strategy
- The importance of reliability and focusing on core product features
About the guest: Greg Mark is a trailblazer in engineering and entrepreneurship, renowned for pioneering innovations that push the boundaries of technology. Currently serving as the Founder and CEO of Backflip, Greg is transforming how we create beautiful, functional objects using AI in a world that is inherently 3D. His latest venture follows a series of impactful contributions to engineering and manufacturing, most notably as the founder of Markforged. There, he invented carbon fiber and mixed metal 3D printing, a technology now deployed globally, including on the International Space Station and by major players like BMW and Tesla.
An MIT-trained engineer with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aeronautics and astronautics, Greg’s journey started with bold ventures such as Aeromotions, a company that brought high-performance aerodynamics to the fastest cars on the track. His leadership at Genasun redefined off-grid solar power with advanced electronics, and as an advisor to startups like Genesis Therapeutics and Rotor Technologies, Greg continues to mentor innovators tackling the toughest challenges in industries from drug discovery to remote flight.
Links:
🚀 Join Us at PDX 2025! 🚀
PDX 2025 is the Product Development Expo designed for engineers who want hands-on training from industry experts. PDX focuses on practical skill-building, cutting-edge tools, and real-world solutions.
📅 October 21-22, 2025
📍 Mesa Convention Center, AZ
🔗 https://reg.eventmobi.com/product-development-expo-2025
About Being An Engineer
The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community.
The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us
Chapters
1. Greg Mark's Journey and Markforged's Impact (00:00:00)
2. Design Decisions and Repeatability in Markforged Printers (00:03:56)
3. Markforged's Military and Space Applications (00:06:58)
4. Greg's Transition to Backflip and AI in Design (00:13:53)
5. Backflip's AI-Driven Design Process (00:27:37)
6. Markforged's Material Evolution and Customer Stories (00:32:34)
7. Entrepreneurial Insights and Persistence (00:41:53)
8. Balancing Product Development and Market Demand (00:42:29)
9. The Role of Reliability in Product Development (00:46:13)
10. Final Thoughts and Future Plans (00:54:17)
292 episodes
Manage episode 472580933 series 2887096
In this fascinating episode of Being an Engineer, our host Aaron Moncur sits down with Greg Mark, a visionary entrepreneur who revolutionized 3D printing with Markforged and is now transforming design workflows with his AI company, Backflip. Greg shares insights into his entrepreneurial journey, technological innovations, and the power of persistence.
Main Topics:
- The origin story of Markforged and carbon fiber 3D printing
- Innovative design principles in manufacturing
- Backflip's AI-driven approach to converting 3D scans to CAD models
- Entrepreneurship, product development, and market strategy
- The importance of reliability and focusing on core product features
About the guest: Greg Mark is a trailblazer in engineering and entrepreneurship, renowned for pioneering innovations that push the boundaries of technology. Currently serving as the Founder and CEO of Backflip, Greg is transforming how we create beautiful, functional objects using AI in a world that is inherently 3D. His latest venture follows a series of impactful contributions to engineering and manufacturing, most notably as the founder of Markforged. There, he invented carbon fiber and mixed metal 3D printing, a technology now deployed globally, including on the International Space Station and by major players like BMW and Tesla.
An MIT-trained engineer with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aeronautics and astronautics, Greg’s journey started with bold ventures such as Aeromotions, a company that brought high-performance aerodynamics to the fastest cars on the track. His leadership at Genasun redefined off-grid solar power with advanced electronics, and as an advisor to startups like Genesis Therapeutics and Rotor Technologies, Greg continues to mentor innovators tackling the toughest challenges in industries from drug discovery to remote flight.
Links:
🚀 Join Us at PDX 2025! 🚀
PDX 2025 is the Product Development Expo designed for engineers who want hands-on training from industry experts. PDX focuses on practical skill-building, cutting-edge tools, and real-world solutions.
📅 October 21-22, 2025
📍 Mesa Convention Center, AZ
🔗 https://reg.eventmobi.com/product-development-expo-2025
About Being An Engineer
The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community.
The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us
Chapters
1. Greg Mark's Journey and Markforged's Impact (00:00:00)
2. Design Decisions and Repeatability in Markforged Printers (00:03:56)
3. Markforged's Military and Space Applications (00:06:58)
4. Greg's Transition to Backflip and AI in Design (00:13:53)
5. Backflip's AI-Driven Design Process (00:27:37)
6. Markforged's Material Evolution and Customer Stories (00:32:34)
7. Entrepreneurial Insights and Persistence (00:41:53)
8. Balancing Product Development and Market Demand (00:42:29)
9. The Role of Reliability in Product Development (00:46:13)
10. Final Thoughts and Future Plans (00:54:17)
292 episodes
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