MattoBoard Secures $2M for AI Visual Search Launch on 3D Mood Board and Marketplace

MattoBoard, a startup known for its web-based software that streamlines the creative process for interior designers and architects, is now venturing into the world of artificial intelligence. The company recently announced a successful $2 million seed funding round, which will fuel the launch of their new feature, Design Stream. This innovative tool leverages AI to enhance visual search and discovery, promising to revolutionize the way designers find and select materials.

MattoBoard's platform, often described as a "3D Canva," offers users the ability to experiment with over 1,000 virtual materials, create mood boards, and manage multiple projects in one place. While the Architecture and Design services industry is valued at a staggering $201.97 billion in 2024, MattoBoard points out a significant flaw in the current system: designers are stuck waiting for physical samples, which slows down their creative process and contributes to the textile industry's 92 million tons of annual waste due to excessive sample ordering.

With MattoBoard, designers can showcase digital concepts to their clients before finalizing sample orders, making the entire process more efficient and eco-friendly. The upcoming Design Stream feature will further enhance this by allowing designers to search for products using natural language and visual cues, making their vision a reality with tailored recommendations. MattoBoard aims to develop custom AI models specifically for the design industry, believing that existing large models are too broad for their needs.

Founded in 2022, the company is led by CEO Guy Adam Ailion, an architect with over two decades of experience, notably recognized for the IO House in London. He's joined by CTO George Hart, co-founder of Hometapper, and COO Sabina Khilnani. Ailion highlighted to TechCrunch that designers spend a whopping 40% of their time just searching for products and materials, a segment of the workflow he believes is ripe for digital transformation.

One standout feature of MattoBoard is its use of 3D twins for materials, which realistically simulate how surfaces and textures interact with light, shadow, and reflections. This allows users to see how designs look from different angles, providing a deeper understanding of aesthetics. Users can also upload their own product images to enhance their 3D mood boards.

Designers currently juggle multiple platforms like Canva, Pinterest, and Photoshop for different aspects of their workflow. MattoBoard seeks to unify these tools into one platform, adding a search function that enables users to discover and purchase materials and products seamlessly. What's more, the platform is user-friendly, making it accessible not just to professionals but also to beginners, hobbyists, and students, as confirmed by TechCrunch's tests.

Since its inception, MattoBoard has attracted around 200,000 designers to its free platform, with over 2,000 opting for the paid Pro version at $30/month. The recent funding round, led by Acrobator Ventures and including investments from Home Depot Ventures and Masco, will help expand the material database and forge partnerships with global suppliers. CEO Ailion's goal is ambitious yet clear: to bring every material in the world online.