Castomize: orthopaedic care with customised 3D‑printed casts
In mid‑2022, while at Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD), Abel Teo, alongside two engineering co‑founders, identified a critical flaw in traditional orthopaedic care: plaster and fibreglass casts had remained virtually unchanged for centuries—bulky, uncomfortable, hard to adjust, and unhygienic. This sparked a powerful vision:
“What if we could revolutionise casting with modern, patient‑centric manufacturing—making casts that fit perfectly, breathe, and evolve with the patient?”
The Eureka Moment: Introducing 4D Printing to Casting
They discovered 4D printing—a process involving materials that are rigid at room temperature but become malleable with heat. This dynamic property enabled the birth of a new kind of cast: one that could be heated, reshaped on demand, and hardened again. Animation, adaptability, and patient comfort coalesced into a revolutionary idea.
Castomize Wins Creative Business Cup Global First Prize 2024
In June 2024, Castomize achieved a major international milestone: they won First Prize at the Creative Business Cup Global Finals in Copenhagen, rising above creative and tech startups from over 80 countries.
Backed by Research and Credibility
Early on, Castomize engaged with top institutions: Singapore University of Technology & Design, Venture Blick, Co11ab, and the National Healthcare Group’s Centre for Medical Technologies & Innovations (CMTi) all joined as partners and investors. These strategic partnerships granted technical support, research validation, and access to clinical trials, anchoring Castomize’s health‑tech credibility.
Growth & Investment Journey
In April 2024, Castomize celebrated its 2nd anniversary, announcing plans for its next funding round in Q4 2024 to scale globally across Southeast and East Asia, and later the US and Europe castomize.co. Current milestones include:
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Clinical adoption trials in Singapore hospitals
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Revenue through pilot programmes and commercial sales
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Aligning future rounds with product extension and international expansion
What Comes Next: Global Footprint & Product Suite
With seed capital and external validation in hand, Castomize is:
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Scaling production & distribution in Asia, targeting first Southeast Asian markets, then Europe and the US
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Launching new product lines, from pediatric orthopaedic supports to post‑surgery orthoses
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Eyeing Series A in late 2025/early 2026, aiming to raise USD 5–8 million to fund mass production, regulatory approvals, and global clinical trials