AI design startup Adam, one of the breakout stars of Y Combinator’s Winter 2025 batch, has raised $4.1 million in seed funding to evolve its viral text-to-3D modeling app into an AI copilot for professional-grade CAD workflows.
The round was led by TQ Ventures, with participation from 468 Capital, Pioneer Fund, Script Capital, Transpose Platform, and angels including Tim Glaser (PostHog), Trevor Blackwell (YC), and Theo Browne (T3 Chat).
Adam went viral earlier this year after the launch of its text-to-3D model generator, which attracted over 10 million social media impressions within weeks. The tool allowed anyone to generate 3D models from text prompts, lowering the barrier for hobbyists and creators who lacked CAD experience.
“We were getting term sheets over email without any meetings,” said Zach Dive, co-founder and CEO of Adam. “We chose TQ Ventures because they shared our belief that the future of design tools will look nothing like today’s CAD software.”
From Viral 3D Tool to Professional Copilot
While Adam first captured attention as a consumer-facing 3D creation app, Dive says that was always just the beginning. The startup’s long-term goal has been to build enterprise-grade AI for engineers and product designers, but it started with consumers to prove usability and refine its models.
Now, with rapid improvements in generative AI, Adam is ready to bring its technology into professional environments. The startup plans to launch its AI copilot for CAD by the end of 2025.
Unlike traditional text-to-3D systems, Adam’s upcoming copilot introduces multi-modal interaction — allowing users to select and edit 3D components directly, then converse with the model to refine designs.
“Text isn’t always the best way to interact with 3D,” Dive explained. “Our copilot blends conversation with direct manipulation — users can point to a part of an object and tell the AI what to change.”
The system is being built to integrate seamlessly with modern cloud-based CAD platforms, starting with Onshape, and will initially focus on mechanical engineering use cases such as parametric modeling and iterative design changes.
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Building “the v0 of CAD”
Adam’s viral debut gave it not just attention, but traction. The platform already counts tens of thousands of users and a growing number of paying subscribers on its $5.99/month and $17.99/month plans. The company hasn’t yet monetized its enterprise offering but is actively testing features with early partners.
“There’s a big leap between helping hobbyists print 3D Pikachus and helping engineers manage complex assemblies,” Dive admitted. “Our goal isn’t to replace engineers — it’s to remove the repetitive work so they can focus on solving real problems.”
Vercel founder Guillermo Rauch, an angel backer, described Adam as “the v0 of CAD,” referencing Vercel’s own AI design platform.
“It’s simpler, faster, and reaches a broader audience,” Rauch said on X.
Scaling Up and Hiring Fast
The startup’s early success has accelerated hiring, particularly in AI, geometry reasoning, and spatial computing. Dive and co-founder Aaron Li, both graduates of UC Berkeley’s Master of Design program, say their biggest technical challenge is teaching AI to “reason in 3D space” — something traditional language models aren’t designed for.
The new funding will fuel team growth, R&D, and the launch of its enterprise AI copilot, bringing AI-assisted workflows to designers and engineers worldwide.
“The same way Onshape brought CAD to the cloud,” Dive said, “AI will bring CAD into the future.”
About Adam
Adam is an AI-powered 3D design platform that enables anyone — from hobbyists to engineers — to create and modify 3D models through natural language and interactive conversation. Backed by Y Combinator, TQ Ventures, and leading investors, Adam is building the next generation of AI copilots for CAD and digital design.
