Business

Material Bank Inks a Deal With Architizer, Continuing Its Acquisition Spree

Fresh off a Series D and a $1.9 billion valuation, the growing source for material samples shows no sign of slowing down

Less than two months ago, Material Bank completed a $175 million round of Series D funding, increasing its valuation to $1.9 billion. Now, the architectural, design, and construction materials marketplace is poised to incorporate a leading source of design ideas into its arsenal.

This week, Material bank announced its acquisition of Architizer, bringing the industry’s biggest database of architectural projects into the fold. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Architizer’s portal of featured materials and finishes is of particular interest to Material Bank.

Illustration courtesy Material Bank

Since launching in 2009, Architizer has amassed an online database of more than three million images covering 86,000 architectural projects, providing inspiration to its 900,000-plus users. Of specific value to Material Bank is the wide array of materials and finishes that Architizer showcases across its database of projects, highlighting how every element, from oak flooring to biophilic wall installations, can look in a practical real-world context.

For Material Bank founder and CEO Adam Sandow, acquiring Architizer will give his company’s users access to a store of design ideas that’s as comprehensive as Material Bank’s shipping is fast. (Intentionally based in Memphis, near FedEx’s headquarters, Material Bank has made a name for itself thanks to its overnight sample delivery.)

“With an incredibly powerful database that provides seamless curated access to building product information, Architizer allows for creativity and meaningful connections,” Sandow said in a press release. “This acquisition will benefit both our users and brand partners, and together we will build an even more comprehensive platform for the industry.”

Architizer is just the latest in Material Bank’s recent blitz of gains. Within the past 12 months, the company has acquired Amber Engine, a software firm in the product information management space, and Clippings, which helps e-commerce businesses handle shipping and logistics. Beyond the acquisitions, Material Bank’s post-Series D plans include a new version of its software and further expansion into Europe and Japan, among other efforts.

Architizer will maintain independent operations led by current CEO David Weber. But in due time, the newly forged partnership with Material Bank could create an even more streamlined path from seeing online design inspiration to holding a material sample in hand.