Triebold Paleontology

What Triebold Paleontology does

Triebold Paleontology, Inc. (TPI) is a private paleontological services company founded in 1989 by Mike Triebold and headquartered at 201 S. Fairview St., Woodland Park, Colorado, at the base of Pikes Peak alongside the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center. The company serves museums, universities, attractions, and high-net-worth private collectors across more than 300 institutions worldwide, providing scientifically accurate fossil replicas, original fossil specimens, 3D scanning and printing, molding and casting, mounting and remounting, exhibition design and installation, and field paleontological services spanning prospecting, excavation, preparation, and restoration. Its replica catalog spans eleven categories including dinosaurs, pterosaurs, fish, marine reptiles, mammals, birds, ice age mammals, and triassic specimens, with prices ranging from under $100 to over $500,000 and original fossil transactions reported between $220,000 and $18M+ (e.g., T. rex Valerie starting at $18M).

TPI's underlying technology combines high-definition structured light 3D scanners with more than 40 FDM and SLA 3D printers operating continuously at its Woodland Park facility, supplemented by on-site scanning services for immovable specimens. Proprietary assets include a digital fossil bone library (e.g., Pteranodon elements) used to 3D-print missing pieces of incomplete specimens, decades of accumulated molds, and exclusive access to 35+ private ranch land agreements across the United States for fossil prospecting. Mike Triebold holds unique paleontological credentials including the first preparation of Xiphactinus, Pachyrhizodus, Ichthyodectes, and Enchodus in three dimensions completely free of rock, and has made multiple type-specimen discoveries (Pachycephalosaurus with body, Protosphyraena perniciosa complete skeleton, Didelphodon Lancian mammal). Strategic partnerships with Yale Peabody Museum, University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science feed exclusive content into TPI's catalog.

The business model is a direct enterprise field sales model with designated representatives (Jacob Jett for sales and corporate development, Anthony Maltese for scientific inquiries) covering accounts worldwide through no resellers or distributors. Revenue streams include one-time sales of cast replicas (dinosaurs, ice age mammals, triassic specimens), high-value original fossil sales with installation included, professional installation services billed at $360/day/person plus travel and lodging, custom mounting and remounting engagements, and end-to-end paleontological consulting. Order payment terms typically require a 50% deposit at project start with the balance plus shipping on completion, while original fossil transactions follow a 10%/40%/50% hold-production-delivery cadence. The company also operates four sister companies (Savage Ancient Seas, Fossil Crates, Dinosaur Sanctuary, Darwin and Dinosaurs) that extend its reach into marine fossil exhibits, educational products, and private collector channels.

Name

Triebold Paleontology

Legal name

Triebold Paleontology, Inc.

Website

https://trieboldpaleontology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Triebold Paleontology, Inc. is a private paleontological firm founded in 1989 that supplies museums, universities, attractions, and private collectors worldwide with fossil replicas, original specimens, 3D scanning and printing, and exhibition design, serving more than 300 institutions globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paleontological Services

NAICS

Used Merchandise Retailers (459510)

akta.pro primary industry

Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Natural History Museums (THAJADAC), Vintage & Antique Collectibles Retail (CRALAGAE)

Keywords

• Fossil replica sales
• Paleontological services
• Museum exhibit installation
• Fossil preparation mounting
• 3D fossil scanning

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodland Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fossil Replica Sales: One-time sales of cast fossil skeletons, skulls, and replicas across multiple categories including dinosaurs, pterosaurs, fish, marine reptiles, mammals, birds, and tracks. Prices range from under $100 to over $500,000 depending on specimen complexity and size.
2. Original Fossil Sales: Sale of real fossil specimens ranging from under $1M to over $18M. Collection includes dinosaurs (Tyrannosaurus rex, ceratopsians, hadrosaurs), pterosaurs, and fish. TPI provides clear title and origin documentation for authenticity.
3. Mounting and Remounting Services: Custom fabrication services for mounting original bone and cast skeletons. TPI frames, mounts, and poses fossils to customer specifications with custom poses.
4. Exhibition Design and Installation: World-class, year-round exhibition design and installation services for museums and attractions. Installation charges include travel, lodging, and $360 per day per person.
5. Paleontological Services: Consultation, prospecting and site assessment, excavation and recovery, preparation and restoration services. TPI holds dozens of private land leases for fossil recovery.
6. 3D Scanning and Printing Services: On-site and off-site 3D scanning services, printing services with optional painting and metalwork finishing. Brings scanning directly to clients who cannot move specimens.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Triebold Paleontology, Inc. manufactures and sells cast fossil replica skeletons and skulls, brokers the sale of original fossil specimens, and delivers end-to-end paleontological services including fossil preparation, mounting, exhibition design and installation, 3D scanning and printing, and field recovery to museums, universities, attractions, and private collectors worldwide.

Product overview

Triebold Paleontology, Inc. (TPI) is a paleontological services company established in 1989, providing fossil skeletons, skeleton casts, and exhibit-related services to museums, universities, and attractions worldwide. The company operates a unified portfolio combining core fossil replica products with specialized services: fossil replicas span eleven catalog categories (Dinosaurs, Pterosaurs, Fish, Marine Reptiles, Mammals, Birds, Ice Age Mammals, Triassic Specimens, Aquatic Reptiles & Amphibians, Tracks and Traces, and Coming Soon items); original fossils are sold with professional installation and clear provenance; and complementary services include 3D scanning and printing (using over 40 FDM and SLA printers), mounting and remounting, exhibition design and installation, molding and casting, and paleontological consultation. The company also collaborates with four sister companies—Savage Ancient Seas, Fossil Crates, Dinosaur Sanctuary, and Darwin and Dinosaurs—to provide a comprehensive range of fossil products and services across market segments from world-renowned museums to private collectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TPI Legacy: Historical section of the company website documenting the Triebold story and Mike Triebold's contributions to paleontology.

Products and services

• Fossil Replicas Cast fossil skeletons and skulls spanning categories including dinosaurs, pterosaurs, fish, marine reptiles, mammals, birds, and ice age mammals, sold to museums, universities, attractions, and private collectors.
• Original Fossils Authentic fossil specimens, including dinosaurs such as T. rex and ceratopsians, pterosaurs, and fish, sold with clear title, origin documentation, and professional installation.
• 3D Scanning and Printing Services High-definition 3D scanning using structured light scanners, combined with 3D printing via more than 40 FDM and SLA printers, offered on-site at TPI and off-site for immovable specimens, with optional painting and metalwork finishing.
• Mounting and Remounting Services Custom fabrication, framing, mounting, and posing of original bone and cast skeletons, including remounting of existing specimens to updated poses, with scientific accuracy as the primary standard.
• Exhibition Design and Installation World-class, year-round exhibition design and on-site installation services for museums and attractions, with TPI installation crews deployed worldwide including travel, lodging, and per diem at $360 per day per person.
• Molding and Casting Services Scientifically accurate, durable molds and casts of fossil specimens across the size range, leveraging 40+ combined years of experience to produce casts described as indistinguishable from original skeletons.
• Paleontological Consultation and Field Recovery End-to-end paleontological field and lab services including prospecting, site assessment, excavation, recovery, preparation, and restoration, supported by licensing agreements on over 35 private ranches in the United States.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ institutions worldwide have installed TPI exhibits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Private Ranch Landowners (35+ agreements)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPI has licensing agreements with over 35 private ranches across the United States for fossil prospecting and recovery. These partnerships are essential for accessing private land to discover and excavate fossils, with landowners compensated through royalties. TPI maintains these relationships through decades of ethical stewardship, respecting property and maintaining trust with ranchers.
• Royal Saskatchewan MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPI collaborated with the Royal Saskatchewan Museum to excavate and reconstruct Terminonaris robusta specimen nicknamed 'Big Bert', discovered by RSM paleontologist Tim Tokaryk. TPI also worked with RSM on the Megacerops coloradensis 'Thor' specimen discovered by RSM in 1973.
• University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPI cast the original Tylosaurus 'Bunker' specimen from the vertebrate paleontology collection at University of Kansas. The original specimen serves as the largest complete tylosaur skeleton known.
• Yale Peabody MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPI's Hesperornis regalis cast was reproduced from a specimen at Yale Peabody Museum, one of the oldest Victorian-era fossil discoveries.
• Madagascar Ankizy FundminorOthersTPI supports the Madagascar Ankizy Fund (ankizy meaning children), which provides education and healthcare to children in remote areas where fossils like Beelzebufo were discovered. Sales of the Beelzebufo replica help support Madagascar collections and related infrastructure including training and education in paleontology.
• Denver Museum of Nature and SciencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPI's Stegosaurus specimen was reproduced by scanning and 3D printing the famous Kessler Stegosaurus exhibited at Denver Museum of Nature and Science, discovered in 1936 and proclaimed Colorado's official state dinosaur.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CollectA: International figurine and replica brand offering a wide range of prehistoric animal models used in education and retail. Overlaps with TPI in the dinosaur/prehistoric replica space but operates at consumer and educational price points with broader toy-market distribution.
• Schleich: German toy and figurine manufacturer with a long-standing dinosaur and prehistoric animal line sold globally. Indirect competitor in educational dinosaur models and a potential channel partner/alternative for budget-constrained museum gift shops.
• Safari Ltd: Established U.S. toy and figurine manufacturer producing the Safari and Carnegie dinosaur/reptile replica lines used widely in education, museums, and consumer channels. Adjacent incumbent serving overlapping end-buyers (museums, schools, parents) but at consumer price tiers and volume.

Regional players

• Everything Dinosaurs: UK-based online retailer of dinosaur models, toys, fossil replicas, and educational products. Comparable in serving the consumer/educational dinosaur product market but geographically focused on the UK and operating at lower price points than TPI's museum-grade catalog.

Direct peers

• Bone Clones: Osteological replica company producing high-quality bone and fossil replicas for educational, medical, and museum use. Directly competes with TPI in the cast-replica market for skulls, skeletons, and individual elements across vertebrate paleontology.
• Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, Inc. Hill City, South Dakota-based paleontological supply company that prepares, molds, casts, and sells original fossils and replicas to museums worldwide. Most direct U.S. competitor to TPI in commercial paleontology services and original specimen sales (including the famous Sue the T. rex).
• GeoDecor: U.S.-based retailer of fossils, minerals, and natural-history decor serving collectors, interior designers, and educational buyers. Overlaps with TPI in the retail fossil/collectible space, though with less emphasis on full museum-grade skeleton installations.

Emerging players

• PNSO: Chinese manufacturer of scientifically detailed dinosaur and prehistoric animal replicas, models, and figurines with a growing international footprint. Increasingly relevant in the mid-market replica segment, potentially competing with TPI on price-sensitive museum gift shop and education-channel orders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TrieboldPaleo
• Facebookfacebook.com/TrieboldPaleo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/triebold-paleontology-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Triebold Paleontology