Karamba3d
Karamba3D develops a parametric Finite Element Analysis plug-in for Grasshopper/Rhino3D, enabling structural engineers, architects, and academic institutions to perform real-time structural analysis and optimization during early design phases.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersVienna, Austria
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Karamba3d does
Karamba3D is a Vienna-based sole proprietorship founded in 2010 that develops an interactive, parametric Finite Element Analysis (FEA) plug-in embedded in the Grasshopper visual programming environment within Rhino3D. The product is purpose-built for structural engineers, architectural firms, and academic users who need to perform quick, accurate structural analysis during early design phases rather than as a downstream engineering verification step. Core capabilities include beam, shell, and truss FEA; real-time animated feedback on structural performance; cross-section, shape, and topology (BESO) optimization; large deformation and bending-active form-finding; and a standalone .NET library for integration into custom workflows.
The underlying technology is implemented primarily in C# (KarambaCommon namespace for stable API access) and interfaces with established Grasshopper optimization solvers such as Galapagos, Octopus, Wallacei, and Opossum. Native integrations with Speckle (cloud-based model sharing and SpeckleAutomate for embodied carbon), PowerBI (results visualization), Beaver (Eurocode 5 timber verification), GeometryGym (IFC interoperability), and Rhino.Inside.Revit (BIM) extend the platform into BIM, sustainability, and timber-engineering workflows. The software is delivered in tiered subscriptions: PRO (commercial, ~USD 1,049/yr or USD 105/month), EDU (USD 35/yr for teaching), and LAB (USD 315/yr 10-seat kit), with free evaluation licenses for workshops and teaching.
Revenue mechanics combine direct subscription licenses sold via the company's webshop, an international reseller network spanning Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America (regional resellers purchase PRO licenses at 15–40% volume discounts and resell at markup), and instructor-led workshops (EUR 395 professional / USD 187 sale price with 50% student discounts). The product is distributed through McNeel Package Manager, direct download, and a Reseller Starter Package priced at EUR 2,700. With only 1–10 employees and operation as a sole proprietorship under DI Dr. Clemens Preisinger, the business is lean and founder-led, with co-development support from structural engineering firm Bollinger und Grohmann ZT GmbH.
Karamba3d firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Karamba3d
- Legal name
- Clemens Preisinger
- Website
- https://karamba3d.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Karamba3D develops a parametric Finite Element Analysis plug-in for Grasshopper/Rhino3D, enabling structural engineers, architects, and academic institutions to perform real-time structural analysis and optimization during early design phases.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Karamba3d is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vienna
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Karamba3d business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Software Licenses (PRO/EDU/LAB): Karamba3D generates revenue primarily through software licensing. PRO licenses are for commercial use with annual or monthly subscription options. EDU licenses are for educational institutions at discounted rates. LAB licenses are available for lab/group use with multi-seat kits. All products are delivered electronically with licenses processed within 1 working day.
- Workshop Training Fees: Revenue from instructor-led workshops and training sessions. Professional workshops typically priced at EUR 395 (+VAT) with 50% student discounts. Extended multi-day courses and specialized workshops offered at various price points. Free training sessions are also offered periodically.
- Reseller Distribution: Resellers purchase licenses at discounted rates (15-40% depending on volume) and resell to end users. The Reseller Starter Package costs 2700 EUR and includes 3 PRO licenses for resale plus marketing materials.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Workshop Fee - Professionals |
| Subscription | Annual | PRO License (Annual) - Reseller |
| Subscription | Monthly | PRO License (Month) - Reseller |
| Subscription | Annual | EDU License - Reseller |
| Subscription | Annual | LAB License Kit (10 Seats) - Reseller |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Workshop - Online Professional |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Workshop - Students |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Reseller Starter Package |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Karamba3d product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Karamba3D is a parametric Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tool that runs inside the Grasshopper visual programming environment for Rhino3D. It enables structural engineers and architects to perform analysis and optimization of line, shell, and solid structures within a parametric design workflow. The software is sold via commercial and educational licenses and is developed in cooperation with the engineering firm Bollinger und Grohmann ZT GmbH.
Product overview
Karamba3D is a single parametric engineering platform providing Finite Element Analysis capabilities embedded within Grasshopper/Rhino3D. The core product offers beam, shell, and truss structural analysis with integrated optimization tools (cross-section optimization, shape optimization, topology optimization via BESO). The platform is extensible through C# scripting API and can function as a standalone .NET library. Available in multiple license tiers: PRO (commercial), EDU (educational), LAB (lab/site license), and trial versions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Karamba3D
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced material costs through cross-section optimization - Shimizu achieved efficient steel usage evaluating 5,000+ configurations for the AIST Zero-Emi Tree structure
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Karamba3d
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Karamba3d technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
AI capability3 records
Feature8 records
Karamba3d partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, primary, key, notable and regional.
- Bollinger und Grohmann ZT GmbHcoreLong-term development partner that cooperates with Clemens Preisinger in developing Karamba3D. Bollinger+Grohmann is both a key development partner and major user of the software, contributing to product direction and validating new features through real-world engineering projects. They have used Karamba3D extensively for major projects including Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang and Expo Cultural Park Greenhouses.
- McNeel EuropeprimaryMcNeel Europe serves as the primary European reseller and training partner for Karamba3D. They host regular workshops and training sessions throughout Europe and integrate Karamba3D into their educational offerings for Rhino/Grasshopper users.
- SpecklekeyIntegration partner enabling cloud-based structural model sharing and collaboration. Karamba3D provides a Speckle Connector allowing users to send structural models to the Speckle cloud. The partnership was highlighted at SpeckleCon events where Karamba3D demonstrated workflows for automated embodied carbon calculations using Speckle Automate.
- ArupnotableArup served as lead structural engineer on the MX3D Bridge project and used Karamba3D for schematic design within their parametric design workflow. Their endorsement and use of the software adds credibility in the structural engineering community.
- 3D Software (Netherlands)regionalAuthorized reseller for Netherlands territory, distributing Karamba3D licenses and providing local support.
- Rhino for you (France)regionalAuthorized reseller for France territory, distributing Karamba3D licenses and providing local support.
- FILOU (Germany)regionalAuthorized reseller for Germany territory, distributing Karamba3D licenses and providing local support.
- SimplyRhino (UK)regionalAuthorized reseller for United Kingdom territory, distributing Karamba3D licenses and providing local support.
- Algorithm Design Lab (Japan)regionalAuthorized reseller for Japan territory, distributing Karamba3D licenses and providing local support.
- Nosco Consultancy (Singapore)regionalAuthorized reseller for Singapore territory, distributing Karamba3D licenses and providing local support.
- +Plastic (Korea)regionalAuthorized reseller for Korea territory, distributing Karamba3D licenses and providing local support.
- D23 Design Lounge (India/UAE)regionalAuthorized reseller for India and UAE territories, distributing Karamba3D licenses and providing local support.
- RFBD Tecnologia (Brazil)regionalAuthorized reseller for Brazil territory, distributing Karamba3D licenses and providing local support.
- Beaver (Eurocode 5 Timber Verification)notableBeaver is a timber engineering framework for Karamba3D that provides transparent Eurocode 5 timber verification directly in Grasshopper. It enables designers to evaluate timber members and connections within the same parametric workflow, integrating seamlessly with Karamba3D for structural safety checks.
- Digital Blue FoamnotableResearch collaboration partner for synthetic data generation and machine learning workflows. Joint workshop at DigitalFUTURES 2022 explored using ML and synthetic data to bridge the gap between massing and structural design, resulting in a CO2-footprint estimation prototype.
- IASS (International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures)keyAcademic partnership through which Karamba3D co-hosts workshops at annual IASS symposia (2023 Melbourne, 2024 Zürich, 2025 Mexico City). These workshops focus on parametric engineering, cloud collaboration with Speckle, and sustainability integration.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Karamba3d competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SOFiSTiK: SOFiSTiK provides structural FEA software for buildings, bridges, and infrastructure, including Rhino/Grasshopper integration. Both companies serve structural engineers performing finite element analysis with parametric design workflows, making SOFiSTiK a direct peer in the parametric structural FEA category.
- IDEA StatiCa: IDEA StatiCa focuses on structural connection design and code-checks for steel and concrete. Both companies serve structural engineers performing design verification with code-compliance workflows, addressing overlapping customer needs in structural engineering software.
- Dlubal Software: Dlubal develops RFEM and RSTAB structural analysis software for beams, plates, shells, and solids, with Rhino/Grasshopper integration. Both companies target structural engineers performing FEA on architectural and engineering structures, with overlapping parametric design capabilities.
- Computers & Structures (CSI): CSI develops SAP2000, ETABS, and SAFE for structural analysis and design of buildings, bridges, and other structures. Like Karamba3D, CSI serves structural engineers with FEA tools, though focused on detailed engineering documentation rather than early-stage parametric design.
- RISA Technologies: RISA Technologies develops structural engineering software (RISA-3D, RISAFoundation, RISAFloor) for building and structural analysis. Both serve structural engineers performing FEA on architectural structures, with overlapping use cases in commercial structural design workflows.
- SCIA Engineer (Nemetschek Group): SCIA Engineer provides integrated structural analysis software for buildings and infrastructure. As part of Nemetschek's AEC portfolio, it competes with Karamba3D in the structural FEA space serving engineering professionals performing design verification and analysis.
Broad incumbents
- ANSYS: ANSYS provides multiphysics simulation software including structural mechanics (ANSYS Mechanical) serving aerospace, automotive, civil, and other industries. As the broadest simulation incumbent, ANSYS overlaps with Karamba3D in structural FEA but operates at vastly larger scale across multiple physics domains.
- Autodesk (Robot Structural Analysis): Autodesk offers Robot Structural Analysis Professional as part of its AEC Collection, serving structural engineers with FEA capabilities integrated into the broader BIM/Revit ecosystem. As a broad incumbent with vastly greater resources, Autodesk represents both a competitor and a potential platform risk to Karamba3D.
- Bentley Systems (RAM Elements): Bentley Systems offers structural analysis tools (RAM Elements, OpenBuildings) within its infrastructure engineering portfolio serving buildings, bridges, and civil structures. As a broad incumbent in AEC software, Bentley competes with Karamba3D in the structural analysis space serving engineering firms.
Emerging players
- Kangaroo3D: Kangaroo3D is a Grasshopper plugin for interactive physics simulation, form-finding, and structural optimization developed within the McNeel ecosystem. It overlaps with Karamba3D in Grasshopper-based structural/physical simulation for architectural design but focuses on real-time physics rather than certified FEA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Karamba3d social profiles
Digital presenceKaramba3d financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Karamba3d leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Karamba3d funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Karamba3d M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Karamba3d
What does Karamba3d do?
Karamba3D is a parametric Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tool that runs inside the Grasshopper visual programming environment for Rhino3D. It enables structural engineers and architects to perform analysis and optimization of line, shell, and solid structures within a parametric design workflow. The software is sold via commercial and educational licenses and is developed in cooperation with the engineering firm Bollinger und Grohmann ZT GmbH.
Is Karamba3d a public or private company?
Karamba3d is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Karamba3d founded?
Karamba3d was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Karamba3d based?
Karamba3d is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does Karamba3d make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses (PRO/EDU/LAB) is the primary driver. The others are workshop Training Fees and reseller Distribution.
Who are Karamba3d's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SOFiSTiK, IDEA StatiCa, Dlubal Software, Computers & Structures (CSI), RISA Technologies and SCIA Engineer (Nemetschek Group). Broad incumbents are ANSYS, Autodesk (Robot Structural Analysis) and Bentley Systems (RAM Elements). Kangaroo3D is listed as an emerging player.
Does Karamba3d have an API?
Yes. Karamba3D offers a public API accessible via two namespaces: Karamba (for Grasshopper components with full features, though interfaces may change) and KarambaCommon (recommended for stability with unchanged interfaces). The API supports C# scripting and can be used as a standalone .NET library for integrating Finite Element functionality into custom scripts. The KarambaCommon.Toolkit class provides factories for creating Karamba3D models and their constituents. Developer documentation is at www.karamba3d.com/help/3-1-4.