Introduction: The Future of 3D Scanning and Covision Media’s Latest Milestone
How a spin-off from an Italian AI lab became a global 3D scanning pioneer backed by Meta, Adidas, and more
The world is at the cusp of a 3D revolution. From e-commerce to gaming, industries everywhere are looking to enhance the way products, objects, and even entire environments are represented in digital formats. 3D scanning—the process of converting physical objects into virtual models—has become crucial for enabling more immersive online shopping experiences, fueling advanced AR/VR applications, and driving innovation in industrial processes. Yet, even with the growing market demand, creating high-fidelity 3D content has historically been time-consuming, expensive, and technically challenging.
Enter Covision Media, an innovative startup that is reshaping how we produce and use 3D digital twins. Recently, the company secured €5 million in seed funding, positioning it at the forefront of AI-powered 3D scanning. In a short timeframe, Covision Media has forged partnerships with global brands—like Meta, Adidas, ZARA, and Gucci—and made it abundantly clear that 3D content creation can be both scalable and photorealistic.
In this article, we’ll explore how Covision Media evolved from a spin-off project in Italy to a world-leading 3D scanning enterprise. We’ll dive into the technology behind its “D-Twin” scanners, look at various real-world use cases, examine the recent funding round that’s propelling the company’s global ambitions, and provide a glimpse into the future of 3D scanning for e-commerce, AR/VR, and gaming. By the end, you’ll understand why Covision Media is a name to watch in the race to digitize the physical world—and how this AI-powered approach will change the way we experience everything from online shopping to virtual workplaces.
Covision Media’s Background: From Spin-Off to 3D Scanning Leader
Bridging Research and Industry Collaboration
Covision Media was founded in 2020 but traces its roots back further, to Covision Lab in South Tyrol — an open-innovation hub known for its pioneering work in computer vision. Backed by European industrial powerhouses such as Durst, Covision Lab provided a fertile environment where innovative AI concepts could be tested, refined, and eventually commercialized. It was here that two key players, Franz Tschimben and Dr. Burkhard Güssefeld, recognized the untapped potential for AI-powered 3D scanning in various industries.
- Founder Profiles:
- Franz Tschimben (CEO) came from Covision Lab itself, bringing with him a deep understanding of AI’s practical applications in commercial settings.
- Dr. Burkhard Güssefeld (CTO) is a respected authority in computer graphics and vision, specializing in the algorithms needed to capture and reconstruct photorealistic 3D data.
In February 2024, Covision Media officially spun off from Covision Lab, transitioning from an R&D-driven project to a commercial entity laser-focused on large-scale 3D scanning. The move also came with a new headquarters in Bressanone, Italy, which signaled their growth ambitions beyond research. The mission was clear and succinct: “Automate production of ‘reality-grade’ 3D models for retail, AR/VR, and beyond.”
This mission speaks directly to a growing market gap—traditional 3D scanning was either too slow, too manual, or lacking in fidelity for enterprise-scale demands. As CEO Franz Tschimben succinctly puts it, “The world is three-dimensional, and Covision Media is playing a key role in digitizing it.”
Inside Covision’s Technology: AI-Driven Photorealistic 3D Scans
How ‘D-Twin’ Scanners are Changing the Game
Central to Covision Media’s approach is its proprietary “D-Twin” scanning system. These 3D scanning rigs combine structured light, robotics, and AI algorithms to generate photorealistic, relightable digital models at scale. The D-Twin scanner doesn’t just capture geometry; it also captures surface details, textures, and reflective properties, enabling an exceptionally rich and lifelike digital twin.
- Structured Light & Robotics: The scanner uses multiple cameras and structured light patterns to quickly map the geometry of an object with an accuracy of around 0.2 mm. Robotics help rotate or reposition the item to ensure comprehensive coverage from all angles.
- AI-Based Photometric Scanning: Where Covision Media truly shines is in neural radiance fields and advanced photometric techniques. Reflective or transparent surfaces—like glossy sneakers, handbags with metallic finishes, and even glass items—can be problematic for traditional 3D scanning. However, Covision’s neural radiance field approach excels in capturing these complexities.
- Relightable 3D Models: The system applies Physically Based Rendering (PBR) textures, making every digital twin “relightable” in different virtual environments. This ensures that a 3D model placed in a dark store interior vs. a bright outdoor scene will look convincingly real, with shadows and highlights accurately rendered.
- Automation & Throughput: A typical D-Twin scanner completes a single scan in about 12 minutes, yielding anywhere from 4K to 8K textures. Covision Media reports each scanner can produce up to 12,000 high-fidelity models per year—an order of magnitude greater than many of its competitors.
- D-Twin II Enhancements: Recently introduced features allow for scanning deformable objects like apparel. By rotating around soft goods—such as shoes, bags, and clothing—and using AI to remove support fixtures, D-Twin II can capture lifelike models without the static stiffness often associated with scanning fabric.
What sets Covision Media apart is the minimal manual post-processing involved. The combination of structured light, AI-driven reconstruction, and robotics ensures a mostly hands-off approach once the item is placed in the scanner. This is essential for large-scale digitization tasks, where efficiency and speed can make or break a project’s feasibility.
Key Use Cases: Retail, AR/VR, Gaming, and Beyond
Fashion & E-Commerce
The fashion industry has been one of the earliest adopters of AI-powered 3D scanning. Adidas, ZARA (Inditex), Gucci, and Salomon are among the big names that have integrated Covision’s D-Twin technology into their workflows.
- 360° Product Viewers: Instead of relying on static, two-dimensional photos, retailers can embed interactive 3D viewers on product pages. Shoppers can rotate items to inspect details like stitching, color variations, and texture from all angles.
- Virtual Try-Ons: AR apps can overlay 3D footwear or accessories onto a live feed of the user, narrowing the gap between online browsing and in-store experiences.
- Automated Marketing Assets: The same 3D model captured by Covision’s scanner can generate unlimited photo angles, short videos, or even AR filters—all without additional photoshoots.
Not only do these innovations boost customer engagement, they also cut down on product returns because shoppers gain a more accurate sense of how an item looks and fits.
Content Creation Studios
Large-scale content creation providers, including Quad Graphics, NUREG, and CLX Europe, see 3D scanning as a new frontier:
- 3D as a Visual Asset Class: Historically, studios have offered photography and videography services. Now, they can also produce hyper-realistic 3D assets for their clients, opening up a new revenue stream.
- Client Appeal: Brands that already invest heavily in photo shoots see additional value in obtaining “scannable” items for marketing collateral. With relightable 3D, images and videos can be rendered on demand, at any angle or setting.
Meta & the ‘Digital Twin Catalog’
Perhaps one of the most intriguing use cases is Meta (formerly Facebook) leveraging Covision’s scanning tech to develop a massive 3D “Digital Twin Catalog.” The idea is to build an expansive database of high-quality, 3D-scanned objects—everything from electronics to furniture to apparel. This not only lays the groundwork for immersive metaverse environments but also addresses the data gap in 3D machine learning.
- AI Model Training: High-quality, standardized 3D data is crucial for training AI to recognize objects in virtual scenes or manipulate them realistically.
- Future-Proofing: As AR/VR devices and technologies proliferate, having an extensive library of pre-scanned objects means a head start in populating these virtual worlds.
Gaming
The gaming sector is equally enthusiastic about AI-powered 3D scanning. Traditionally, game developers had to rely on time-intensive 3D modeling from scratch or photogrammetry. With Covision’s system:
- Efficient Asset Creation: Physical props can be scanned, resulting in ultra-realistic, game-ready models in a fraction of the time.
- Artistic Focus: Artists can devote more effort to creative tweaks rather than repetitive modeling tasks.
Industrial Applications
Beyond consumer-facing use cases, Covision Media caters to industrial needs as well. Manufacturers can scan product inventories—ranging from mechanical parts to large machine components—to create interactive 3D catalogs or digital archives. This is invaluable for:
- Training & Maintenance: A 3D model that accurately captures material textures helps technicians and engineers visualize and simulate processes without handling the real part.
- Sales & Marketing: Detailed 3D representations can be used for interactive product demos, reducing the need to ship physical samples to every trade show or client meeting.
Riding the 3D Wave: Why High-Fidelity 3D Content Matters
E-Commerce Enhancement & AR/VR Revolution
3D content creation has reached a pivotal juncture. Thanks to new AR/VR hardware like Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta’s continued metaverse focus, demand for realistic digital twins is poised to explode.
- Interactive Shopping Experiences: Online retailers across various sectors—from apparel to furniture—report higher conversion rates and lower return rates when they integrate 360° viewers or AR try-on features. Interactive 3D lets shoppers virtually “handle” products, bridging the sensory gap of online shopping.
- AI + 3D Synergy: The more 3D data we have, the better AI systems become at rendering or manipulating 3D objects. This synergy feeds into itself; as AI matures, 3D scanning workflows become even more efficient, and the models themselves can be dynamically updated or repurposed.
- Mass-Production Feasibility: Covision Media’s approach makes 3D scaling a reality. Instead of painstakingly capturing a handful of hero products, retailers can scan entire seasonal collections. The cost and labor savings are significant compared to older, manual 3D modeling processes.
- Relightable Scans: A single high-quality 3D model can be “relit” or re-rendered to generate multiple 2D and video assets, or used in interactive AR campaigns. This content efficiency saves time and money while enabling consistent brand imagery across platforms.
- The Metaverse & Spatial Computing: As we move from 2D screens toward immersive environments, the need for robust digital twins is paramount. Whether in VR commerce, digital showrooms, or elaborate virtual gatherings, the better the 3D models, the more seamless and persuasive the user experience.
Ultimately, 3D content isn’t just an add-on—it’s becoming an integral part of digital transformation strategies worldwide. Covision’s role in automating the creation of “reality-grade” models makes it a key enabler in this shift.
The €5M Seed Round: Investors, Partners, and Global Ambitions
Who Funded Covision and What’s Next?
On March 31, 2025, Covision Media proudly announced a €5 million seed round—a noteworthy sum that underscores both investor confidence and the market’s appetite for AI-powered 3D scanning. The lead investor was CDP Venture Capital’s Artificial Intelligence Fund, Italy’s largest AI-focused fund. Other participants included:
- Euregio+: A regional tech fund fostering innovation in the Alps-Adriatic region.
- Redstone: A Berlin-based venture capital group that invests across Europe’s hottest tech sectors.
- The Techshop: A Milan-based fund led by entrepreneur Harald Oberrauch.
These institutional players were joined by high-profile angels like Prof. Pietro Perona (Caltech) and Prof. Daniel Cremers (TU Munich)—both luminaries in the field of computer vision—alongside industry executives such as Franco Fogliato (CEO of Fossil Group) and Nathaniel Barling (Andreessen Horowitz operating partner).
Redstone’s Michael Brehm called Covision Media’s scanning solution “by far the best technology [in 3D scanning] globally,” underscoring the startup’s advantage in hardware-software integration. Meanwhile, CDP Venture Capital lauded Covision as an “excellent example of a thriving Italian deeptech company bridging the gap between the digital and physical world.”
With the €5 million injection, Covision plans to:
- Expand R&D: Continue refining its D-Twin scanners, focusing on speed, precision, and AI-driven enhancements like “text-to-3D” and “image-to-3D”.
- Commercialization: Scale up marketing and sales teams to reach more industries and geographic regions.
- International Growth: Establish 3D scanning hubs globally to serve clients without in-house scanning capabilities.
- Board Expansion: Representatives from CDP, Redstone, and The Techshop now hold seats, tapping their networks to fuel Covision’s next growth phase.
At a time when European startups often vie for capital against well-funded American or Asian rivals, Covision’s successful seed round is a testament to the market’s rising confidence in homegrown AI solutions.
Competitive Landscape: AI-Driven 3D Platforms and Traditional Scanners
Where Covision Stands Among Industry Players
The 3D content creation sector is heating up, and Covision Media isn’t alone in the race to digitize the physical world. Competitors can be broadly categorized into two segments:
AI-Based 3D Modeling Platforms
Companies like Hexa (Tel Aviv) and Luma AI (Silicon Valley) have garnered significant VC funding by promising to transform 2D images into 3D models using AI and human artistry. [TechCrunch on Hexa] They often rely on photogrammetry or crowdsourced imagery, which can yield impressive results for certain categories of products. However, these approaches may lack the precision and automation of a dedicated scanning rig, especially when faced with reflective or transparent materials.
Traditional Scanning Solutions
Brands such as Artec 3D and Shining 3D produce high-end handheld scanners popular in industrial design, healthcare, and reverse engineering. Their devices excel in accuracy but often require a skilled operator and a post-processing workflow. They also lack Covision’s built-in AI to handle complex surfaces seamlessly or produce multiple 2D/3D outputs for e-commerce.
Big Tech Moves
Major players like Snap (via Vertebrae) and Nike (via Invertex acquisitions) are exploring their own scanning solutions, typically focusing on vertical integration for AR commerce. While these initiatives are promising, they often target narrower use cases (e.g., AR ads, shoe-fitting).
Covision’s Competitive Edge:
- Hardware + AI: By owning the entire scanning process—from hardware design to AI reconstruction—Covision can optimize for speed, accuracy, and photorealism.
- Scalability: The ability to churn out thousands of models per year with minimal human intervention sets Covision apart from smaller, software-only players.
- Enterprise Partnerships: Ties with Meta, Adidas, and ZARA validate Covision’s solution for both big tech and big retail.
- Rapid Innovation: Covision’s development roadmap (e.g., D-Twin II, generative 3D AI) suggests it’s staying ahead of the tech curve.
Given the rapid growth in AR/VR markets, collaboration among different solution providers is likely. Covision could integrate seamlessly with e-commerce platforms, AR frameworks, or even partner with traditional scanning OEMs to widen distribution. Its open innovation ethos, inherited from Covision Lab, suggests the company is well-positioned to form alliances as the entire industry evolves.
Future Roadmap: Scaling, Innovation, and Market Expansion
Next Steps for Covision Media
The recent €5M seed round sets Covision Media on a clear upward trajectory. Here’s a look at what’s next:
- Global Deployment of Scanners
Many of Covision’s current clients operate in-house scanning solutions. However, the company wants to open 3D scanning centers worldwide, offering “scanning-as-a-service” for brands lacking the resources to purchase or maintain their own rig. Essentially, Covision aims to run large facilities capable of digitizing thousands of items per week, consolidating costs and accelerating adoption. - Advances in Hardware and AI
- Faster Scan Times: Even a small reduction in the current 12-minute window can lead to massive efficiency gains.
- Larger and More Complex Items: Future hardware upgrades may allow scanning of bigger objects like furniture or industrial machinery.
- Generative AI Tools: Covision is investing in “text-to-3D” and “image-to-3D” technologies, potentially enabling the creation of 3D models from minimal inputs. This could be groundbreaking for businesses needing 3D assets without always shipping physical samples.
- Software Ecosystem and Platform Integrations
Covision is poised to develop more robust cloud-based services for post-processing (e.g., automatic background removal, retopology) and editing (managing multiple textures, contexts, or lighting setups). The future may also see a dedicated platform that tracks user engagement metrics, effectively guiding brands on how to best utilize their 3D assets for marketing or training. - Geographic Expansion
With board members from Redstone (Berlin), The Techshop (Milan), and CDP Venture Capital (Italy’s national innovation fund), Covision has a solid European foundation. The plan is to extend operations into North America (especially the U.S. tech hubs) and possibly Asia, where large-scale e-commerce giants like Alibaba and JD.com are already experimenting with 3D and AR solutions. - Long-Term Industry Vision
- 3D Standardization: As 3D models become as common as product photos, Covision will likely play a role in establishing industry standards for scanning, file formats, and integration with AR/VR ecosystems.
- Metaverse Integration: The partnership with Meta signals a future where Covision’s scanned assets populate emerging virtual worlds, from gaming to business conferencing.
By executing on these plans, Covision aims to evolve into the platform of choice for enterprises looking to digitize their products. If successful, the company could cement a market leadership position akin to how Matterport did for 3D space capture—only Covision’s scope extends to physical products, from fashion to industrial parts.
Conclusion: Covision Media’s Impact and the Future of 3D Commerce
Covision Media’s recent €5 million seed funding marks a pivotal moment in the evolving world of AI-powered 3D scanning. Since its spin-off in 2020, the company has rapidly advanced from a promising research initiative to a commercial force, securing top-tier partnerships with Meta, Adidas, and Inditex along the way. As hardware, AI, and immersive technologies converge, Covision Media offers a compelling glimpse into a future where:
- Online shopping resembles in-store browsing thanks to relightable, photorealistic 3D models.
- AR/VR experiences thrive on high-fidelity, scalable 3D content that engages users more deeply than flat media ever could.
- Industrial workflows, from training to maintenance, are revolutionized by reality-grade digital twins that bridge the physical and digital spheres.
The metaverse, once a futuristic concept, is increasingly reliant on having realistic 3D representations of real-world objects. Covision Media is meeting this need head-on by creating a pipeline that efficiently and accurately turns physical products into virtual ones at scale.
If you’re an e-commerce retailer, a brand looking to enhance product visualization, or an investor intrigued by the next wave of 3D content creation, keep an eye on Covision Media. With fresh funding in hand and an ambitious roadmap in place, this deeptech startup is poised to reshape how we see—and sell—the physical world in digital form.
In the end, Covision Media’s story is about much more than just capturing objects in 3D. It’s about pushing boundaries in computer vision, bridging industrial and retail frontiers, and—perhaps most importantly—showing the world that the digital transformation of commerce and industry is now happening in three dimensions. As AR/VR devices and metaverse platforms continue to evolve, companies like Covision Media will be at the forefront, enabling the immersive ecosystems that define our next era of human interaction and enterprise.
Sources & Brief Notes
- Founding & Mission: Spin-off from Covision Lab (2020), CEO Franz Tschimben quote: “The world is three-dimensional …”
- Technology Highlights: D-Twin scanner uses AI, structured light, neural radiance fields; ~12 minutes per scan, 0.2 mm accuracy
- Use Cases & Clients: Fashion (Adidas, Zara, Gucci), Tech (Meta), Gaming, Industrial
- Funding & Investors: €5M seed round led by CDP Venture Capital’s AI Fund; Meta as key partner/client
- Competitive Landscape: Hexa, Luma AI, Artec 3D; Covision’s advantage = integrated hardware + AI approach
- Future Outlook: Scanning-as-a-service centers, generative AI features, ties with experts like Perona (Caltech), Cremers (TU Munich)
By adhering to these insights and continuing to refine AI-powered 3D scanning, Covision Media exemplifies how deeptech innovation can revolutionize traditional industries, opening doors to untapped growth in e-commerce, AR/VR, industrial design, and beyond. The future of 3D content creation is bright, and Covision Media’s journey has only just begun.
