Printing a Path to Affordable, Sustainable Housing

Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work. Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube. Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow! Devin: What is your superpower? Gene: Ability to create solutions people genuinely need. Affordable housing is one of the most pressing problems of our time. When a business emerges that not only addresses the issue but also dramatically improves environmental impact, my attention is piqued. Azure Printed Homes, co-founded by Gene Eidelman, is doing just that. With cutting-edge technology, they're printing homes from recycled materials. Their mission is clear: build faster, reduce costs and minimize environmental harm. "We started the company with three bullets: build faster, build less expensive and less environmental impact," Gene said in today’s episode. Gene and his team have created large-format 3D printers that produce the modules of a house—floor, walls and ceiling—in just 24 hours. It’s a staggering time savings compared to traditional construction, which can take 90 to 180 days. That efficiency doesn’t sacrifice quality, thanks to their controlled, factory-based process. The company’s origins lie in tragedy. After the Woolsey Fire devastated Malibu, Gene volunteered to help families navigate the rebuilding process. The experience galvanized him to rethink construction. "We really were still building the traditional way," he recalled. "If we don't have innovation, it'll be impossible to rebuild now." Today, Azure Printed Homes is delivering units across California, Georgia, Colorado, Arkansas and beyond. And they’re doing it using recycled plastic. "We can use about 6,000 to 7,000 pounds of recycled material a day," Gene explained. "I can't think of any other industry that does that." They aren’t just building homes. They're offering people a chance to be part of a solution. Azure has raised over $2 million from 2,000 investors across 46 states and 23 countries through regulation crowdfunding. "What I love about crowdfunding is we now have 2,000 true partners," Gene told me. One early investor who started with just $1,000 ultimately brought in over $400,000 in additional investment and leasing support. The momentum continues. You can learn more and invest at s4g.biz/Azure before their campaign closes on April 26. This isn’t just another startup. Azure is redefining what’s possible in housing—and they’re doing it with help from the crowd. tl;dr: Azure Printed Homes builds affordable, sustainable housing by 3D printing modular units from recycled plastic materials. Gene Eidelman co-founded the company after witnessing the devastating effects of the Woolsey Fire in Malibu. The factory-based printing process reduces build time from months to days, cuts costs and limits environmental harm. Azure has raised over $2 million via five crowdfunding campaigns, creating a community of 2,000 supportive investors. Gene's superpower is creating needed solutions through innovation, persistence and a mission-driven approach to housing and sustainability. How to Develop Solution Creation As a Superpower Gene Eidelman's superpower is the ability to create solutions people genuinely need. "This is my fourth startup, and honestly, I've never been involved in something that when you just offer a picture rendering where people say, I need to have it," Gene said. He explained that the core of their work at Azure Printed Homes is solving the real problem of affordable housing. By creating high-quality, attractive homes made from recycled materials that are produced quickly and inexpensively, he and his team are directly responding to one of society's greatest needs. "Affordable housing does not need to look ugly," he emphasized, reflecting a commitment not only to function but also to dignity. One story that illustrates Gene’s superpower is the origin of Azure Printed Homes. After living through the Woolsey Fire and volunteering to help displaced families, Gene recognized the deep flaws in traditional construction. Rather than accept the slow, expensive and environmentally harmful status quo, he helped create a company that uses recycled materials and large-scale 3D printing to build homes in just 24 hours. What began as a community response evolved into a growing enterprise with national reach. To develop the superpower of solution creation, Gene implicitly offers several actionable tips: Identify what people desperately need; don’t just chase trends. Combine deep domain expertise with a willingness to reimagine old methods. Prioritize speed, cost and environmental sustainability when designing new solutions. Stay committed even when others say it’s impossible. Leverage global innovation and customize it to local needs. Use crowdfunding not only for funding but to build a community of believers and advocates. By following Gene Eidelman's example and advice, you can make solution creation a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Gene Eidelman (he/him): Cofounder, Azure Printed Homes About Azure Printed Homes: Azure Printed Homes is fundamentally changing the construction industry by leveraging 3D printing technology using recycled polymers and fiberglass to prefab tiny homes, ADUs, affordable homes and units for housing after natural disasters 70% faster and 30% less expensive than existing construction methods.  Website: azureprintedhomes.com X/Twitter Handle: @azureprinthomes Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/azureprintedhomes Other URL: invest.azureprintedhomes.com Biographical Information: Gene Eidelman: Pioneering Sustainable and Affordable 3D Printing of Homes From developing multifamily housing to revolutionizing the construction industry with 3D-printed homes, Gene's journey in entrepreneurship is marked by innovation and impact. He co-founded his latest start-up, Azure Printed Homes in 2022. At Azure, Gene and his team are breaking new ground with a patented 3D printing process that constructs entire structures from recycled materials, fiberglass and other additives. This eco-friendly method is not only 70% faster but also 30% less expensive than traditional construction, revolutionizing how we think about building homes. Since May 2023, Azure Printed Homes has been delivering units ranging from workforce housing, affordable houses, homes for victims of natural disasters and units for outdoor hospitality industry, with a focus on sustainable, attainable housing for all. Azure current state-of-the art factory is in Los Angeles. They will be opening a factory in Colorado in 2025 and will be opening locations around the globe in 2026 and 2027. Azure is the winner of numerous awards and recognitions, including the 2024 Real Estate Tech Awards and 2025 Fast Company Global Innovator. Azure is currently raising its next round of funding at https://invest.azureprintedhomes.com. Gene is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, 3D Printing, construction and real estate. He delivered a TED talk on the future of housing, which has over 500,000 views and has been selected as one of the most impactful TED talk this century. His work is paving the way for a future where affordable and sustainable housing is going to be attainable by all. X/Twitter Handle: @geidelman Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/geneeidelman Instagram Handle: @azureprintedhomes Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include FundingHope, Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding, SuperCrowdLA and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here. 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Soon, we’ll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back! Community Event Calendar Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events. Igniting Community Capital to Build Outdoor Recreation Communities, Crowdfund Better, Thursdays, March 20 & 27, April 3 & 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET. Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025. Call for community action: Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here. If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here. We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe