Print the Future: The Rise of Distributed Manufacturing and Digital Supply Chains
A5X: The Ascent Series is a curated lead-up to NUS Enterprise’s flagship A5X: Global Innovation & Venture Summit.
This series brings you closer to the leaders who have already mastered the climb, offering the first-hand insights necessary for the challenging road ahead.
Your ascent starts today as we tackle one of deep-tech’s toughest execution challenges.
The next industrial revolution won’t be powered by software alone.
It will be powered by how we produce physical things.
From aerospace to energy, the way companies manufacture is being rewritten faster, localised, and on-demand.
But most startups and corporations are still stuck in outdated production models.
So what does it take to build and scale in this new world?
Step inside the mind of someone already building it.
Meet Alessio Lorusso — founder, engineer, and one of the leading voices redefining global manufacturing.
At just 17, he built his first 3D printer.
He didn’t follow the conventional path — no university playbook, no linear roadmap.
Instead, he went straight into the deep end:
→ Building high-performance parts for Formula 1 teams like Ferrari
→ Taking on industries where failure is not an option
→ Scaling a deep-tech company into a global player in advanced manufacturing
Recognised as a Forbes 30 Under 30, Alessio represents a new breed of founder — one who doesn’t just build software, but reshapes the physical world.
🧠 In this session, you’ll discover:
⚙️ What “distributed manufacturing” really means — and why it will replace traditional supply chains
How production is shifting from centralised factories to on-demand, localised networks.
🚧 The reality of building deep-tech from scratch
What it takes to go from prototype to real-world adoption — and why most startups fail at this stage.
💰 Raising capital without the conventional credentials
How Alessio built and funded his company without a traditional academic path and what investors actually look for in deep-tech founders.
🏁 From idea to high-stakes industries
Lessons from working with aerospace, energy, and even Formula 1 — where precision, reliability, and performance are non-negotiable.
🔮 What the next 10 years of manufacturing will look like
And where the biggest opportunities lie for founders, corporates, and innovators.
🎯 Why you cannot afford to miss this
If you’re a:
Founder → Understand how to build beyond software and into real-world impact
Corporate leader → Learn how to future-proof your supply chain and stay competitive
Engineer / innovator → See where your skills will matter most in the next decade
This isn’t theory. This is the playbook of someone already doing it at scale.
The companies that win tomorrow won’t just build better software.
They’ll control how the world produces.
Event details
26 May 2026 (Tuesday)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (SGT), Registration starts 1.30 PM.
i3 building, 21 Heng Mui Keng Ter, NUS Enterprise, Singapore 119613
Seminar Room 3
Come see what that future looks like before everyone else catches up.
Secure your seat now
About Alessio Lorusso
Alessio Lorusso is the founder and CEO of Roboze, which builds 3D printers for large industrial manufacturers like General Electric and Airbus.
Lorusso built his first 3D printer when he was only 17 years old, and in the two years since the company was founded, it's already generating over $1.4 million in revenue per year - without raising capital from investors.
Roboze's 3D printers, unlike traditional 3D printers, are beltless, which enables more precise 3D printing with lower maintenance costs. The company also makes its own proprietary materials for applications such as aerospace and medical products. It is highly innovative, with its brainpower in Italy especially in the Additive manufacturing sector.
Alessio is not your typical founder. Recognised as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and among the most admired CEOs globally, Alessio represents a new generation of builders redefining how the world produces.