SparkFun Electronics
SparkFun Electronics is a Boulder, Colorado-based open-source hardware retailer selling electronic components, development boards, sensors, and GNSS products to engineers, makers, students, and IoT developers via direct e-commerce and distributor channels like DigiKey.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SparkFun Electronics does
SparkFun Electronics is a Boulder, Colorado-based private electronics retailer and open-source hardware company founded in 2003 that sells components, development boards, sensors, GNSS/GPS modules, IoT and wireless devices, and kits directly through its e-commerce storefront and via distributor channel partners such as DigiKey. Its technical platform centers on three proprietary frameworks: the Qwiic I2C connector ecosystem (over 50 supported sensors with auto-detection, enabling solderless plug-and-play prototyping), the MicroMod M.2-based modular processor/function board architecture, and the SparkPNT product line for high-precision positioning, navigation, and timing. SparkFun designs and sources its own branded boards (Thing Plus, RedBoard, Artemis, ESP32 variants) while also distributing third-party platforms including Arduino, Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson, Teensy, and STM32-based products.
The company operates a hybrid GTM combining product-led self-serve e-commerce, event-driven field marketing at venues like embedded world, and a community-led motion anchored by learn.sparkfun.com tutorials, a technical support forum, GitHub repositories, and a dedicated SparkFun Education program for K-12 and university STEM buyers. Pricing is unit-based with products ranging from sub-$2 components to over $3,500 SparkPNT kits, and volume discounts at 25+ and 100+ unit tiers serve the small enterprise and reseller segment. Customer segments span engineers/makers/students (primary), IoT and wireless developers, and a growing industrial/professional cohort via SparkPNT.
In June 2026 SparkFun spun out SparkPNT as a wholly-owned subsidiary from its SparkX experimental division to commercialize open-source GNSS receivers, reference stations, and timing devices targeting industrial, logistics, robotics, and agricultural applications. The company employs 51-100 people, operates primarily in North America, and received approximately $2.99M in disclosed funding from Opportunity Now Colorado in March 2024, its first known institutional capital event.
SparkFun Electronics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SparkFun Electronics
- Legal name
- SparkFun Electronics
- Website
- https://sparkfun.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SparkFun Electronics is a Boulder, Colorado-based open-source hardware retailer selling electronic components, development boards, sensors, and GNSS products to engineers, makers, students, and IoT developers via direct e-commerce and distributor channels like DigiKey.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SparkFun Electronics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Open-Source Hardware Development
- NAICS
- Wiring Device Manufacturing (33593)
- SIC
- Electronic Connectors (3678)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Embedded, Maker Platforms & Development Kits Retail (CRACAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- DIY Kits, STEM Electronics & Maker Bundles Retail (CRACAKAN), Semiconductors, ICs & Microcontrollers Retail (CRACAKAB)
Keywords
Where SparkFun Electronics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SparkFun Electronics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: SparkFun generates revenue through the direct sale of electronic components, development boards, sensors, wireless modules, kits, and prototyping tools through its e-commerce platform. Products range from individual components ($1.95-$400+) to complete development kits and systems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing for individual components and development boards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Development kits and starter packages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | High-precision GNSS and RTK products |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
SparkFun Electronics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SparkFun Electronics designs, manufactures, and distributes open-source electronic development boards, sensors, GNSS/GPS positioning products, wireless modules, and prototyping kits for engineers, makers, students, and educators. The company operates a direct-to-customer e-commerce platform (sparkfun.com) and supports a Qwiic plug-and-play I2C connector ecosystem, MicroMod modular platform, and the SparkPNT subsidiary for high-precision positioning, navigation, and timing products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SparkPNT: Open-source, repairable, and upgradable GNSS products including receivers, reference stations, and timing devices for industrial, logistics, robotic, and agricultural sectors. A wholly-owned subsidiary of SparkFun Electronics dedicated to positioning, navigation, and timing.
- SparkX
Products and services
- SparkPNT (GNSS Positioning, Navigation & Timing) A line of open-source, repairable GNSS receivers, RTK surveyors, reference stations, and timing devices targeting industrial, logistics, robotics, and agricultural applications.
- SparkFun DataLogger IoT - 9DoF ESP32-based 9DoF data logger with auto-detection of Qwiic sensors, local microSD storage, and wireless cloud connectivity for IoT applications.
- SparkPNT GNSS Disciplined Oscillator Plus High-precision GNSS-disciplined oscillator for timing synchronization applications.
- SparkFun GNSS Timing Breakout - ZED-F9T-20B (Qwiic) GNSS timing breakout board with u-blox ZED-F9T-20B module and Qwiic connector for precision timing applications.
- SparkFun Thing Plus - ESP32-C5 Thing Plus form-factor ESP32-C5 development board with Wi-Fi 6, BLE, Zigbee, Thread, and Matter support.
- SparkFun 9DoF IMU Breakout - IM19 9-degrees-of-freedom inertial measurement unit breakout board with IM19 sensor for motion sensing.
- SparkFun Qwiic 12 Bit DAC Breakout - MCP4725 12-bit digital-to-analog converter breakout board with Qwiic connector for analog output applications.
- SparkFun BlueSMiRF v2 - JST Bluetooth serial module with JST connector for wireless serial communication.
- SEGGER J-Link EDU Mini (with USB-C Cable) ARM development programmer/debugger with USB-C interface for embedded development.
- Qwiic Ecosystem (Sensors, Breakouts, Connectors) Solderless I2C connector ecosystem with 50+ compatible sensors, breakouts, and modules enabling plug-and-play prototyping with auto-detection.
- MicroMod Ecosystem (Processor Boards & Function Boards) Modular M.2-standard interface with interchangeable Processor Boards and Function Boards for customizable embedded development solutions.
- Arduino-Compatible Development Boards (RedBoard) Arduino-compatible RedBoard development boards with Uno R3 footprint for microcontroller-based prototyping.
- SparkFun Education Kits (EDU Program) Custom-designed educational electronics kits and curriculum support for K-12 makerspaces, university engineering programs, and STEM education workshops.
Quantifiable outcome
- Move from concept to working prototype in hours rather than days
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SparkFun Electronics
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SparkFun Electronics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration17 records
Feature4 records
SparkFun Electronics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Raspberry Pi LtdcoreSparkFun integrates Raspberry Pi Radio Module 2 in Thing Plus – RP2350 product. The module features Infineon CYW43439 chip with full modular certification, enabling SparkFun to offer certified wireless connectivity in its development boards.
- DigiKeycoreDigiKey distributes SparkFun products and demonstrated SparkFun's XRP robotics platform at embedded world 2026 as part of rapid prototyping demonstrations. SparkFun is listed among key players in the Arduino-compatible market alongside DigiKey's distribution ecosystem.
- Qwiic Ecosystem PartnerscoreThe Qwiic ecosystem includes 50+ sensors and devices from various manufacturers that are compatible with SparkFun's Qwiic connector system, enabling broad interoperability.
- u-bloxcoreu-blox GNSS modules (ZED-F9P, NEO-F9P, ZED-X20P) are integrated into SparkFun's GNSS boards, receivers, and timing products.
- EspressifcoreSparkFun develops ESP32-based products including Thing Plus ESP32 WROOM and ESP32-C5 boards, integrating Espressif's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SparkFun Electronics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Adafruit Industries: Adafruit is the closest direct competitor to SparkFun, operating an online retail store for electronics components, development boards, sensors, and kits targeted at makers, engineers, and students. Both companies share the open-source hardware philosophy, tutorial-driven content model, and proprietary connector ecosystems (Qwiic vs. STEMMA QT).
- DFRobot: DFRobot is a maker-focused electronics retailer and OEM with development boards, sensors, and kits targeting the education and hobbyist segments. Its Gravity connector system parallels SparkFun's Qwiic, and its product range and target customers are closely comparable to SparkFun's catalog.
- Seeed Studio: Seeed Studio is a Shenzhen-based maker electronics company selling development boards, sensors, and IoT modules through both DTC and distributor channels. Its Grove ecosystem competes with Qwiic, and its Wio Terminal, Xiao, and reTerminal product lines overlap with SparkFun's Thing Plus and MicroMod offerings.
- Pololu: Pololu is a US-based electronics retailer specializing in robotics, motor control, and embedded systems components. It shares SparkFun's focus on individual components and development boards for engineers and hobbyists, with overlapping product categories in sensors, microcontrollers, and prototyping tools.
- Arduino: Arduino is both a partner and competitor to SparkFun, selling its own branded development boards and software ecosystem targeted at makers, educators, and professionals. SparkFun distributes Arduino-compatible products and competes with Arduino's own boards, sensors, and IoT offerings in the same maker ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- DigiKey: DigiKey is one of the world's largest electronics distributors with millions of SKUs across components, development boards, and test equipment. It carries SparkFun products as a distribution partner while also competing in many of the same maker and engineering customer segments with its own catalog and broad-line scale advantages.
- Mouser Electronics: Mouser is a major global electronics distributor offering semiconductors, development boards, sensors, and tools to engineers and buyers. It competes with SparkFun for engineering customers while also serving as a potential distribution channel, with significantly greater catalog breadth and procurement scale.
- Arrow Electronics: Arrow Electronics is a Fortune 500 electronics distributor serving enterprise and industrial customers with broad-line component distribution. While it operates at a different scale and target market than SparkFun, it increasingly competes in the IoT, embedded, and maker-adjacent segments where SparkFun also operates.
Emerging players
- Crowd Supply: Crowd Supply is an open-source hardware product launch and crowdfunding platform that helps makers bring products to market. It is a partial competitor to SparkFun's SparkX experimental division and competes for the attention and dollars of the same maker and open-source hardware community.
- Tindie: Tindie is a marketplace for buying and selling handmade electronics, components, and maker goods from independent sellers. It overlaps with SparkFun's marketplace-style catalog by aggregating niche maker products, although it does not produce proprietary hardware at SparkFun's scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SparkFun Electronics social profiles
Digital presenceSparkFun Electronics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SparkFun Electronics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SparkFun Electronics subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
SparkFun Electronics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SparkFun Electronics 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 SparkFun Electronics
What does SparkFun Electronics do?
SparkFun Electronics designs, manufactures, and distributes open-source electronic development boards, sensors, GNSS/GPS positioning products, wireless modules, and prototyping kits for engineers, makers, students, and educators. The company operates a direct-to-customer e-commerce platform (sparkfun.com) and supports a Qwiic plug-and-play I2C connector ecosystem, MicroMod modular platform, and the SparkPNT subsidiary for high-precision positioning, navigation, and timing products.
Is SparkFun Electronics a public or private company?
SparkFun Electronics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SparkFun Electronics founded?
SparkFun Electronics was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SparkFun Electronics based?
SparkFun Electronics is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
How does SparkFun Electronics make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Product Sales.
Who are SparkFun Electronics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Adafruit Industries, DFRobot, Seeed Studio, Pololu and Arduino. Broad incumbents are DigiKey, Mouser Electronics and Arrow Electronics. Emerging players are Crowd Supply and Tindie.
Does SparkFun Electronics have an API?
No public API is recorded for SparkFun Electronics.
What industry is SparkFun Electronics in?
SparkFun Electronics's product category is Open-Source Hardware Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAKAI, Embedded, Maker Platforms & Development Kits Retail, with a secondary code of CRACAKAN, DIY Kits, STEM Electronics & Maker Bundles Retail. Its NAICS code is 33593 and its SIC code is 3678.