Space Tank Studio
Space Tank Studio is a Melbourne-based for-profit social enterprise operating a 1,500 sqm business makerspace and incubator that provides hardware startups, makers and corporate teams with affordable access to advanced manufacturing equipment, private studios, skills training and business mentoring, supporting over 1,000 businesses since 2013.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Space Tank Studio does
Space Tank Studio is a Melbourne-based for-profit social enterprise founded in 2013 by Holger Dielenberg, operating a 1,500-square-metre business makerspace and incubator at 9 Warner Street, Coburg North, with a planned expansion to the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct. The company provides hardware startups, niche manufacturers, product designers and corporate teams with affordable access to advanced prototyping and manufacturing equipment, including Markforged composite 3D printers, large-format laser cutters, multi-axis milling machines, CNC, welding bays and full woodworking facilities, alongside private studios (18–35 sqm), co-working fabrication space, and storage. Its product surface spans four membership tiers (Business Tenant fulltime studio lease, Flexi Pass daily access, Tech Pass per-minute technology access, and Corporate Plans for up to 60-employee rosters), plus skills training at AUD 170/hour, business mentoring, event facilities, a service bureau for design fabrication, and the Startup Factory venture-studio programme at Fishermans Bend.
Revenue is generated through subscription-based studio and workshop rentals, usage-based passes and training, corporate innovation packages, and episodic service-bureau and government contracts (including a 2020 Federal Government order for five million Rapid Shield face shields). The customer base of over 1,000 businesses supported since inception spans medical devices (FREO2, Health Forge), electric vehicles (Revival EV, Jaunt), agritech (Farmwall), bicycles (Bastion Cycles), furniture and lighting (Sabu Studio, Design By Storm) and product design consultancies (Hone PD), with a broader network of 6,000+ manufacturers, designers, entrepreneurs and investors cultivated through community-led and event-driven go-to-market motions. Notable partners include LaunchVic, the Victorian Government, AMGC, CSIRO, Deakin's Manufutures, Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions, Breakthrough Victoria, Swinburne University, Autodesk and Markforged, providing policy, capital and equipment leverage that supports the company's positioning as a bridge across Australia's hardware-startup commercialisation gap.
Space Tank Studio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Space Tank Studio
- Legal name
- Space Tank Studio Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://spacetank.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Space Tank Studio is a Melbourne-based for-profit social enterprise operating a 1,500 sqm business makerspace and incubator that provides hardware startups, makers and corporate teams with affordable access to advanced manufacturing equipment, private studios, skills training and business mentoring, supporting over 1,000 businesses since 2013.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Space Tank Studio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Business Makerspace and Hardware Startup Incubator
- akta.pro primary industry
- Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH)
Keywords
Where Space Tank Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Melbourne
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Space Tank Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Studio Rental: Monthly studio rental for fulltime business tenants with private lockable spaces ranging from 18 sqm to 35 sqm, and open plan areas from 15 sqm to 30 sqm
- Workshop Pass Memberships: Flexible access memberships including Flexi Pass for daily access and Tech Pass for prototyping technology access on a per-minute usage basis
- Corporate Plans: Team access packages for corporate entities with rostered access for up to 60 employees, 1-2 days per month each
- Business Incubator/Accelerator Programs: Programs including Bench to Business training and Startup Factory venture studio model programs
- Service Bureau: Design fabrication and consultation services for external clients needing prototyping or manufacturing assistance
- Skills Training: Training courses on all in-house machinery and technology, including Fusion360 3D modelling software, 2D design software, user centred design coaching, mentoring and commercial business training
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Business Tenant - Fulltime studio with workshop access |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Flexi Pass - Casual flexible daily access |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Tech Pass - Prototyping technology access |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Skills Training - Equipment and technology training |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | OH&S Induction |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Space Tank Studio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Space Tank Studio operates a 1,500 sqm business makerspace in Coburg North, Melbourne, providing affordable access to advanced prototyping equipment (3D printing, laser cutting, CNC milling, vacuum forming, welding, woodworking) along with private studio rentals, skills training, and business mentoring for hardware startups and emerging manufacturers. It sells tiered memberships (Business Tenant, Flexi Pass, Tech Pass, Corporate Plans), run equipment training courses, and operates the Startup Factory venture-studio program at Fishermans Bend in partnership with the Victorian Government.
Product overview
Space Tank Studio operates as a business makerspace providing a unified platform of physical manufacturing facilities, business support services, and community programs. The core offering combines studio rental (18-35 sqm private spaces) with workshop/fabrication access through membership tiers (Business Tenant, Flexi Pass, Tech Pass, Corporate Plans). Supporting services include Skills Training on machinery, Business Mentoring, and Event Facilities. The Startup Factory program extends the offering with a venture studio model for advanced manufacturing startups. All services are accessed through their 1,500 sqm Coburg North facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business Tenant Studio Rental Fulltime private studio leases ranging from 18 sqm to 35 sqm with natural skylights, compressed air outlets, air conditioning, 24/7 access, security swipe card, OH&S induction, fulltime workshop pass, and discounts on courses and events. Designed for businesses and entrepreneurs developing physical products.
- Flexi Pass Casual daily access membership ($165/day) to the makerspace for one-off jobs, small projects, product development, and prototyping. Includes daily access to facilities, manufacturing machinery, short-term racking and storage, co-working fabrication space, fabrication tables, welding bay, and wood workshop.
- Tech Pass Per-minute usage access to prototyping technology including laser cutter, vacuum former, multi-axis milling machine, and 3D printers. Mandatory training is required before receiving DIY access.
- Corporate Plans Team access packages allowing organizations to roster up to 60 employees with 1-2 days access per month each. Includes design thinking workshops, innovation boot camps, and entrepreneurship programs for groups of up to 50 people.
- Skills Training Short courses ($170/hour per person) on all in-house machinery and technology including laser cutting, multi-axis milling, CNC flatbed milling, 3D printing, vacuum forming, welding, metalwork, bronze casting, woodworking, and Fusion360 3D modelling software. Most training takes 1-2 hours.
- Business Mentoring Expert business advice focused on Market Relevance, User Centred Design, and Design for Manufacturing, addressing aspirations, challenges, strengths, and weaknesses of founders and lead teams.
- Startup Factory Venture studio model program co-creating businesses from the ground up by coordinating curated teams of design and technology experts, business professionals, and investors. Located at the Fishermans Bend innovation precinct, it provides facilities, expertise, programs, and community for advanced manufacturing startups.
- Service Bureau (Design Fabrication) Fee-for-service design fabrication and consultation for external clients needing prototyping or manufacturing assistance beyond DIY member access.
Companies that use Space Tank Studio
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Space Tank Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Space Tank Studio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- MarkforgedcoreMarkforged supports Space Tank with a new high-end composite material 3D printer capable of producing end-use parts. Equipment partnership for advanced manufacturing capabilities.
- AutodeskmajorAutodesk partners with Space Tank to deliver FUSION 360 training sessions for makers and offers members free software licences. Strategic partnership for design software education.
- AlfexCNCcoreFirst industry equipment supplier to support Space Tank Studio, providing CNC equipment for the makerspace.
- Victorian GovernmentcoreStrategic partnership with Victorian State Government for the Startup Factory program at Fishermans Bend. Government recognition of Space Tank's role in advanced manufacturing innovation ecosystem.
- Fishermans Bend Innovation PrecinctcoreSpace Tank's Startup Factory aligns with the Victorian Government's vision for Fishermans Bend as an internationally renowned centre of innovation in advanced manufacturing, engineering and design.
- AMGC (Australian Manufacturing Growth Centre)majorStrategic alignment with AMGC's goals for advanced manufacturing growth in Australia.
- CSIROmajorPartnership with Australia's national science organisation for innovation and research collaboration.
- Manufutures (Deakin University)majorResearch partnership with Deakin University's Manufutures initiative focused on advanced manufacturing research.
- Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions (BAMS)majorCollaboration with Bosch's manufacturing solutions division for industry best practices and expertise sharing.
- Brunswick Design DistrictmajorAlignment with Brunswick Design District's values and goals for design and manufacturing innovation.
- FB IDEAsmajorA not-for-profit organisation that works with Fishermans Bend stakeholders and partners to create and support innovative and iterative activity within the precinct.
- Swinburne University of TechnologymajorSpace Tank offers Swinburne design graduates awards recognising outstanding achievements in design. Ongoing collaboration with university for student development.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Space Tank Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Artisan's Asylum: Large US community makerspace offering memberships, studio rentals, equipment access (wood/metal/3D printing) and skills training to hardware startups and makers — the closest direct comparable to Space Tank's hybrid incubator + makerspace model.
- NYC Resistor: Volunteer-run community makerspace in Brooklyn providing classes and equipment access (laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC, electronics) for members — directly comparable in membership, training and shared-fab offerings.
- Fab Foundation (Fab Lab Network): Global network of digital fabrication labs (Fab Labs) originating from MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, providing community access to 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC — the archetypal model for a makerspace offering prototyping technology access on a usage basis.
- Noisebridge: San Francisco community makerspace offering free/open access to a broad suite of fabrication and prototyping equipment plus classes — directly comparable in member-driven, community-led operating model.
- HAX: Shenzhen/San Francisco hardware accelerator and venture studio focused on physical-product startups, providing prototyping resources, mentorship and seed capital — directly comparable on the incubator/accelerator dimension of Space Tank's Startup Factory.
- Bolt: Hardware-focused venture capital firm operating a 'thematic venture studio' that invests in and builds hardware startups from inception — directly comparable to Space Tank's Startup Factory venture-studio model.
Regional players
- Makespace (UK): UK community makerspace and innovation hub in Cambridge offering prototyping equipment and startup support on a membership basis — comparable offering and audience but operating in a different geography.
Emerging players
- Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused co-working and incubator spaces aligned with social enterprise values; Space Tank's Social Traders-certified For-Profit Social Enterprise model and stakeholder positioning make this a thematically adjacent peer for the incubator/community dimension.
Broad incumbents
- Techstars: Large global accelerator network with dedicated hardware and industrial programs; serves the same 'startup commercialization' need but across multiple verticals and without the physical-makespace component that differentiates Space Tank.
- WeWork: Global co-working incumbent providing office and studio rentals to entrepreneurs and corporates; broadly comparable on the tenancy-revenue dimension but without the prototyping equipment or hardware-startup specialization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Space Tank Studio social profiles
Digital presenceSpace Tank Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Space Tank Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Space Tank Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Space Tank Studio 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 Space Tank Studio
What does Space Tank Studio do?
Space Tank Studio operates a 1,500 sqm business makerspace in Coburg North, Melbourne, providing affordable access to advanced prototyping equipment (3D printing, laser cutting, CNC milling, vacuum forming, welding, woodworking) along with private studio rentals, skills training, and business mentoring for hardware startups and emerging manufacturers. It sells tiered memberships (Business Tenant, Flexi Pass, Tech Pass, Corporate Plans), run equipment training courses, and operates the Startup Factory venture-studio program at Fishermans Bend in partnership with the Victorian Government.
Is Space Tank Studio a public or private company?
Space Tank Studio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Space Tank Studio founded?
Space Tank Studio was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Space Tank Studio based?
Space Tank Studio is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Space Tank Studio make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Studio Rental is the primary driver. The others are workshop Pass Memberships, corporate Plans, business Incubator/Accelerator Programs, service Bureau and skills Training.
Who are Space Tank Studio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Artisan's Asylum, NYC Resistor, Fab Foundation (Fab Lab Network), Noisebridge, HAX and Bolt. Makespace (UK) is listed as a regional player. Impact Hub is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Techstars and WeWork.
Does Space Tank Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Space Tank Studio.
What industry is Space Tank Studio in?
Space Tank Studio's product category is Business Makerspace and Hardware Startup Incubator. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAC, Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios), with a secondary code of EDAMADAH, 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs.