Core Electronics
Core Electronics is an Australian authorized retailer and distributor of maker electronics, development boards, and desktop manufacturing equipment, serving hobbyists, schools, and professionals through e-commerce with local stock and same-day shipping.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersCardiff, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Core Electronics does
Core Electronics is an Australian privately held specialty retailer and authorized distributor of maker electronics, development platforms, and desktop manufacturing equipment, headquartered in Cardiff, Newcastle, NSW. Founded in 2007 and operating as Core Electronics Pty Ltd, the company curates a catalog of more than 9,000 products across 32+ categories, sourced from major global brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, BBC micro:bit, Bambu Lab, xTool, Makera, NVIDIA, Particle, Adafruit, and goBILDA. It has also developed three proprietary sub-brands — PiicoDev (modular sensors), Makerverse (components and prototyping tools), and GlowBit (LED products) — alongside an active content and community ecosystem comprising a technical support forum, project guides, video tutorials, and online courses.
The business runs primarily through a direct e-commerce storefront (core-electronics.com.au) with inside-sales phone support and a purchase-order channel for educational institutions and government agencies, including registered vendor status with NSW, QLD, and SA Departments of Education. Pricing is in Australian dollars inclusive of GST, with tiered quantity discounts on bulk orders and net payment terms available for institutional buyers. Local stock supports same-day shipping, and the company offers free pickup in the Newcastle region plus international shipping to New Zealand and other countries.
Core Electronics serves a multi-segment customer base: primary segments are individual makers/hobbyists and schools/educational institutions, with secondary exposure to engineers/professionals, government agencies, and gift buyers. Revenue is generated through hardware sales (no software or subscription revenue stream is disclosed), and the company does not develop proprietary technology beyond its own-brand products. Leadership comprises Managing Director Graham Mitchell; no broader management team or external investors are publicly disclosed.
Core Electronics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Core Electronics
- Legal name
- Core Electronics Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://core-electronics.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Core Electronics is an Australian authorized retailer and distributor of maker electronics, development boards, and desktop manufacturing equipment, serving hobbyists, schools, and professionals through e-commerce with local stock and same-day shipping.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Core Electronics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maker Electronics Retail
- SIC
- Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, Nec (5065), Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Embedded, Maker Platforms & Development Kits Retail (CRACAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Electronic Components (Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors) Retail (CRACAKAA), PCB, Prototyping Boards & Etching Supplies Retail (CRACAKAF), DIY Kits, STEM Electronics & Maker Bundles Retail (CRACAKAN)
Keywords
Where Core Electronics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cardiff
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Core Electronics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Core Electronics generates revenue through direct product sales of electronics components, development boards, sensors, tools, 3D printers, CNC machines, and educational kits. They offer tiered pricing with quantity discounts and sell both to individual consumers and institutional buyers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product pricing with quantity discounts |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Purchase orders for educational and government institutions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Core Electronics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Core Electronics is an Australian e-commerce retailer and authorized distributor of maker electronics, development boards (Raspberry Pi, Arduino, micro:bit), desktop manufacturing equipment (3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters), and STEM educational kits. The company curates and resells products from major manufacturers under its own sub-brands (PiicoDev, Makerverse, GlowBit) alongside third-party hardware, serving makers, educators, engineers, and government buyers via its core-electronics.com.au storefront with local Australian stock and educational content resources.
Product overview
Core Electronics is an Australian maker education and retail company (based in Newcastle) that operates as a multi-brand e-commerce platform offering DIY electronics, desktop manufacturing equipment, and educational technology. Their product portfolio centers on their own sub-brands (PiicoDev sensors/modules, Makerverse components, GlowBit LEDs) alongside an extensive range of third-party development platforms (Raspberry Pi, Arduino, micro:bit, Particle IoT devices) and professional desktop manufacturing equipment (Bambu Lab 3D printers, xTool laser engravers, Makera CNC machines, NVIDIA AI computing kits). The company serves makers, educators, and engineers with a catalog spanning 32+ product categories including robotics, sensors, wireless modules, test equipment, and prototyping tools. They differentiate through bundled solutions (starter kits, desktop bundles, retro gaming bundles) and educational resources including guides, video tutorials, and online courses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PiicoDev: Modular sensor and device system for Raspberry Pi and other platforms
- Makerverse
- GlowBit
Companies that use Core Electronics
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Core Electronics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Core Electronics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Raspberry Pi FoundationcoreCore Electronics is an authorized Australian distributor for Raspberry Pi products, offering the full range of Raspberry Pi single-board computers, accessories, and official peripherals including the latest Raspberry Pi 5 models and AI HAT+ modules.
- ArduinocoreAuthorized distributor of Arduino boards and kits including Arduino UNO, Arduino Starter Kit R4, Arduino CTC GO!, and Arduino Opta industrial PLC products.
- BBC micro:bitcoreOfficial Australian distributor for BBC micro:bit V2.2 boards, club packs, and starter kits tailored for educational use in schools and makerspaces.
- Bambu LabcoreAustralian distributor for Bambu Lab 3D printers including X2D, P2S, H2S, H2D, H2C models and AMS (Automatic Material System) accessories.
- NVIDIAcoreAuthorized reseller of NVIDIA development kits including Jetson Orin Nano Super Developer Kit and DGX Spark for AI and edge computing applications.
- ParticleminorDistributes Particle IoT development kits including Argon, Photon 2, and Edge ML kits for connected device development.
- goBILDAcoreExtensive distributor of goBILDA robotics components with 1549+ products including motors, chassis, and actuator systems for robotics projects.
- AdafruitminorCarries Adafruit products including Circuit Playground boards, sensors, and accessories for maker projects.
- MakeracoreAustralian distributor for Makera desktop CNC machines including Carvera and Carvera Air, along with accessories and consumables.
- xToolcoreAuthorized reseller of xTool desktop laser engravers and cutters including F2 Ultra, S1, and P2 models with accessories and bundles.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Core Electronics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Adafruit Industries: Adafruit is a US-based maker electronics retailer and the original creator of the Circuit Playground line, which Core Electronics resells. It operates a near-identical model: educational content, in-house brand sensors/modules, and broad maker SKU coverage — the most direct functional peer globally.
- SparkFun Electronics: SparkFun is a US maker electronics retailer specializing in development boards, sensors, and breakout modules, with its own branded product lines. Comparable to Core Electronics in product depth, education focus, and content-led community model.
- Jaycar Electronics: Jaycar is Australia's largest domestic electronics retailer with physical stores nationwide. It sells a broader range including consumer audio, security, and hobbyist components, overlapping with Core in DIY electronics but with a much more generalist assortment and very limited maker-platform depth.
- Little Bird Electronics: Little Bird is an Australian Arduino- and maker-focused retailer headquartered in Canberra. Overlaps directly with Core Electronics as a domestic specialist in development boards and kits, though with a smaller catalog and no comparable distributor partnerships with Bambu Lab, NVIDIA, or xTool.
Broad incumbents
- element14 (Farnell / Newark): element14 is the community-facing arm of Farnell, a global broadline electronics distributor serving industrial and maker customers. Sells Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and other maker platforms at scale across Australia, but as part of a multi-million-SKU industrial catalog rather than a maker-only focus.
- Mouser Electronics: Mouser is a global authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components serving engineers and procurement teams in Australia. Overlaps with Core on professional/engineering demand but lacks Core's maker-first focus, educational content, and same-day local AUS fulfillment.
- Digi-Key Electronics: Digi-Key is a top global electronics distributor offering components and development boards, including Raspberry Pi and Arduino. Comparable to Core on parts and dev kits but oriented to professional buyers with very different fulfillment economics and no community/education layer.
Emerging players
- Seeed Studio: Seeed Studio is a Shenzhen-based maker hardware manufacturer and online retailer known for Wio Terminal, XIAO boards, and Grove sensors. Competes with Core in maker SBCs/sensors but adds its own manufactured silicon and PCBA services that Core doesn't offer.
- Robotshop: Robotshop is a North-America-headquartered specialist retailer of robotics platforms, components, and DIY kits. Overlaps with Core's robotics and goBILDA categories, with similar educational and hobbyist customers, but does not serve Australia with local stocking.
Regional players
- PiShop.us: PiShop is an authorized US reseller for Raspberry Pi that, like Core, bundles accessories around hero Pi SKUs. Functions as a near-mirror direct competitor in the US region but does not ship same-day within Australia, leaving Core's local logistics moat intact domestically.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Core Electronics social profiles
Digital presenceCore Electronics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Core Electronics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Core Electronics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Core 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 Core Electronics
What does Core Electronics do?
Core Electronics is an Australian e-commerce retailer and authorized distributor of maker electronics, development boards (Raspberry Pi, Arduino, micro:bit), desktop manufacturing equipment (3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters), and STEM educational kits. The company curates and resells products from major manufacturers under its own sub-brands (PiicoDev, Makerverse, GlowBit) alongside third-party hardware, serving makers, educators, engineers, and government buyers via its core-electronics.com.au storefront with local Australian stock and educational content resources.
Is Core Electronics a public or private company?
Core Electronics is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Core Electronics founded?
Core Electronics was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Core Electronics based?
Core Electronics is headquartered in Cardiff, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Core Electronics make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Sales.
Who are Core Electronics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Adafruit Industries, SparkFun Electronics, Jaycar Electronics and Little Bird Electronics. Broad incumbents are element14 (Farnell / Newark), Mouser Electronics and Digi-Key Electronics. Emerging players are Seeed Studio and Robotshop. PiShop.us is listed as a regional player.
Does Core Electronics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Core Electronics.
What industry is Core Electronics in?
Core Electronics's product category is Maker Electronics Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAKAI, Embedded, Maker Platforms & Development Kits Retail, with a secondary code of CRACAKAA, Electronic Components (Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors) Retail. Its SIC code is 5065.