Opendesk.cc

What Opendesk.cc does

Opendesk.cc, operated by Fabbed Limited, is a London-based online marketplace founded in 2013 that connects customers to a global network of 400+ independent furniture makers for on-demand, locally-produced office furniture. The platform hosts digital furniture designs from independent designers — including the Lean Desk, Linnea Bookshelf, Johann Bench, Pedestal, and Fin Locker Planter — published under Creative Commons licensing and fabricated by local makers using CNC machining, 3D printing, and laser cutting. Customers browse designs on opendesk.cc, request quotes from nearby makers (typically returned within two business days), select a maker, and receive furniture direct from the workshop in 2–4 weeks. The company calls this model "Open Making," a structural alternative to centralized furniture manufacturing and global shipping.

The business model is a multi-sided marketplace: independent designers set their own per-product design fees, makers quote on local production costs, and Opendesk earns a proportional platform fee on each transaction. An additional "Tailoring" professional service is offered for custom dimensions and materials. Pricing is quote-based rather than publicly listed, with indicative starting prices ranging from £295 (Pedestal) to £1,450+ (Lean Desk 4-person workstation). GTM operates primarily direct-to-consumer via the website, supplemented by enterprise channel relationships.

Opendesk serves workspace customers across 20+ countries. Named customers include Google (Project Jack collaboration with AHMM architects), Nike, WeWork, Greenpeace (750 sqm HQ refit using local East London makers), Kano, and Block & Tackle. The company has raised approximately $1.5M in disclosed funding (Wayra in 2014 plus subsequent rounds including Pitch@Palace in 2015), operates with 11–50 employees from its East London studio, and has had its designs featured at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Design Museum London, and Vitra Design Museum.

Name

Opendesk.cc

Legal name

Fabbed Limited

Website

https://www.opendesk.cc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Opendesk.cc is a London-based online marketplace, founded in 2013, connecting customers to a global network of 400+ independent furniture makers for on-demand local production of designer office furniture. It serves workspace customers across 20+ countries using a distributed digital fabrication model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Furniture Marketplace

NAICS

Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers (4491)

SIC

Retail-Furniture Stores (5712)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Office Furniture Retail (Desks, Office Chairs, Bookcases, Filing/Storage) (CRAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Online furniture marketplace
• Local furniture manufacturing
• Workspace furniture
• Open source furniture designs
• Digital fabrication furniture

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Platform Fees: Opendesk receives proportional platform fees from each transaction processed through the marketplace. The platform acts as an intermediary connecting customers to local makers.
2. Designer Fees: Independent designers set their own design fee for every product sold through the platform. Opendesk facilitates payment of these fees as part of the transaction.
3. Tailoring Services: Custom design services where Opendesk charges a fee to produce Tailored Documents for custom dimensions, materials, and options not inherent in existing design patterns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Opendesk operates an online marketplace that hosts independently designed furniture and connects customers to a global network of more than 400 local makers who digitally fabricate and deliver the pieces on-demand. Customers browse open-source designs, request quotes from the nearest qualified maker, and receive custom-made furniture in 2-4 weeks, replacing mass manufacturing with distributed local production.

Product overview

Opendesk is an online marketplace platform for locally-made furniture, operating on an Open Making model that connects customers to a global network of 100+ independent makers. The platform hosts a library of digital furniture designs (including the Lean Desk, Linnea Bookshelf, Johann Bench, Pedestal, and Fin product range) that customers can browse, request quotes from local makers, and have fabricated on-demand using digital fabrication technology. The core platform enables quote requests, maker selection, and online payment, while products range from workstations (Lean Desk, Standing Desk, Studio Desk) to storage solutions (Pedestal, Fin Lockers, Linnea Bookshelf) and collaborative furniture (Johann Bench, Cafe Tables, Meeting Tables).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Opendesk Marketplace An online marketplace that hosts independently designed furniture and matches customers with the closest local maker from a network of 400+ vetted fabricators worldwide. Designed for businesses and individuals purchasing workspace furniture on-demand, with 2-4 week lead times.
• Standing Desk A height-adjustable standing desk design available on the Opendesk marketplace, locally fabricated by network makers.
• Lean Desk A minimalist desk design available on the Opendesk marketplace, locally fabricated by network makers for workspace use.
• Johann Bench A bench design available on the Opendesk marketplace, locally fabricated by network makers for workspace or common-area use.
• Cafe Tables A range of cafe-style tables available on the Opendesk marketplace, locally fabricated by network makers for breakout, kitchen, and cafe-style workspaces.
• Linnea Bookshelf A bookshelf design available on the Opendesk marketplace, locally fabricated by network makers for office or workspace storage.
• Pedestal A pedestal storage unit design available on the Opendesk marketplace, locally fabricated by network makers for workspace storage.
• Studio Desk A studio-style desk design available on the Opendesk marketplace, locally fabricated by network makers for individual workspace use.
• Lift Standing Desk A height-adjustable standing desk design available on the Opendesk marketplace, locally fabricated by network makers.
• Meeting Tables A range of meeting/conference table designs available on the Opendesk marketplace, locally fabricated by network makers for meeting rooms and collaboration spaces.
• Fin Locker Planter A combined locker-and-planter furniture design available on the Opendesk marketplace, locally fabricated by network makers for workspace use.
• Tailoring Service A service that customises existing Opendesk designs to specific workspace requirements, allowing businesses to commission adapted versions of marketplace designs from local makers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £1M in furniture sold since 2013
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Creative CommonscoreTechnology or IntegrationOpendesk uses Creative Commons licensing (including Attribution Non-Commercial licenses) for many designs on its platform. Designers choose their own license terms when sharing designs, with many opting for Creative Commons licenses to allow non-commercial use while protecting commercial rights.
• Fab FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpendesk designs are available to be made at FabLabs around the world through the Fab Foundation network. This enables hobbyists and educational users to access designs for personal/non-commercial making.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wayfair: Largest online furniture and home furnishings retailer in the US/UK. Competes with Opendesk for the same workspace/home office furniture buyer, but via mass-produced inventory rather than on-demand local manufacture.
• Burrow: DTC furniture company offering modular, design-forward sofas and home furniture with fast delivery. Comparable as a venture-backed digitally-native furniture brand competing for similar urban professional and SMB buyers.
• Article: Well-funded DTC furniture brand selling design-forward sofas, desks and storage direct to consumer with fast shipping. Direct competitive alternative to Opendesk in the design-conscious workspace buyer segment.
• Materialise: Large-scale digital manufacturing services company offering on-demand production through software-driven workflows. Comparable as an incumbent in the digital/local manufacturing platform category, though broader than Opendesk's furniture focus.
• Vitra: Established design furniture manufacturer whose works are featured in the same Vitra Design Museum that has exhibited Opendesk. Comparable as a design-credibility reference point, though operating via centralized manufacturing rather than distributed.
• Etsy: Operates a two-sided marketplace connecting independent makers/designers with buyers for made-to-order and custom goods. Closely comparable to Opendesk's maker-to-customer marketplace model, though Etsy spans categories well beyond furniture.
• Herman Miller / MillerKnoll: Iconic office and workspace furniture manufacturer whose products are the incumbent benchmark in corporate fit-outs (incl. Google offices). Represents the established competitor Opendesk must displace in enterprise workspace procurement.

Emerging players

• Shapeways: Digital manufacturing marketplace that uploads 3D designs and routes them to a network of fabricators. Shares Opendesk's digital-design-to-local-maker architecture, though Shapeways focuses on 3D-printed parts rather than furniture.
• Maker's Row: Online marketplace connecting brands and designers with US-based manufacturers for production. Adjacent maker-marketplace model to Opendesk, though focused on apparel and consumer goods rather than furniture.
• Ponoko: Digital fabrication platform that lets designers upload files for production by a global maker network (laser cutting, CNC, 3D printing). Highly comparable distributed-manufacturing model to Opendesk, including designer-to-maker content licensing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/open_desk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLmzGGt5-3Irwa84zJgwgkQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/opendesk.cc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fabbed
• Instagraminstagram.com/open_desk
• Pinterestpinterest.com/open_desk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Opendesk.cc