Xin Che Jian
XinCheJian (新车间) is Shanghai's first and longest-running hackerspace, a non-profit, member-supported makerspace offering shared access to fabrication tools, hands-on electronics and robotics workshops, and a DIY-kit marketplace serving hobbyist makers, students, hardware entrepreneurs, and families.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersShanghai, China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Xin Che Jian does
XinCheJian (新车间) is a non-profit, member-supported hackerspace founded in 2010 and headquartered in Shanghai, China. It is described as Shanghai's first and longest-running hackerspace, providing shared physical access to electronic and mechanical fabrication tools (including Arduino, Raspberry Pi, FPGAs, CNC machines, laser cutters, and 3D printers) together with PCB design environments (EagleCAD, KiCad) and supporting infrastructure for hardware prototyping. The organization runs a programming of scheduled workshops covering Arduino, Unity 3D, MATLAB, robotics, drones, PCB design, Tesla coil speakers, hydroponics, and other maker topics, hosted at its physical location and supplemented by a regular Wednesday open house cadence that has operated since 2012.
The organization generates revenue through four documented streams: (1) recurring monthly membership dues at 100 RMB/month, with optional storage lockers at an additional 200 RMB/month; (2) pay-as-you-go workshop fees ranging from 200 RMB to 3,999 RMB depending on session; (3) DIY kit and electronic component sales via the XinCheJian DIY / Make+ online platform, which only lists projects originating from members; and (4) a premium annual shareholder commitment tier at 12,000 RMB/year providing full privileges plus access to idle storage lockers. Distribution and community building are community-led: WeChat is the primary communication channel, the Huodongxing event platform handles event registration, and weekly open houses plus occasional hackathons and maker faire participation drive top-of-funnel engagement. The space serves hobbyist makers and hardware enthusiasts (primary segment), children/families, university students and international interns, and hardware entrepreneurs including notable alumni such as the Thiel Fellow theNelson (Wearhaus).
The organization has no disclosed external funding, parent company, or controlling entity. It has relocated twice within Shanghai — to Changle Road in 2012 and to HuiDe Mansion in Huangpu District in December 2020 — and operates an in-house collaboration with XinFab (a FabLab-network fabrication partner) that grants members access to additional CNC and laser cutting capacity. Past project visibility includes showcase of the Hover Pen and Hover Train superconductor demos at the China International Industry Fair in October 2016. Headcount is reported in the 11-50 employee band; no revenue or member-count figures are publicly disclosed.
Xin Che Jian firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Xin Che Jian
- Legal name
- XinCheJian / 新车间
- Website
- https://xinchejian.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- XinCheJian (新车间) is Shanghai's first and longest-running hackerspace, a non-profit, member-supported makerspace offering shared access to fabrication tools, hands-on electronics and robotics workshops, and a DIY-kit marketplace serving hobbyist makers, students, hardware entrepreneurs, and families.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Xin Che Jian industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Makerspace Services
- NAICS
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (334)
- SIC
- Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Maker / DIY Electronics & Physical Computing Platforms (EDAFANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- PCB, Prototyping Boards & Etching Supplies Retail (CRACAKAF)
Where Xin Che Jian is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shanghai
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Xin Che Jian business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Monthly membership fees provide recurring revenue. Members gain free access to electronic and workshop tools, cheap access to parts, and priority booking for workshops. XinCheJian operates on a membership model where revenue is generated through monthly dues.
- Workshop Fees: Fees charged for workshops with member and non-member pricing. Workshop revenue is collected at full price with no member discount applied. Workshop fees range from 200 RMB to 3999 RMB depending on the workshop and whether materials are included.
- DIY Kits and Components Sales: Sale of electronic components and DIY kits. The space sells parts in sets (e.g., 10 resistors for 1 RMB) and offers member pricing on parts. Products like InsectBot DIY Kit, Arduino Starter Kit, and DIY Motors/Sensors Shield are listed for sale through the XinCheJian DIY platform.
- Storage Rental: Additional revenue stream from renting storage lockers (50x50x30cm) to members for an extra 200 RMB/month on top of the base membership fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic Monthly Membership |
| Subscription | Monthly | Membership with Storage Locker |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Annual Shareholder Commitment |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Robot Arm Workshop (2 sessions) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | GPS Foldable Drone Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Arduino Automatic Plant Watering Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MATLAB Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Unity 3D Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PCB Design Workshop |
| Subscription | Monthly | Helper Sessions |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mini Workshop (PCB Design March 2014) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tesla Coil Speaker Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DIY Fluorescent Dance Cloth |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paper Circuit Workshop (Children) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hydroponics Workshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Doodle Bot Group Buy |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Xin Che Jian product offering
Product offeringCore offering
XinCheJian operates a physical hackerspace in Shanghai providing members with access to shared electronic and fabrication tools (Arduino kits, Raspberry Pi, FPGAs, CNC machines, laser cutters, 3D printers), PCB design software (EagleCAD, KiCad), and workshop equipment. It sells DIY electronics kits (Arduino Starter Kit, InsectBot, Motors/Sensors Shield, Mitch Altman kits) and runs structured hands-on workshops covering Arduino, Unity 3D, MATLAB, PCB design, robotics, drones, and other maker skills for individuals, children, and hardware entrepreneurs.
Product overview
XinCheJian (新车间) is Shanghai's first hackerspace, providing a physical makerspace with tools, equipment, and community for makers. The organization offers physical infrastructure access through membership, hands-on educational workshops covering electronics/programming/robotics, and DIY kit products. Core offerings include Workshops (Arduino, Unity3D, MATLAB, PCB design, robotics), Tools & Kits (Arduino Starter Kit, Motor/Sensor Shields, InsectBot, Mitch Altman kits), Projects platform for member work, and Make+ marketplace for selling member-created kits. The space hosts regular Events and Meetups for community building.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Monthly Membership Monthly subscription providing access to the XinCheJian hackerspace facilities, electronic tools, and workshop equipment for individual makers in Shanghai.
- Workshops (Electronics, Robotics, Programming) Structured hands-on educational workshops covering Arduino development, Unity3D game development, MATLAB, PCB design, robot arm manufacturing, drone building, and other maker skills, delivered in-person at the Shanghai space for members and non-members.
Companies that use Xin Che Jian
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Xin Che Jian technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Xin Che Jian partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- China International Industry Fair (CIFF) / Superconductor ManufacturerminorXinCheJian members Sean Purser-Haskell and Ivan Tchekashkin's Hover Pen and Hover Train superconductor demos were showcased by a superconductor manufacturer at the China International Industry Fair. This represents a product showcase partnership where member projects gained exhibition visibility.
- XinFabcoreXinCheJian members receive access to XinFab's CNC machines, laser cutters, and additional fabrication equipment through a cooperation agreement. XinFab is part of the global Fab Lab network (fablabs.io/xinfab). This partnership extends XinCheJian's fabrication capabilities beyond what it hosts in-house.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Xin Che Jian competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DFRobot: Shanghai-based open-source hardware and educational robotics provider selling Arduino-compatible kits, sensors, and STEM curriculum. Closely comparable because it operates in the same city, shares the same maker/STEM customer base, and supplies many of the same components XinCheJian uses and resells.
- Seeed Studio: Shenzhen-based hardware maker platform selling DIY kits, modules, and offering fabrication services. Directly comparable as a Shenzhen-Shanghai counterpart within the same Chinese maker ecosystem, with overlapping kit products, educational content, and hardware-startup support.
- HAX (formerly HAXLR8R): Hardware-focused accelerator program based in Shenzhen that mentors and funds early-stage hardware startups. Comparable because XinCheJian explicitly cites HAXLR8R as a partner organization serving the same hardware-entrepreneur segment.
- Noisebridge: San Francisco community hackerspace providing shared tools, workshops, and member-driven maker culture. Directly comparable as a peer hackerspace with the same non-profit, member-funded, community-led model.
- NYC Resistor: New York City hackerspace offering membership-based access to electronics and fabrication tools plus workshops. Comparable as a member-funded makerspace with similar revenue model and maker audience.
- xFactory / Chaihuo Makerspace: Shenzhen-based hackerspace and one of China's earliest maker community hubs. Directly comparable as a Chinese hackerspace serving the same maker and hardware-startup audience, with closer Shenzhen supply-chain access.
Broad incumbents
- Fab Foundation / FabLab Network: Global network of digital fabrication labs (including XinFab, XinCheJian's partner). Comparable as the umbrella organization that anchors XinCheJian's fabrication ecosystem and provides shared standards, training, and brand recognition.
- Maker Faire (Make Community): Global organizer of maker festivals and community programs. Comparable as the broader platform that hosts the maker events XinCheJian participates in (Maker Carnival, young maker faire), providing reach and brand association.
Emerging players
- Mitch Altman / Cornfield Electronics: Independent open-source hardware designer whose DIY kits (TV-B-Gone, Brain Machine) are sold through XinCheJian's Tools & Kits page. Comparable because Altman is both a kit supplier and a touring workshop instructor in the same global hackerspace circuit.
- STEMROBOT / STEM Education Platforms (China): China-focused STEM education companies offering Arduino and robotics curriculum for schools and after-school programs. Comparable as a channel competitor for XinCheJian's children's workshop vertical.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Xin Che Jian social profiles
Digital presenceXin Che Jian financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Xin Che Jian leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Xin Che Jian funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Xin Che Jian 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 Xin Che Jian
What does Xin Che Jian do?
XinCheJian operates a physical hackerspace in Shanghai providing members with access to shared electronic and fabrication tools (Arduino kits, Raspberry Pi, FPGAs, CNC machines, laser cutters, 3D printers), PCB design software (EagleCAD, KiCad), and workshop equipment. It sells DIY electronics kits (Arduino Starter Kit, InsectBot, Motors/Sensors Shield, Mitch Altman kits) and runs structured hands-on workshops covering Arduino, Unity 3D, MATLAB, PCB design, robotics, drones, and other maker skills for individuals, children, and hardware entrepreneurs.
Is Xin Che Jian a public or private company?
Xin Che Jian is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Xin Che Jian founded?
Xin Che Jian was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Xin Che Jian based?
Xin Che Jian is headquartered in Shanghai, China, in the Asia region.
How does Xin Che Jian make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are workshop Fees, DIY Kits and Components Sales and storage Rental.
Who are Xin Che Jian's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DFRobot, Seeed Studio, HAX (formerly HAXLR8R), Noisebridge, NYC Resistor and xFactory / Chaihuo Makerspace. Broad incumbents are Fab Foundation / FabLab Network and Maker Faire (Make Community). Emerging players are Mitch Altman / Cornfield Electronics and STEMROBOT / STEM Education Platforms (China).
Does Xin Che Jian have an API?
No public API is recorded for Xin Che Jian.
What industry is Xin Che Jian in?
Xin Che Jian's product category is Community Makerspace Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFANAC, Maker / DIY Electronics & Physical Computing Platforms, with a secondary code of CRACAKAF, PCB, Prototyping Boards & Etching Supplies Retail. Its NAICS code is 334 and its SIC code is 3670.