Maker Faire

What Maker Faire does

Maker Faire, operated under Make Community LLC, is the global flagship brand of the maker movement. Founded by Dale Dougherty in 2006 in the San Francisco Bay Area as an in-person extension of Make: magazine (launched 2005), the company produces and licenses large-scale family-friendly events that bring together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, and inventors for hands-on demonstrations, workshops, and showcases. The product portfolio spans Global Faires (Bay Area, Paris, Hannover, Rome, Tokyo, Shenzhen), Featured Faires, Community Faires, and School Maker Faires, with 232 independently produced Maker Faires taking place across 27 countries and 5 continents in 2025 and a cumulative footprint exceeding 50 countries.

The business is a hybrid event-and-media platform rather than a technology company. Core operations revolve around three revenue streams: (1) ticket sales for flagship and regional events through makerfaire.com and the Zoho Backstage mobile app, with tiered early bird, advanced, and door pricing; (2) brand licensing fees for community and school organizers, including a $99.99/year School Maker Faire license and negotiated community licenses with access to a custom WordPress theme, ticketing tooling, and marketing support; and (3) sponsorship and exhibit fees, with commercial maker fees of $500 and startup sponsorship packages at $1,500. The platform is complemented by a broader Make: ecosystem — Make: Magazine, Maker Shed e-commerce, Maker Camp, Make: Learning Labs, and the Makerspace Directory — plus digital features such as the Global Faire Map, Maker Faire Yearbook, Maker Spotlight storytelling hub, Two-Minute Film Festival, and Field Trip Day education programming.

Customer segments are diversified across families and general public (ticket buyers), K-12 schools and educators (group tickets and licensing), makers and inventors (exhibitors), and corporate sponsors/exhibitors (hardware and tool companies such as xtool, Microchip Technology, CrunchLabs, Weller, Prusa, Snapmaker, Epilog, Mimaki, and iFixit). The go-to-market motion is event-driven, supplemented by content marketing through Makezine.com, owned social channels, email newsletters, and a global network of licensed regional producers acting as resellers. The organization is privately held by founder Dale Dougherty with no external venture or private equity investment disclosed.

Name

Maker Faire

Legal name

Make Community LLC

Website

https://makerfaire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maker Faire is a privately held global event and community brand under Make Community LLC that produces and licenses family-friendly maker festivals, complemented by Make: Magazine, Maker Shed, and education programs, serving families, schools, makers, and corporate sponsors across 27+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Events & Maker Movement Platforms

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

akta.pro primary industry

Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO), Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Maker community events
• DIY festival organization
• Event brand licensing
• STEAM education fairs
• Invention showcases

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Rosa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Maker Faire generates revenue through ticket sales for flagship and regional events. The Bay Area 2026 event offers various ticket tiers including early bird (30% off), advanced (20% off), and door pricing. Single day passes, weekend passes, and All Access VIP passes are available. School group tickets are priced at $10 per student and $15 per chaperone.
2. Licensing Fees: Community Maker Faire producers must obtain a signed licensing agreement to use the Maker Faire brand or trademark. License fees apply for both free and paid ticket events. School Maker Faire licenses cost $99.99 annually. License fees are determined in conversation with applicants given the diverse circumstances.
3. Sponsorship and Exhibit Fees: Companies and startups are encouraged to participate as sponsors. Commercial makers pay a $500 commercial maker fee for exhibit space. Non-profit organizations may be subject to exhibit fees or asked to cover costs of event resources. Startup companies can qualify for $1500 sponsorship packages.
4. School Group Tickets: Field Trip Day school group tickets at $10 per student and $15 per chaperone with a minimum group size of 10 students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Maker Faire is a global event and community platform that celebrates the maker movement through in-person events featuring hands-on making, invention showcases, and STEAM education. It produces a flagship Bay Area event and licenses the Maker Faire brand to independent organizers worldwide, who operate Community Faires, Featured Faires, and School Maker Faires in more than 50 countries. Revenue is generated from ticket sales, sponsorship and exhibit fees, and brand-licensing agreements.

Product overview

Maker Faire operates as an event and community platform built around a network of independently licensed maker events. The core offering consists of the Maker Faire event brand and licensing programs, which allow organizers worldwide to produce Global Faires (major international events in Paris, Hannover, Bay Area, Rome, Tokyo, Shenzhen), Featured Faires, Community Faires, and School Maker Faires. Supporting the event ecosystem are complementary digital products: the Global Faire Map for discovering events, the Call for Makers application platform, a Ticketing Platform (powered by Zoho Backstage), the Maker Faire Yearbook digital archive, Maker Spotlight storytelling platform, and the Two-Minute Film Festival. Maker Faire also connects to the broader Make: ecosystem including Make: Magazine (a quarterly DIY publication), Maker Shed (an e-commerce store for maker tools and kits), and Maker Camp (a summer program for youth). The company is organized under Make: Community LLC and was founded by Dale Dougherty, with the first Maker Faire held in the Bay Area in 2006.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maker Faire Events (Bay Area Flagship and Featured Faires) Large-scale, family-friendly celebrations of the maker movement that gather tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, and inventors to showcase projects, prototypes, and hands-on activities. Includes the flagship Bay Area event plus Featured Faires in cities such as Orlando, Tokyo, Prague, Miami, and Los Angeles.
• Community Maker Faire Licensing A program that lets independent community organizers license the Maker Faire brand and produce their own local or regional maker events, with access to a custom WordPress theme, ticket platforms, marketing support, and the global Maker Faire network.
• School Maker Faire Licensing A specialized annual licensing program ($99.99/year) for K-12 schools to organize student-focused maker events, with a customizable logo, a spot on the Maker Faire map, playbook, digital Make: magazine subscription, and project curriculum and video library access.
• Make: Magazine Subscription The premier publication of maker projects, skill-building tutorials, in-depth reviews, and inspirational stories, accessible by subscription across digital and print formats.
• Maker Shed Online Store An online store offering books, magazines, electronics kits, robots, microcontrollers, tools, and supplies curated by the Make: Community team.
• Maker Camp A summer program that delivers maker projects and activities to young makers, engaging children in hands-on creative learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 countries have hosted independent Maker Faires
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• xtoolmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkshop, Coal Shed, and Activity Sponsor for Maker Faire Bay Area 2026. Provides maker tools and equipment for hands-on activities at the event.
• Microchip Technology IncmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkshop, Coal Shed, and Activity Sponsor. Supports the event through technology and embedded systems focus areas.
• CrunchLabsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkshop, Coal Shed, and Activity Sponsor bringing engineering education content and hands-on activities.
• WellermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkshop, Coal Shed, and Activity Sponsor providing welding and metalworking tools for demonstrations.
• YeepsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkshop, Coal Shed, and Activity Sponsor supporting maker education activities.
• HotoToolsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkshop, Coal Shed, and Activity Sponsor providing hand tools for maker activities.
• Prusa ResearchmajorTechnology or IntegrationFeatured exhibitor and 3D printing partner. Signed coalition letter opposing California's AB 2047 bill alongside Maker Faire.
• MAKE MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAKE Magazine is the premier publication of maker projects, published by Make: Community LLC alongside Maker Faire as part of the integrated maker movement ecosystem.
• Community Manufacturing InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by David Tobin, opposes California's AB 2047 bill requiring firearm-blocking technology in 3D printers. Coalition includes Maker Faire, Prusa Research, and MAKE Magazine.
• SnapmakerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibiting sponsor at Maker Faire Bay Area 2026.
• Epilog LaserminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibiting sponsor providing laser cutting demonstrations.
• MimakiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia and Community Exhibiting Sponsor providing digital fabrication equipment.
• iFixitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia and Community Exhibiting Sponsor supporting repair and sustainability messaging.
• Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia and Community Exhibiting Sponsor promoting open source hardware culture.
• DoubleTree by HiltonminorOthersOfficial hotel partner offering accommodations for Maker Faire Bay Area attendees in American Canyon, CA.
• Hampton InnminorOthersOfficial hotel partner with group code (AMF) for Maker Faire Bay Area attendees in Vallejo, CA.
• Courtyard by MarriottminorOthersOfficial hotel partner for Maker Faire Bay Area attendees in Vallejo, CA.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Comic-Con International: Operator of large-scale fan/community convention series (San Diego Comic-Con and WonderCon). Directly comparable to Maker Faire as a flagship annual event combined with a network of regional/community licensed events targeting enthusiast communities with family participation.
• Instructables: Online DIY/maker project tutorial community owned by Autodesk. Comparable to the Make: ecosystem (Makezine.com, Maker Shed, Maker Faire) as a maker-content and project-sharing platform targeting the same hobbyist and education audience.
• SparkFun Electronics: Electronics retailer and education platform selling maker kits and components. Comparable to Maker Shed's e-commerce role and Field Trip Day's STEAM curriculum focus within the maker education ecosystem.
• SXSW (South by Southwest): Annual festival/conference combining music, film, and technology programming in Austin. Comparable to Maker Faire Bay Area as a flagship multi-day event with ticketed tiers, sponsorship activations, and family/community programming.
• Adafruit Industries: Open-source hardware company selling electronics kits, microcontrollers, and tools for makers and educators. Comparable to Maker Shed as a maker-tools retailer with deep ties to the same exhibitor/sponsor base (e.g., Microchip).
• World Science Festival: Annual multi-day science celebration events with family programming in New York and other cities. Comparable to Maker Faire Bay Area as a flagship cultural event celebrating science/technology with educational outreach.
• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): Runs FIRST Robotics Competition and other STEAM youth events with regional tournaments culminating in championships. Comparable to Maker Faire's School Maker Faire licensing and Field Trip Day as a STEAM education event platform engaging schools, students, and corporate sponsors.

Broad incumbents

• Reed Exhibitions (RX): Global B2B/B2C exhibitions and events operator running hundreds of consumer and trade shows. Comparable to Maker Faire's licensing model as a large-scale events platform with portfolio diversification and venue operations.
• Consumer Technology Association (CES): Operator of the CES trade show, the largest consumer technology expo with corporate sponsorship and exhibitor monetization. Comparable to Maker Faire Bay Area as a flagship tech event with hardware exhibitors and tiered sponsorship packages, though at vastly larger scale.
• Etsy: Public marketplace for handmade and maker goods. Comparable to Maker Shed and the maker commerce ecosystem as a transactional platform serving independent makers, although Etsy operates purely online at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/make
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChtY6O8Ahw2cz05PS2GhUbg
• Pinterestpinterest.com/makezine
• Facebookfacebook.com/makerfaire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Maker Faire