HackLab TO
HackLab.TO is a Toronto not-for-profit community hackerspace and makerspace founded in 2008 that provides $75/month members with 24/7 access to shared electronics, 3D printing, laser cutting, biology, and craft tools, supported by weekly open houses, workshops, and e-waste recycling events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What HackLab TO does
HackLab.TO is a not-for-profit community hackerspace and makerspace founded in 2008 and currently operating from a single storefront facility at 1677 St. Clair Ave West in Toronto, Canada. The organization provides shared physical access to a diverse tool inventory — electronics workbenches (soldering stations, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, microcontroller kits), 3D printers (Ultimaker, Type A Machines, MakerBot Cupcake CNC), a ULS 25-watt laser cutter, a biology laboratory run by the embedded DIYBIO.to subgroup, an amateur radio station (VE3HRQ), woodworking and craft tools, and multimedia equipment — to a membership of hobbyists, artists, programmers, hardware hackers, and beginners. Access is gated through weekly Tuesday evening open houses, sponsorship by an existing member, and a 3-day application process.
The organization's commercial surface is intentionally limited. Revenue is generated through monthly membership dues of $75/month (granting 24/7 access, storage, voting rights at the AGM, and full tool usage), pay-what-you-can and fixed-price workshops (soldering at $20, Raspberry Pi Pico at $75 with kit, Fusion 360, cyanotype, Python), donations, and small event fees. The go-to-market is community-led: new members discover the space at open houses, are sponsored by existing members, and are onboarded through a structured application. Marketing relies on a public WordPress site and blog, IRC (#hacklabto on Libera.Chat), Twitter, Bluesky, Eventbrite, Google Calendar, Flickr, and in-person channels including Doors Open Toronto and the Toronto Reference Library Maker Festival.
The business operates with 11-50 staff/contractors under a member-elected board of directors. Strategic activity over its 16+ year history has centered on three facility expansions (Kensington Market → Parkdale in 2014 → current St. Clair West in 2019), a 2013 Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for the Parkdale move, recurring signature programming (Junk Independence Day e-waste swaps running 13+ years, weekly open houses, 1000+ Chalmers Cards distributed since 2018), and partnerships with DIYBIO.to (core), The Ultimate Workshop (core, Retropopulator/Hackaday Prize semifinalist), Toronto Studio Commons, Foulab Montreal, MatterAndForm, and Revolution Recycling. The organization has no disclosed external funding, no venture or private equity involvement, and no software product, API, or AI capability.
HackLab TO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HackLab TO
- Legal name
- HackLab.TO
- Website
- https://hacklab.to
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HackLab.TO is a Toronto not-for-profit community hackerspace and makerspace founded in 2008 that provides $75/month members with 24/7 access to shared electronics, 3D printing, laser cutting, biology, and craft tools, supported by weekly open houses, workshops, and e-waste recycling events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HackLab TO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Makerspace / Hackerspace
- NAICS
- Computer Training (611420)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Electronics, Circuits & Soldering Programs (EDAMADAG), Robotics After-School & Enrichment Clubs (EDAMADAA), Coding, Game Design & Computer Science Camps (EDAMALAD)
Keywords
Where HackLab TO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
HackLab TO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Monthly membership dues providing 24/7 access to the space, all tools, storage, voting rights, and full use of hacklab resources.
- Workshop Fees: Revenue from paid workshops including Raspberry Pi Pico workshops ($75 with kit), soldering workshops ($20), and other educational events.
- Donations: One-time donations accepted from supporters; onsite donations also available.
- Event Fees: Some events like Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator require donation to attend.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels10 records
HackLab TO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HackLab TO is a not-for-profit community makerspace in Toronto that provides members with 24/7 access to a physical workspace and shared tool library including electronics workbenches, 3D printers, laser cutters, a biology lab, amateur radio equipment, and craft tools. The space runs educational workshops (soldering, Raspberry Pi Pico, Fusion 360), weekly Tuesday open houses, and community events like Junk Independence Day e-waste swaps.
Product overview
HackLab TO is a not-for-profit community makerspace/hackerspace in Toronto providing physical shared tools and community resources rather than a software product. The primary offering is a physical membership ($75/month) granting 24/7 access to the space and its diverse equipment inventory. The space maintains extensive tool categories including: electronics workbenches (soldering stations, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, PIC/Arduino development kits), 3D printing (Ultimaker, Type A Machines Series 1, MakerBot printers), laser cutting (ULS 25W cutter), a biology lab (DIYBio.to with microscopes, thermocyclers, centrifuges), amateur radio station (VE3HRQ), craft tools (sewing, woodworking, Dremel stations), multimedia equipment, and computer resources. Educational programs include workshops (soldering, 3D modeling, Raspberry Pi Pico, Fusion 360, cyanotype) and weekly open houses. Community events include Junk Independence Day e-waste swaps, maker festivals, and special events like Summerfest.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HackLab TO Membership
Quantifiable outcome
- Junk Independence Day events divert e-waste from landfills - United Nations estimates 62 million tonnes of e-waste generated in 2022 alone
Companies that use HackLab TO
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
HackLab TO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
HackLab TO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Foulab (Montreal)minorMontreal's hackerspace visited HackLab during open house in June 2025. Foulab was founded around the same time as HackLab in 2008 when the hacker space movement had its start.
- Revolution RecyclingminorResponsible e-waste recycling partner that picks up items left after Junk Independence Day events. Has been participating in JID events since the first one.
- Toronto Studio CommonsminorDiverse group of independent artist studios, workshops and collaborative spaces. HackLab hosted the official launch party and participates in collaborative initiatives promoting artistic and creative expression.
- The Ultimate WorkshopcoreCollaborated on the Retropopulator project - a pick and place retrofit for 3D printers. Both spaces share resources, knowledge, and skills. The Retropopulator was a Hackaday Prize semifinalist.
- DIYBIO.tocoreDIY biology subgroup that has a bio lab within HackLab space. Symbiotic relationship where DIYBIO conducts experiments using HackLab facilities while contributing to the maker community.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
HackLab TO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Artisan's Asylum: Somerville, MA community makerspace offering shared fabrication tools, workshops, and maker programming. Comparable scale, multi-discipline focus, and membership-driven model.
- NYC Resistor: Brooklyn-based member-run hackerspace offering shared tools, electronics, and 3D printing with classes and workshops. Closely matched community-membership model and tech-focus, though operating in a larger and denser market.
- Noisebridge: San Francisco hackerspace run as a donation-supported, member-led non-profit with shared tools, electronics, and educational meetups. Directly comparable mission, governance, and operating model.
- DIYBIO Toronto: Toronto DIY biology community that operates a biology lab within HackLab TO. Shared community-membership DNA and educational programming in a niche discipline adjacent to HackLab's broader mission.
- HacDC: Washington DC hackerspace organized as a non-profit with member dues, shared electronics and fabrication equipment, and weekly events. Comparable community-membership model and tool inventory.
- Foulab Montreal: Montreal-based hackerspace founded in 2008 alongside HackLab TO during the same global hackerspace movement. They share a not-for-profit community model, multi-discipline tools, and have an active cross-visit partnership.
- The Crucible: Oakland-based non-profit industrial arts education space offering shared tools, workshops, and youth programs across fabrication disciplines. Direct peer on community workshop model though larger in scale.
- The Ultimate Workshop: Toronto-area makerspace and HackLab partner (collaborated on the Retropopulator Hackaday Prize semifinalist project). Similar focus on hardware, 3D printing, and community-led workshops in the same geographic market.
Others
- Fab Foundation: Non-profit that supports the global Fab Lab network of digital fabrication spaces. Operates as an umbrella and standards body for makerspaces like HackLab rather than a directly competing space.
Broad incumbents
- Make Community: Parent of Make Magazine and Maker Faire; the largest commercial brand in the maker movement. Touches HackLab's audience through content and events but is a much larger, commercially oriented organization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
HackLab TO social profiles
Digital presenceHackLab TO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HackLab TO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HackLab TO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HackLab TO 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 HackLab TO
What does HackLab TO do?
HackLab TO is a not-for-profit community makerspace in Toronto that provides members with 24/7 access to a physical workspace and shared tool library including electronics workbenches, 3D printers, laser cutters, a biology lab, amateur radio equipment, and craft tools. The space runs educational workshops (soldering, Raspberry Pi Pico, Fusion 360), weekly Tuesday open houses, and community events like Junk Independence Day e-waste swaps.
Is HackLab TO a public or private company?
HackLab TO is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was HackLab TO founded?
HackLab TO was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HackLab TO based?
HackLab TO is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does HackLab TO make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are workshop Fees, donations and event Fees.
Who are HackLab TO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Artisan's Asylum, NYC Resistor, Noisebridge, DIYBIO Toronto, HacDC, Foulab Montreal, The Crucible and The Ultimate Workshop. Fab Foundation is listed as an others. Make Community is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does HackLab TO have an API?
No public API is recorded for HackLab TO.
What industry is HackLab TO in?
HackLab TO's product category is Community Makerspace / Hackerspace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAC, Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios), with a secondary code of EDAMADAG, Electronics, Circuits & Soldering Programs. Its NAICS code is 611420 and its SIC code is 7997.