Fabman
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersVienna, Austria
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Fabman does
Fabman GmbH is a Vienna-based SaaS company that provides an operating system for shared fabrication and workshop spaces, including makerspaces, fab labs, coworking spaces, universities, and corporate innovation centers. Its core product is a cloud-based management platform covering member lifecycle management, equipment bookings, training course tracking, package-based access permissions, and automated billing with per-minute usage charges. The platform is paired with a proprietary hardware device, the Fabman Bridge, which physically connects equipment — laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC mills, and other tools — to the cloud via power switching, NFC keycard or smartphone QR code authentication, busy/idle detection, exhaust filter monitoring, and safety enclosure integration. An open JSON REST API and webhook system enable third-party integrations with CRM, ERP, and accounting systems.
Fabman operates a product-led growth model with a 30-day free trial and self-serve signup, supplemented by demo calls for larger prospects. Revenue combines recurring SaaS subscriptions (available in EUR and USD across Standard, Plus, and Basic tiers), usage-based fees flowing from per-minute member billing, membership package fees, and one-time sales of Fabman Bridge hardware through its own Shopify-powered shop. The company is bootstrapped, privately held, and founder-led by Roland Stelzer, co-founder of Happylab, with a team of 1–10 employees. Customers span at least Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, the United States, and Canada, and include Happylab, Fuse33, Lacey MakerSpace, NDSU Innovation Studio, Prusa Lab, Fab Lab Vancouver, FabLab Brno, and Werkstätte Wattens. Infrastructure is hosted on Hetzner in Germany, payment processing is PCI-DSS compliant via Stripe Connect and SEPA Direct Debit, and customer support runs on Help Scout.
Fabman firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fabman
- Legal name
- Fabman GmbH
- Website
- https://fabman.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fabman industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Makerspace Management Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)
Keywords
Where Fabman is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vienna
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fabman business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Subscription Plans: Fabman operates on a recurring subscription model with monthly billing. Fees are charged in advance on a monthly basis and are non-refundable. Both EUR and USD pricing plans are available. A 30-day free trial is offered for new customers.
- Equipment Usage Fees: Spaces can charge members for equipment usage based on time or per-use. These usage fees can include discounts through membership packages. Charges are automatically calculated based on member packages and applicable discounts.
- Membership Package Fees: Recurring or one-time fees collected through membership packages that grant access to equipment, offer discounts, and include credits for bookings or machine usage.
- Fabman Bridge Hardware: Sale of Fabman Bridge hardware devices for connecting equipment to the platform. A one-year money-back guarantee is offered.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Trial |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Fabman product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fabman is a cloud-based makerspace management SaaS platform that helps operators of shared workshops, fab labs, and school workshops manage equipment, members, bookings, and billing. It is paired with the Fabman Bridge, a hardware device that connects machines (laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC mills, coffee machines) to the platform for remote monitoring, access control via NFC keycards or smartphone QR codes, and usage-based billing. The platform includes a JSON REST API and webhooks for integrations.
Product overview
Fabman is an all-in-one makerspace management platform offered as a unified SaaS product with modular capabilities. The core Fabman platform serves as an 'operating system' for makerspaces, fab labs, coworking spaces, and school workshops, managing equipment access, member management, bookings, and billing. Hardware integration is enabled through the Fabman Bridge device, which connects equipment to the platform via NFC/RFID or smartphone QR codes. Additional modules include Member Portal (self-service), Training Management, Packages (membership tiers with permissions and credits), Billing & Payments (with Stripe/SEPA integration), the Fabman API and Webhooks for integrations, plus the Fabman Shop for hardware sales and a community Forum.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fabman Bridge: Hardware device that connects equipment (laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC mills, coffee machines) to the Fabman platform, enabling machine monitoring, access control, and usage tracking.
- Fabman Member Portal
- Fabman API
Products and services
- Fabman Core Platform Cloud-based makerspace management platform acting as the operating system for makerspaces, fab labs, coworking spaces, and school workshops. Manages machines, members, bookings, billing, training tracking, and access permissions for shared workshop operators.
- Fabman Bridge
Quantifiable outcome
- Run a 2000-member makerspace with 24/7 access using only one lab manager
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Fabman
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fabman technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
Feature7 records
Fabman partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fabman competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Optix: Optix is a workplace and flex space experience platform offering member directories, booking, analytics, and resource management for coworking and shared-space operators. It is comparable to Fabman because both build SaaS for shared space operations with member self-service.
- Frontdesk: Frontdesk (formerly Frontdesk Anywhere) is an all-in-one SaaS for coworking operators, handling members, plans, billing, booking, and access. It is comparable to Fabman as a competing operating system for shared commercial spaces with recurring subscription revenue.
- Nexudus: Nexudus is a SaaS platform for managing coworking and flexible workspaces, covering member management, bookings, billing, access control, and visitor handling. It is comparable to Fabman as the most direct operational analog in the broader shared-space management category, with Fabman's niche tilted to makerspaces/fab labs.
- Spacebring (formerly OfficeRnD): Spacebring provides coworking and flex space operators with member, booking, billing, and access management software. It overlaps closely with Fabman's core platform functionality (members, plans, bookings, payments), differing mainly in target segment (coworking vs makerspaces).
- Salto KS: Salto KS is a cloud-based access control platform purpose-built for coworking and shared spaces, with mobile credentials and real-time door control. It maps directly to Fabman's Fabman Bridge hardware in the IoT-equipment-access layer of the stack.
- Skedda: Skedda is a booking-management platform for shared spaces (rooms, desks, studios, equipment) with member self-service and access integrations. It is comparable to Fabman's Booking & Reservations module and overall member portal, especially for venues that schedule restricted equipment.
Emerging players
- KISI: KISI is a cloud access control platform with mobile credentials, focused on flexible workspaces and small-to-mid commercial sites. It is comparable to the Fabman Bridge capability but oriented to doors rather than individual machines; both compete for the same operator's stack.
Broad incumbents
- Mindbody: Mindbody is an enterprise SaaS suite for fitness, wellness, and service-business operators, covering members, bookings, billing, and access. It is comparable to Fabman as a recurring-revenue member-management platform; Mindbody's broader portfolio targets much larger verticals but shares the same operating model.
- Brivo: Brivo is a broad cloud-based physical access control provider serving commercial real estate, multifamily, and enterprises. It is comparable to Fabman at the access-control layer; Fabman is specialized to equipment access in makerspaces where Brivo is general-purpose.
Regional players
- Gantner: Gantner is an Austrian/European provider of electronic locking and access control solutions for fitness, leisure, libraries, and shared workspaces. It is comparable to Fabman as a Europe-rooted hardware-enabled access specialist, though focused on doors/lockers rather than fabrication equipment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fabman social profiles
Digital presenceFabman compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Fabman financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fabman leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Fabman funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fabman 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 Fabman
What does Fabman do?
Fabman is a cloud-based makerspace management SaaS platform that helps operators of shared workshops, fab labs, and school workshops manage equipment, members, bookings, and billing. It is paired with the Fabman Bridge, a hardware device that connects machines (laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC mills, coffee machines) to the platform for remote monitoring, access control via NFC keycards or smartphone QR codes, and usage-based billing. The platform includes a JSON REST API and webhooks for integrations.
Is Fabman a public or private company?
Fabman is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Fabman founded?
Fabman was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Fabman based?
Fabman is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does Fabman make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription Plans are the primary driver. The others are equipment Usage Fees, membership Package Fees and fabman Bridge Hardware.
Who are Fabman's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Optix, Frontdesk, Nexudus, Spacebring (formerly OfficeRnD), Salto KS and Skedda. KISI is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Mindbody and Brivo. Gantner is listed as a regional player.
Does Fabman have an API?
Yes. Fabman offers a flexible, open JSON API that provides access to the platform's full functionality and data. The API enables developers to: automatically query information (e.g., list active members or check bookings for specific equipment); import existing data like members, packages, or invoices from other systems; automatically update members in Fabman when edited elsewhere to keep data in sync; periodically export data for analysis or import into other systems. Authentication uses API keys (e.g., -u 98a85532-f621-4b0b-8394-9b227175308a). Webhooks are also available to send requests to external URLs when events occur in Fabman (member bookings, equipment switches, invoice creation, device changes). Developer documentation is at github.com/FabmanHQ/fabman-api.
What industry is Fabman in?
Fabman's product category is Makerspace Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAC, Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios), with a secondary code of EDAEAGAI, Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming). Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.