What Ace Makerspace does

Ace Makerspace, legally Ace Monster Toys, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit member-supported community makerspace founded in 2010 and headquartered at 6050 Lowell Street, Oakland, California, near the Berkeley-Emeryville border. The organization operates a single physical site comprising five distinct 24/7-accessible workspaces — a wood/metal workshop with CNC router, a Laser Suite, a Textiles Studio, an Electronics Lab, and a Coworking/Art room — equipped with professional-grade tools including Prusa 3D printers, a Barracuda Laser, a Forest Scientific CNC Router, a Jet Metal Lathe, sewing and serger machines, and an Epson 9880 wide-format printer. Access to most tools is gated by a proprietary multi-tier certification system anchored by a required Shop Basics course, with certifications tracked in member accounts and transferable from guest accounts to full memberships.

The business model is hybrid: recurring membership dues (combined with a monthly effort contribution) provide the revenue base, supplemented by per-class fees ($65-$80 for certification courses, $30 for printer certification, sliding scale for community events), tax-deductible donations, and gift certificates. The go-to-market is community-led, with monthly public tours serving as the primary acquisition channel and beginner-friendly public classes functioning as both revenue and member pipeline. The organization serves over 1,200 people annually across individual makers, hobbyists, entrepreneurs, K-12 youth (through partner organizations), local nonprofits, and artists, with a published Social Contract governing member conduct. In 2026 the organization underwent a leadership transition following the passing of longtime Executive Director Rachel 'Crafty' Sadd, with board governance continuing under four re-elected directors and one newly appointed operational director.

Name

Ace Makerspace

Legal name

Ace Monster Toys, Inc.

Website

https://acemakerspace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ace Makerspace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit member-supported makerspace in Oakland, California offering 24/7 access to five shared workspaces — wood/metal, laser, textiles, electronics, and art — with tool certification, public classes, and community programming serving 1,200+ East Bay makers annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Makerspace Services

akta.pro primary industry

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)

Keywords

• Community makerspace
• Shared workshop access
• Tool certification classes
• Nonprofit maker education
• DIY fabrication services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Monthly membership dues combined with monthly contribution of effort. Members enjoy 24/7 access to 5 distinct workspaces, locker rental, online tools, unlimited guest privileges, free parking, secure bike parking, and free storage for small to medium projects.
2. Class Fees: Fees charged for certification classes and workshops. Classes range from $65-$80 for certification classes, $30 for printer certification, and sliding scale options for community events. Most classes are beginner-friendly and open to the public.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations to support the nonprofit mission of providing innovative programs, equitable access to makerspace resources, and creative community building in Oakland.
4. Gift Certificates and Shop Sales: Gift certificates and shop products sold to support the organization and provide gifting options for community members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ace Makerspace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit member-supported community makerspace in Oakland, CA that provides 24/7 access to five distinct shared workspaces (Workshop, Laser Suite, Textiles Studio, Electronics Lab, and Coworking/Art) equipped with professional-grade tools. It sells monthly memberships paired with required member-effort contributions, public and member-only certification classes across woodworking, metalwork, laser cutting, electronics, textiles, 3D printing, and CNC routing, plus gift certificates and accepts tax-deductible donations. The safety-certified tool-access model is gated by a mandatory Shop Basics program and tracked per-member certifications.

Product overview

Ace Makerspace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit member-supported community makerspace located in Oakland, CA, offering a unified platform of shared workshop facilities, tool access, and hands-on educational programming. The portfolio spans 5 distinct physical workspaces — Workshop (wood/metal/CNC), Laser Suite, Textiles Studio, Electronics Lab, and Coworking/Art space — supported by a membership program providing 24/7 tool access, locker and storage services, and a community of subject matter experts. The service model combines a free guest account and liability waiver system, tiered membership, and a rich catalog of both member-only certification classes (e.g., Shop Basics, Laser Certification, Wood Lathe, CNC Router) and publicly accessible classes (e.g., Sewing 101 Bootcamp, 3D Printing Night, Electronics Night). Educational programming also includes workshops, open labs, team meetings, community socials, and a dedicated Virtual Tour. The organization serves over 1,200 people annually across the East Bay community through equitable access to makerspace resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1200 people served annually with innovative programs and equitable access to makerspace resources

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hello Stitch StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHello Stitch Studios partners with Ace Makerspace to offer sewing and quilting classes at the Ace location. Classes such as 'Hello Stitch @ Ace: How to Make a Relaxed Shirt' and 'Hello Stitch @ Ace: How to Finish your Quilt' are hosted at Ace facilities. Ace scholarships are not eligible for Hello Stitch classes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sector67: Madison, WI member-supported makerspace offering shared access to woodworking, metal, electronics, and digital fabrication tools with formal safety training and certification. Comparable member-driven, donation-supported nonprofit model.
• Dallas Makerspace: Member-supported 501(c)(3) makerspace in Carrollton, TX providing access to woodworking, metalworking, textiles, electronics, and 3D printing with structured safety certifications. Strong operational comparability in scale, member governance, and tool breadth.
• The Crucible: Oakland-based 501(c)(3) industrial arts education nonprofit offering classes and open-studio access in metalworking, woodworking, jewelry, and fabrication. The closest geographic and mission peer to Ace Makerspace, operating in the same East Bay maker ecosystem with overlapping tool inventory and educational programming.
• NYC Resistor: Member-supported Brooklyn hackerspace with 24/7 access, structured certifications, and a community-led volunteer culture. Highly comparable member-governance and tool-certification architecture to Ace Makerspace.
• Nova Labs: Reston, VA 501(c)(3) community makerspace with a broad tool inventory, certification-based access, and member-driven programming. Comparable member-supported operating model and class-to-membership funnel.
• Noisebridge: San Francisco community hackerspace offering 24/7 member access to electronics, metalworking, and woodworking tools with a volunteer-run governance model. Bay Area peer with overlapping maker audience and nonprofit/community structure.
• Artisan's Asylum: Large member-supported community makerspace in Somerville, MA, offering shared workspace, tool access, and classes across electronics, metal, wood, textiles, and digital fabrication. Comparable in scale of programming, member-supported model, and certification-driven access.
• HeatSync Labs: Mesa, AZ member-supported hackerspace offering shared access to electronics, woodworking, and metalworking tools with a volunteer-run certification structure. Comparably scaled nonprofit makerspace with similar community-led operations.
• Double Union: San Francisco member-supported makerspace focused on equitable access, workshops, and a shared community studio. Comparable mission-driven nonprofit positioning and Bay Area footprint to Ace.

Broad incumbents

• Maker Media: Former operator of Make: Magazine and Maker Faire, the broad incumbent in the maker movement. While not a direct single-site competitor, it defines the cultural ecosystem in which community makerspaces like Ace operate and shapes member expectations for classes, projects, and community events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpmLqLFDGX2FVoCS_utTHwA
• Facebookfacebook.com/acemakerspace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acemakerspace
• Instagraminstagram.com/ace_makerspace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Ace Makerspace