What Maker Nexus does

Maker Nexus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community makerspace operating a 28,000 square foot facility in Sunnyvale, California, that provides members access to professional-grade manufacturing equipment and training. Founded in April 2019 following the closure of a national for-profit makerspace chain, the organization relocated to its current facility in summer 2021, quadrupling its footprint from the original 7,000 square feet. The facility houses an extensive equipment inventory including a 4x4 ShopBot CNC router, Tormach 1100MX CNC metal mill, multiple laser cutters (45-watt Epilog Helix, 100-watt BossLaser LS2440), CNC plasma tables, Miller welders, Bridgeport mills, industrial Juki sewing machines, a 15-needle CNC Barudan embroidery machine, and a fleet of Prusa and Formlabs 3D printers. Operations run seven days a week from 10am to 10pm.

The organization operates a tiered monthly subscription model with Hobbyist memberships at $160/month, Hobbyist Family at $210/month, Education (students and K-12 teachers) at $100/month, and Limited access at $75/month, plus a specialized Tech Challenge membership tier. Additional revenue streams include equipment training classes ($35 members / $50 non-members for 2-hour sessions), workshops, corporate team building events, private parties, event room rentals for nonprofits, and on-site retail sales of consumables and merchandise. The organization also accepts tax-deductible donations that fund scholarship programs such as the Adult Sponsored Membership.

Maker Nexus serves a diverse customer base including individual hobbyists, families, students, K-12 teachers, youth ages 6-18 through STEAM education programs, corporate teams seeking experiential team building, and financially disadvantaged adults via sponsored memberships. The organization maintains partnerships with The Tech Interactive (for the annual Tech Challenge), local K-12 schools, and historically coordinated with Valley Medical Center Foundation, Amazon Lab126, Facebook, Abbott, and Prusa Research during its COVID-19 PPE production effort. Distribution occurs primarily through self-serve online signup via the Amilia platform, the physical Sunnyvale location, the ActivityHero marketplace for youth programs, and direct corporate and school sales channels.

Name

Maker Nexus

Legal name

Maker Nexus

Website

https://makernexus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maker Nexus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit makerspace in Sunnyvale, California, providing 28,000 square feet of professional fabrication equipment, training classes, and STEAM education programs to individual hobbyists, families, students, youth, corporate teams, and underserved adults via tiered monthly memberships and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Makerspace Services

akta.pro primary industry

STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG), 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH), Science & STEM Lab Equipment & Supplies (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Makerspaces) (EDAEAIAC)

Keywords

• Community makerspace access
• Membership workshop access
• Maker skills training
• STEAM education programs
• Tool certification classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Sunnyvale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Monthly Membership Subscriptions: Primary revenue stream from recurring monthly memberships. Hobbyist memberships at $160/month, Family at $210/month, Education at $100/month, Limited at $75/month. Billed monthly on the member's join day.
2. Equipment Training Classes: Safety and skill-building classes for tool certification. Members receive 30% discount. Typical 2-hour training costs $50 non-members / $35 members. 3-hour workshops cost $70 non-members / $63 members.
3. Events and Rentals: Revenue from corporate team building events, private parties (birthdays, weddings), and event room rentals for corporate events. Youth camps and programs at various price points.
4. Retail Sales: On-site retail area sells acrylic and plywood for lasering, 3D printer filament, adhesive and heat press vinyl, router bits, glue, and other maker supplies. Also includes official Maker Nexus merchandise made in-house by members.
5. Tool Reservations and Consumables: No hourly charge for tool use, but consumables like ink, filament, and materials are charged. Equipment reservations available for high-usage tools.
6. Donations and Scholarships: 501(c)(3) non-profit accepting tax-deductible donations. Donations fund scholarships for underserved youth and community members. Stock donations also accepted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Maker Nexus operates a 28,000 square foot nonprofit community makerspace in Sunnyvale, California, providing members with access to professional-grade manufacturing tools including CNC machines, 3D printers, laser cutters, welding, metal fabrication, and industrial sewing equipment. Revenue is generated through tiered monthly memberships (Hobbyist, Hobbyist Family, Education, Limited), pay-as-you-go equipment training classes and workshops, corporate team building events, private parties, youth programs, and tax-deductible donations supporting a 501(c)(3) mission of maker education and accessibility.

Product overview

Maker Nexus is a membership-based non-profit makerspace in Sunnyvale, California offering access to 28,000 square feet of workshop space and professional-grade tools. The core offering consists of tiered membership plans (Hobbyist at $160/month, Hobbyist Family at $210/month, Education at $100/month, and Limited at $75/month) that provide access to equipment including woodshop, metal shop, welding, 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing studio, and electronics lab. Additional products include Equipment Training Classes and Workshops (with member discounts), Youth Programs (summer camps, homeschool, and after-school for ages 6-18), Teambuilding Events for corporations, Private Parties for celebrations, Event Room Rental for non-profits, and specialized programs like the Adult Sponsored Membership and Tech Challenge Membership for student teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Makerspace Membership Tiered monthly membership providing 7-day-a-week access (10am-10pm) to the 28,000 sq ft Sunnyvale workshop. Tiers include Hobbyist ($160/month, full shop access including woodshop, welding, machine shop, 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing studio, electronics lab, ages 16+), Hobbyist Family ($210/month for two family members, $50/month per additional member including ages 10+), Education ($100/month for full-time students 16+ and K-12 teachers with verification), and Limited ($75/month with basic tool access to 3D printers, sewing studio, electronics lab, and clean space). Members receive 30% off training classes and 10% off workshops, tool reservations, and 7-day project storage.
• Equipment Training Classes Safety and skill-building classes that teach members how to use tools and equipment at the makerspace, providing the certifications required to access specific tools. Typical 2-hour training costs $50 non-members / $35 members (30% member discount). 3-hour workshops cost $70 non-members / $63 members. Aimed at members and walk-in students seeking supervised training on CNC, laser, welding, woodworking, and other equipment.
• Workshops Hands-on maker workshops where participants learn new skills and complete a project to take home, with members receiving a 10% discount. Typical 3-hour workshops cost $70 non-members / $63 members and are open to members and non-members seeking guided project experiences.
• Youth Programs Year-round STEAM education programs for children ages 6-18 including summer camps, after-school programs, and homeschool cohorts. Designed to give kids hands-on experiences that captivate curiosity, ignite creativity, and cultivate problem-solving skills. Programs are distributed through ActivityHero and direct school partnerships.
• Corporate Team Building Events Corporate team building events hosted at the 28,000 sq ft Sunnyvale makerspace featuring hands-on activities such as combat robots, soldering neon lights, wood lathe pens, resin jewelry, painting, stained glass, leathercrafting, and metal roses. Booked directly through the Events Manager for Silicon Valley companies seeking experiential team building.
• Private Parties Private event hosting for birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions featuring maker activities including stained glass, jewelry making, leather crafting, and welding. Coordinated by the Business Development and Events Manager.
• Event Room Rental Event room rental for corporate and group events, with capacity for up to 49 people available 11 AM - 9 PM. Free for non-profits and mission-aligned groups, supporting community events and awareness building.
• Adult Sponsored Membership No-cost 6-month membership program for adults aged 18+ facing financial hardship, providing the same access as paid members plus a gift card for classes and storage. Administered in Winter and Summer cohorts.
• Tech Challenge Membership Special membership program for student teams participating in The Tech Interactive's Annual Tech Challenge. Team Supervisor membership at $150/month and Youth at $50/month each, with a minimum of 4 youth members. Includes free storage drawer and reduced pricing for Title I schools. Provides workspace, tools, and instruction for student robotics and design teams.
• Gift Cards Gift cards redeemable for Maker Nexus memberships, classes, workshops, and youth programs, available for purchase through the website.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced 80,000+ face shields and 6,000+ masks during COVID-19 response
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• LyftminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Transportation partner supporting logistics for COVID-19 PPE distribution efforts.
• De Anza CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Educational institution providing equipment and operators for COVID-19 PPE production efforts.
• The Tech InteractivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Formal partnership for The Tech Challenge - Maker Nexus provides workspace, tools, and instruction for student teams participating in the annual robotics/design competition.
• Valley Medical Center FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Healthcare partner that collaborated with Maker Nexus to produce 3,000+ face shields per week during COVID-19 response. Provided feedback on face shield prototypes and deployment.
• Prusa ResearchcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2020Czech 3D printer manufacturer whose open-source RC2 Face Shield design was adapted by Maker Nexus for COVID-19 PPE production. Design provided under Creative Commons license.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Prusa Research: Czech 3D printer manufacturer whose open-source face shield design Maker Nexus adapted during COVID-19. An equipment supplier and partner rather than a competitor, but central to the maker ecosystem in which Maker Nexus operates.
• The Tech Interactive: Silicon Valley science and technology center with formal partnership for The Tech Challenge program that Maker Nexus supports. They are a customer/partner rather than direct competitor but operate in adjacent STEM education territory.
• Formlabs: Professional 3D printer manufacturer whose Form 3 resin printer is part of Maker Nexus's equipment fleet. An enabling technology provider and adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a peer operator.

Direct peers

• Artisan's Asylum: Large community makerspace in Somerville, MA offering memberships across wood, metal, textiles, electronics, and other disciplines. Operates as a comparable nonprofit-style community workspace with multi-disciplinary tool inventory and classes.
• Ace Monster Toys: Oakland-area community makerspace/hackerspace with volunteer-driven governance and tool access. Operates a similar nonprofit-style membership model focused on shared access to specialized maker equipment.
• Noisebridge: San Francisco community hackerspace offering shared tools, classes, and open workspace for makers. Directly comparable as a community-driven makerspace serving the same Bay Area geography with member-funded operations.
• NYC Resistor: Community hackerspace/makerspace in Brooklyn providing member access to 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics, and textiles. Operates as a membership-based community workshop with very similar offerings and target demographics.
• Dallas Makerspace: Large community-driven makerspace with extensive equipment and a volunteer-driven nonprofit model. Notably, Maker Nexus staff member Haley Moore is a founding member, indicating direct operational lineage and similar member-driven structure.
• HacDC: Washington DC community hackerspace providing shared workspace and equipment access to members. Comparable nonprofit membership-based makerspace operating with similar scale and educational mission.

Broad incumbents

• Home Depot: National DIY/home improvement retailer offering tool sales and in-store workshops. While not a membership-based makerspace, it competes for the same DIY/maker discretionary spend and education at scale across a much broader retail footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/maker_nexus
• Facebookfacebook.com/MakerNexus
• Instagraminstagram.com/MakerNexus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Maker Nexus