Milwaukee Makerspace
Milwaukee Makerspace is a member-run hackerspace and fabrication lab in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 2009, providing shared access to professional laser cutters, metal casting furnaces, 3D printers, and metalworking tools to individual makers, engineers, artists, and hobbyists via annual membership dues, material sales, workshops, and community events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Milwaukee Makerspace does
Milwaukee Makerspace is a private, membership-based hackerspace and fabrication lab located on Norwich Ave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 2009 and operating with 11-50 staff. The organization operates as a community hacker/builder space where members pool tools and talents to make things — providing shared access to a comprehensive set of fabrication equipment including a multi-laser Xtool-equipped laser lab (F1 Ultra fiber/diode, S1 40W diode, P2S 55W and 80W CO2, P3 CO2), a metal casting facility with cupola furnace (R2V2) and crucible furnaces capable of pouring iron, aluminum, bronze, yellow brass, red brass, and copper using resin-bonded sand, ceramic shell, oil sand (Petrabond), and green sand molds, plus metalworking, 3D printing, and small engine repair workshop areas. Members must complete safety quizzes (lasers 101, equipment-specific certifications) before equipment access.
The business model is subscription-led: members pay annual membership dues for 24/7 access to the facility, training, and community events. Ancillary revenue comes from material sales (iron at $0.40/lb, bronze at $11/lb, etc.), pre-made mold sales (artist tiles $15-$20, doodle bowl molds $60), and member donations/fundraising drives that have financed recent equipment acquisitions. Go-to-market is community-led — word-of-mouth, featured maker spotlights on the website, a project gallery, public Iron Pour events, and outreach at gatherings like Redbull Flugtag Milwaukee and Argren Fair. Customer segments span individual makers and DIY enthusiasts, engineers and designers, artists and craftspeople, plus niche communities such as LARP participants (using lasers for leather armor) and small engine repair hobbyists.
Recent strategic activity has centered on a multi-year equipment refresh and vendor partnership. Between 2024 and late 2025, Milwaukee Makerspace purchased Xtool F1 Ultra, S1 40W diode, and P2S 80W CO2 lasers — including a group buy for the P2S 80W that reached its fundraising goal in just two weeks — and launched a group buy for the Xtool P3 CO2 laser to retire three aging 1996 ULS machines. In December 2025 the space was selected for Xtool's "1% For The Makers" nonprofit donation program, receiving a P2S 55W CO2 laser plus AP2 max air filter. No funding rounds, acquisitions, or M&A activity are disclosed.
Milwaukee Makerspace firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Milwaukee Makerspace
- Legal name
- Milwaukee Makerspace
- Website
- https://milwaukeemakerspace.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Milwaukee Makerspace is a member-run hackerspace and fabrication lab in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 2009, providing shared access to professional laser cutters, metal casting furnaces, 3D printers, and metalworking tools to individual makers, engineers, artists, and hobbyists via annual membership dues, material sales, workshops, and community events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Milwaukee Makerspace industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Maker Space
- NAICS
- Machine Shops (33271)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH)
Keywords
Where Milwaukee Makerspace is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Milwaukee Makerspace business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Monthly/annual membership dues providing access to the makerspace facility, equipment, training, and community resources. Members receive access to all equipment after completing safety certifications and quizzes.
- Material Sales: Sale of metal casting materials including iron ($0.40/lb), bronze ($11/lb), yellow brass ($6/lb), red brass ($7/lb), copper ($7/lb), and resin bonded sand ($0.50/lb). Ceramic shell priced at $9/lb weighed dry after burnout.
- Pre-made Molds: Sale of pre-made molds including 3-inch artist tile mold ($15), 5-inch artist tile mold ($20), and doodle bowl mold ($60). Completion of one artist tile mold required before purchasing a doodle bowl.
- Donations and Fundraising: Group buy campaigns and donations from members and the public to fund equipment purchases, such as the Xtool P3 CO2 laser acquisition.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Membership - Access to facility and equipment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Milwaukee Makerspace product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Milwaukee Makerspace operates a member-run hackerspace and fabrication lab in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, providing 24/7 shared access to professional-grade fabrication equipment including multiple laser cutters, metal casting furnaces, and 3D printers. Members pay dues to access the facility, complete safety certification quizzes, and use the equipment for personal projects, prototyping, and art creation. The organization also hosts public events such as Iron Pours, small engine repair meetups, and artist tile/doodle bowl workshops, and sells metal casting materials and pre-made molds.
Product overview
Milwaukee Makerspace is a community hacker/maker space offering shared access to fabrication equipment and workshop facilities. The space operates as a membership-based community with various equipment areas including a comprehensive Laser Lab (featuring multiple Xtool laser systems for cutting and engraving), a Casting Area (with iron, aluminum, and bronze casting capabilities), metalworking equipment, 3D printing, and educational meetups. The space hosts regular community events including iron pour events, small engine repair meetups, and workshops. Membership includes access to equipment, training, and the collaborative maker community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Makerspace Facility Membership
- Laser Lab Services
- Metal Casting Services
- Iron Pour Events and Artist Tile/Doodle Bowl Workshops
- Small Engine Repair Meetups Community meetups and workshops focused on small engine repair, including carburetor cleaning, engine restoration, and maintenance training. Open to gearheads and aspiring mechanics.
- 3D Printing Services 3D printing facilities and services available to members for prototyping and fabrication.
- Metal Casting Materials Sales Sale of metal casting materials priced by weight, including iron ($0.40/lb), bronze ($11/lb), yellow brass ($6/lb), red brass ($7/lb), copper ($7/lb), resin bonded sand ($0.50/lb), and ceramic shell ($9/lb weighed dry after burnout). Oil sand and green sand are free with sand return.
Quantifiable outcome
- Group buy to purchase Xtool P3 CO2 laser reached fundraising goal in 2 weeks through member donations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Milwaukee Makerspace
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Milwaukee Makerspace technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Milwaukee Makerspace partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- XtoolcoreXtool is a leading laser manufacturer for hobbyists. Milwaukee Makerspace has purchased multiple Xtool lasers including F1 Ultra, S1 40W diode, and P2S. They participate in the Xtool "1% For The Makers" program which uses 1% of profits to donate lasers to 501C3 makerspaces, schools, and libraries. Through this program, MMS received a donated P2S 55W CO2 laser plus AP2 max air filter.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Milwaukee Makerspace competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Artisan's Asylum: Large community makerspace in Somerville, MA offering shared access to fabrication tools (wood, metal, electronics, textiles) and studios on a membership model. Highly comparable community hackerspace structure, equipment breadth, and member-driven operations.
- Dallas Makerspace: Non-profit community makerspace in Texas offering members shared access to laser cutters, metal shops, wood shops, and 3D printers. Comparable large-scale community fabrication lab with membership-driven operations.
- NYC Resistor: Brooklyn-based hackerspace providing members with shared access to laser cutters, 3D printers, electronics, and machine tools on a membership/community model. Closely comparable as a member-run urban makerspace with shared fabrication equipment.
- i3 Detroit: Detroit-area hackerspace operating as a membership-based collaborative workshop with shared access to fabrication tools, laser cutters, and metalworking. Directly comparable member-run community makerspace model.
- Hive76: Philadelphia-based community hackerspace offering members shared access to fabrication tools, electronics, and craft equipment. Comparable member-run, community-driven makerspace structure.
- Noisebridge: San Francisco-based volunteer-run hackerspace offering members shared access to fabrication and electronics tools. Comparable community-led, freely-organized makerspace with shared equipment philosophy.
- Charlotte Makerspace: Non-profit community workshop in Charlotte, NC offering members shared access to laser cutters, 3D printers, woodworking, and metalworking tools. Comparable full-stack community fabrication lab serving hobbyists and small businesses.
- Asmbly (formerly ATX Hackerspace): Austin, TX-based community makerspace offering shared access to fabrication tools including laser cutters, CNC, woodworking, and metalworking. Comparable member-run community workshop model with broad equipment offering.
Regional players
- Sector67: Madison, WI-based community makerspace and innovation center offering shared fabrication equipment on a membership model. Operates in the same Wisconsin/Midwest region with similar community-focused hackerspace offerings.
Others
- MakerSpace Adventures / TechShop (defunct): Former for-profit chain of makerspaces (closed 2017) that operated paid memberships with shared access to industrial fabrication equipment. Highly relevant as a comparable business model whose failure illustrates the capex and scalability risks in the category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Milwaukee Makerspace social profiles
Digital presenceMilwaukee Makerspace financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Milwaukee Makerspace leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Milwaukee Makerspace funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Milwaukee Makerspace 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 Milwaukee Makerspace
What does Milwaukee Makerspace do?
Milwaukee Makerspace operates a member-run hackerspace and fabrication lab in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, providing 24/7 shared access to professional-grade fabrication equipment including multiple laser cutters, metal casting furnaces, and 3D printers. Members pay dues to access the facility, complete safety certification quizzes, and use the equipment for personal projects, prototyping, and art creation. The organization also hosts public events such as Iron Pours, small engine repair meetups, and artist tile/doodle bowl workshops, and sells metal casting materials and pre-made molds.
Is Milwaukee Makerspace a public or private company?
Milwaukee Makerspace is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Milwaukee Makerspace founded?
Milwaukee Makerspace was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Milwaukee Makerspace based?
Milwaukee Makerspace is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Milwaukee Makerspace make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are material Sales, pre-made Molds and donations and Fundraising.
Who are Milwaukee Makerspace's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Artisan's Asylum, Dallas Makerspace, NYC Resistor, i3 Detroit, Hive76, Noisebridge, Charlotte Makerspace and Asmbly (formerly ATX Hackerspace). Sector67 is listed as a regional player. MakerSpace Adventures / TechShop (defunct) is listed as an others.
Does Milwaukee Makerspace have an API?
No public API is recorded for Milwaukee Makerspace.
What industry is Milwaukee Makerspace in?
Milwaukee Makerspace's product category is Community Maker Space. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAC, Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios), with a secondary code of EDAMADAH, 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs. Its NAICS code is 33271 and its SIC code is 3490.