What Workbench Projects does

Workbench Projects is a privately held, founder-operated maker space, Fab Lab, co-working facility and hardware startup incubation hub based in a 5,000 sq. ft. site in Halasuru, Bengaluru, India. Incorporated in 2013 by mechanical engineer Pavan Kumar and education entrepreneur Anupama Gowda, the company was certified by the Fab Foundation / MIT Center for Bits and Atoms as Bangalore's first FabLab and operates within MIT's global Fab Academy network, which now spans more than 500 labs. Its physical infrastructure integrates a digital fabrication lab (100-watt laser cutter, three 3D printers, CNC machines, vinyl cutter), a woodworking and welding shopfloor, electronics prototyping benches, and a WiFi-enabled air-conditioned co-working zone with dedicated tables, lockers, and a conference room. Customers use these tools either on a pay-per-use basis, via tiered monthly memberships (Online Maker at Rs. 1,000, Co-working Maker at Rs. 2,000, Serious Maker at Rs. 10,000), or through structured programs such as Skill-ED (Rs. 150,000, 6-month hands-on certification) and the Fab Academy diploma ($5,000, 6-month MIT-affiliated program).

The commercial model layers three further revenue streams on top of the membership base: expert consultations and temporary fabrication services booked online or by phone, customized corporate engagement modules (Pop Up Makerspace, StartUp Zone, Makers@Play, Rethinking Design, S.T.E.A.M, Sustain Ability), and a flagship incubation offering branded HyperSpace under which hardware startups such as Pixxel and the Hyperloop India Orcapod team were supported. Marquee client engagements include Siemens India (10-month LCD-screen testing machine prototype), ICRC Enable Makeathon ($50K prize pool, five prototypes advanced), Mindtree Foundation (Mindtree Reader text-to-speech app for 50,000 phones), Google, SAP, Dell, Qualcomm, Microsoft, GE India, Intel (sponsorship of Ctrl+Alt+Make), and policy work for NITI Aayog on the Atal Tinkering Labs framework. As of the latest update, founders Pavan Kumar and Anupama Gowda are on sabbatical in the United States conducting research with the University of Texas, Dallas on the impact of makerspaces on Innovation Quotient and Scientific Temperament, during which domestic on-site operations are paused.

Name

Workbench Projects

Website

https://workbenchprojects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Workbench Projects is a Bengaluru-based integrated maker space, Fab Lab, co-working facility and hardware startup incubator founded in 2013 that serves individual makers, students, and corporate teams with digital fabrication tools, MIT-affiliated Fab Academy training, and customized corporate engagement programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maker Space and Digital Fabrication Services

NAICS

Welding and Soldering Equipment Manufacturing (333992), Sawmill, Woodworking, and Paper Machinery Manufacturing (333243)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444), Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members (2430)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI), Finish Carpentry, Millwork & Cabinetry (EDAOAAAI), CNC Plasma/Laser Cutting & Automated Fabrication Training (EDAOADAH), 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH), Electronics, Circuits & Soldering Programs (EDAMADAG)

Keywords

• Digital fabrication services
• Makerspace co-working
• Startup incubation programs
• Maker education training
• Prototype development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangalore

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Plans: Tiered monthly memberships ranging from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 10,000 providing access to maker tools, co-working space, and digital fabrication equipment. Core revenue stream for individual makers and entrepreneurs.
2. Temporary Services: Pay-per-use services including welding (Rs. 300/hour), electronics prototyping (Rs. 600/day), power tools (Rs. 400/day), spray painting (Rs. 100/job), and last-minute jobs (Rs. 2,000 minimum).
3. Expert Consultations: Professional consultation services including expert sessions (Rs. 2,000/hour), electronics debugging (Rs. 600/session), and design assistance (Rs. 400/session).
4. Skill-ED Program: 6-month certification program at Rs. 150,000 for hands-on product and machine building education.
5. Fab Academy Diploma: 6-month diploma program at $5,000 for digital fabrication education affiliated with MIT's Fab Academy global network.
6. Corporate Engagement Programs: Customized programs for corporate teams including Pop Up Makerspace, Startup Zone, Makers@Play, Rethinking Design, S.T.E.A.M, and Sustain Ability modules.
7. Startup Incubation: Incubation services for hardware-focused startups with access to prototyping facilities, mentorship, and investor networks. Mentioned as coming soon.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Workbench Projects operates India's first integrated maker space, co-working facility, hardware startup incubation, and Fab Lab. It rents access to digital fabrication and woodworking tools via monthly memberships, delivers hands-on training programs (Skill-ED certification and Fab Academy diploma), and runs customized corporate engagement and consulting services for setting up mini-makerspaces.

Product overview

Workbench Projects is an integrated maker space, co-working space, startup incubation, and Fab Lab facility. The company offers three main educational programs: Skill-ED (20-week certification), Fab Academy (6-month MIT-affiliated diploma), and Corporate Engagement Modules. Supporting services include membership plans (Online Maker, Co-working Maker, Serious Maker), fabrication consultation, MAKE-A-SPACE consulting for setting up maker spaces, and access to equipment including 100-watt laser, 3D printers, CNC machines, and vinyl cutters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Integrated Maker Space & Fab Lab A 5,000 sq. ft. integrated maker space providing digital fabrication (100-watt laser cutter, three 3D printers, CNC machines, vinyl cutter), 3D printing, woodworking, and co-working facilities for hardware startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
• Co-Working Space Co-working space with WiFi, air-conditioned rooms, dedicated tables, locker facilities, and conference room access for startups and entrepreneurs.
• Skill-ED Certification Program A 6-month (20-week) hands-on program with students spending 80% of time in practical work building real products and machines using digital fabrication. Includes 16 hours/week lab access, course materials, one free assessment, certificate of completion, and scholarships. Priced at Rs. 150,000 exclusive of taxes.
• Fab Academy Diploma A 6-month diploma program (January to June) teaching digital fabrication skills including CAD, CNC, electronics, 3D printing, and machine design, based on MIT's rapid-prototyping course 'How To Make (almost) Anything'. Includes 16 hours/week lab access, personal instruction, Autodesk/Solidworks software licenses, lifetime Fab Academy Archive access, alumni membership, and diploma. Priced at US$5,000 exclusive of taxes.
• Corporate Engagement Programs Customized modules for organizations including Pop Up Makerspace, StartUp Zone, Makers@Play, Rethinking Design, S.T.E.A.M, and Sustain Ability, plus team-building workshops and corporate hackathons. Delivered onsite at client organizations or at the Workbench facility.
• Startup Incubation (HyperSpace) Hardware-startup incubation providing labs, tools, guidance, mentorship, and access to investor networks for startups to create products and scale, anchored by the HyperSpace model-portfolio program.
• Membership Plans Tiered monthly memberships — Online Maker (Rs. 1,000/month), Co-working Maker (Rs. 2,000/month), and Serious Maker (Rs. 10,000/month) — providing graduated access to the maker space, digital fabrication tools, co-working infrastructure, and design / electronics consultation.
• MAKE-A-SPACE Consulting Consulting service to help clients build and run their own Mini-Makerspace, Mini-Fablab, or Fab Lab successfully, drawing on Workbench Projects' operating experience as India's first FabLab.
• Fabrication Consultation Services Expert consultation services on a pay-per-session basis: expert sessions (Rs. 2,000/hour), electronics debugging (Rs. 600 per 1.5-hour session), design and DTP work (Rs. 400/session), shop-floor and fabrication assistance (Rs. 500/session), welding (Rs. 300/hour), power tools (Rs. 400/day), electronics prototyping (Rs. 600/day), spray painting (Rs. 100/job), and last-minute jobs (Rs. 2,000 minimum).
• Industrial Training Program Training program for operators in signage, electronics, or computer-machine artwork and fabrication covering machine operation, maintenance, and innovative fabrication techniques.

Quantifiable outcome

• Three winners rewarded up to $50,000 and 5 prototypes taken to production stage through Enable Makeathon program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Texas, DallascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Currently performing extensive research in collaboration with University of Texas, Dallas to document and demonstrate the impact of makerspaces on enhancement of Innovation Quotient and Scientific Temperament of Communities. Also researching evolving frontier of makerspaces as it sculpts culture of learning and innovation.
• NITI AayogcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Workbench Projects founders Pavan and Anupama were part of an expert consultative panel for framework creation of Atal Tinkering Labs, part of Indian government's Atal Innovation Mission. Engagement culminated in 2-day workshop with NITI Aayog leadership and strategy team, supported by Intel. Committee explored all facets of fablab including equipment, facilities, and target beneficiaries.
• Mindtree FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Mindtree Foundation engaged Workbench Projects to build 'Mindtree Reader' app - text-to-speech application for visually impaired school students. App uses camera to scan and read text aloud. Designed and prototyped several versions over 15 months, working on distributing 50,000 phones in South India.
• Siemens IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Special Purpose Machine Project - Siemens India reached out to build prototype of testing machine for LCD screens intended for hospital bed devices. Prototype designed and built in-house over 10 months.
• GE India Technology CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Conducted GE Edison Challenge hackathon for students in India focused on energy, transport, and health. 25 finalists chosen to present ideas at John F. Welch Technology Centre in Bangalore.
• ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Enable Makeathon flagship initiative with ICRC to create next-gen affordable assistive devices for persons with disability in rural India. 60-day programme where three winners rewarded up to $50K and 5 prototypes taken to production stage.
• NASSCOMminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Curated Tech Makers at Play for NASSCOM Product Conclave 2016 and Maker Experience Zone for NASSCOM Design Engineering Summit 2017. Also organized site visits for Intel + Atal Tinkering Labs residential program.
• GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Team Building Workshop for Google Bangalore - conducted hands-on maker sessions for Google teams to foster innovation culture.
• SAP LabsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Team Building Workshop for SAP Labs - conducted hands-on maker sessions for SAP teams.
• DellminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Mobile Makerspace collaboration with Dell and Learning Links Foundation - bringing maker facilities to multiple locations for broader accessibility.
• QualcommminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration with Qualcomm Design India Challenge - supporting innovative hardware product development.
• MicrosoftminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Maker Experience Zone at The Garage, Microsoft - showcasing maker culture and innovation at Microsoft facilities.
• Government of TelanganacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-organized Maker Faire Hyderabad with Government of Telangana through prototyping centre T-Works. Hyderabad's first Maker Faire saw over 40 makers from all over India.
• Government of KarnatakacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Curation of 'Innovation Zone + Start-up showcase' at Bengaluru Tech Summit. Make Fair Bengaluru kick-off with Ministry of IT, BT & Tourism located at Bengaluru Tech Summit. Govt. of Karnataka Showcase at Bengaluru ITE.Biz. Hosted Bangalore's Mini Maker Faire with Department of IT, BT & ST.
• Kerala GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Maker Nation program for Kerala government to activate two fablabs in Kochi and Trivandrum. Designed on responsible innovation, run in three phases with 10 colleges and 20 teams per fablab.
• UWC Mahindra CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Hosted 20 students from UWC Mahindra College for 7-day innovation and prototype program. Students brought own projects which Workbench helped refine over month prior to engagement.
• Ashoka UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Future of Work event at Ashoka University - sharing insights on maker culture and innovation in education.
• Forge AcceleratorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Hackathon and Experts partners with Forge Accelerator for Tamil Nadu Grand Innovation Challenge 2017.
• Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller BhavanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016SPARTH - first Space & Art Hackathon in association with Goethe Institute & Srishti Institute of Art. 48-hour hackathon exploring relation between space and art through science and technology.
• Srishti Institute of Art, Design and TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016SPARTH - first Space & Art Hackathon in association with Goethe Institute. Created prototypes and technological solutions displayed as art.
• SpaceX/HyperloopcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Hyperloop India team incubated at Workbench Projects for pod building to compete at SpaceX & Hyperloop HQ. Pod 'Orcapod' built to withstand 460 km/h, selected as finalist and shipped to California for test runs. Workbench secured funding for manufacture in Peenya, Bangalore.
• Bangladeshi FabLabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Delegation from Bangladesh FabLab for knowledge exchange - sharing best practices in fablab operations and maker education.
• Canadian International SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Semi-annual workshop with Canadian International School in Bangalore for students to design and build projects from scratch. About 40-60 students attend each workshop working on ideas like automated bird feeder.
• Christ UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Delegation from Netherlands 'Explore + Exchange' collaboration with Christ University - international knowledge exchange program.
• FAB FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016FAB Foundation is the non-profit organization that supports the global Fab Lab network based on MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms. Workbench Projects has participated in FAB events (FAB10 Barcelona, FAB11 MIT, FAB12 Shenzhen) and delivers Fab Academy as part of this network.
• MIT Center for Bits and AtomscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Fab Academy instruction based on MIT's popular rapid-prototyping course 'How To Make (almost) Anything' taught by Prof. Neil Gershenfeld. Workbench delivers Fab Academy as part of global network growing to 500+ labs.
• PixxelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Pixxel (nanosatellite startup) became first HyperSpace model portfolio startup at Workbench Projects. Workbench supported their early development before they raised Series A to build world's smartest constellation of earth observation satellites.
• iSpiritminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Workbench Projects curated hardware and maker's pavilion at iSpirit initiative (Innofest). Event agenda was to spur grassroots maker movement across India. Visitors included venture capitalist Jayant Sinha and former Infosys CEO Nandan Nilekani.
• IntelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Intel sponsored WP flagship 'Ctrl+Alt+Make' program for alternate learners and students. Also collaborated on Intel + Atal Tinkering Labs Advance Prototyping Bootcamp (2018) and Maker Nation multi-state program.
• Swissnex IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Collaborated on Robo Revolution robotics workshops with ETH Zurich and IIT Madras in 2015 and 2016. Workshop brought 35 students from different IITs to design and develop robots for specific problem statements.
• ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnered for Robo Revolution - five-day robotics workshops with Swissnex India and IIT Madras. 2015 workshop conducted by postdoctoral students from ETH Zurich's autonomous robots lab, resulting in Thimio robot. 2016 developed navigation and control system for 'Nanins' edutainment robots.
• IIT MadrascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Collaborated with Swissnex India and ETH Zurich on Robo Revolution robotics workshops for IIT students to design and develop robots tackling specific problem statements.
• IBM BluemixminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Insurance company SwissRe collaborated with IBM in 2016 for global hackathons in New York and Bangalore. Workbench Projects hosted 2-day Bangalore session where developers created mobile/web apps on 'My personal risk advisor' theme with Watson cognitive components.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• T-Works: Telangana government-backed prototyping centre and makerspace in Hyderabad. Direct peer in India's public-innovation infrastructure space; WP has co-organised Maker Faire Hyderabad with T-Works.
• Forge Accelerator: India-based hardware product accelerator. Comparable as a destination for hardware startups needing prototyping, mentorship, and investor access; WP has partnered with Forge on hackathons.
• Maker's Asylum: Mumbai- and Bengaluru-based community makerspace offering memberships, fabrication tools, and learning programs. Directly comparable hybrid maker space + co-working model targeting Indian hardware innovators.

Broad incumbents

• Lemnos Labs: US-originated hardware-focused VC with India presence. Comparable as a fellow node in the hardware-startup support ecosystem; WP's HyperSpace incubation model overlaps with Lemnos-style portfolio programs.
• Atal Tinkering Labs: NITI Aayog-led nationwide school innovation lab program (Atal Innovation Mission). WP's founders helped shape the ATL framework, positioning WP as a Tier-1 private operator in the same maker-education category.
• TechShop: Iconic US membership-based makerspace chain (now under Make: Community). Closest global analogue to WP's tiered membership model, fabrication equipment access, and education programming.
• Fab Foundation: Non-profit that governs the global Fab Lab network with MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms. WP is a node within this network and delivers Fab Academy under its umbrella, making it a foundational peer.
• 91springboard: Large Indian co-working and startup hub network. Overlaps with WP's co-working and community-led GTM for Indian startups and makers, though without the heavy fabrication equipment focus.

Others

• Autodesk (Fusion 360 / Instructables): Provides CAD/CAM tools (Fusion 360) and maker-education content (Instructables) integral to digital fabrication curricula. WP's Skill-ED and Fab Academy programs explicitly bundle Autodesk/Solidworks licenses, making it a key ecosystem and tooling partner.

Emerging players

• Hatch: LA-based hardware accelerator offering mentorship, prototyping facilities, and investor connections for hardware founders. Comparable as an early-stage hardware-startup support platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Workbench Projects