What Makers Factory does

Makers Factory is a Tokyo-based, privately-held product design firm incorporated in December 2013 with stated share capital of ¥3,000,000 and a headcount of 1–10 employees. The company delivers industrial product design and rapid prototyping services to Japanese B2B clients using 3DCAD (notably Autodesk Fusion 360), 3D printers, and laser cutters, anchored by its proprietary "Total 3D Prototyping Service" that converts illustrations, rough sketches, or detailed 2D drawings into 3DCAD data and physical prototypes at tiered pricing from ¥80,000 to ¥200,000 per project. Its go-to-market combines direct inquiry-based B2B sales with parallel community-building assets: Makers School (a classroom-format digital manufacturing school), Makers Love (a media platform with ~60k monthly unique users and ~110k monthly page views focused on digital fabrication), Makers Love Shop (an e-commerce storefront for 3D-printed novelty goods), and an IoT Master Training program co-developed with three specialist partners (3D Printer House Suprri, Asakusabashi Workshop, Image Pit). Revenue is generated from professional service fees (B2B design and prototyping projects), recurring education tuition, novelty goods sales, and media advertising — all transacted exclusively in the domestic Japanese (Kanto-region) market via direct inquiry, direct enrollment, and the Makers Love Shop e-commerce channel. The firm is led by founder-CEO Sasaki (with a secondary source listing the legal representative as "Kuji Yasutomo / 久慈 康友," reflecting a data inconsistency in the input regarding executive identity).

Name

Makers Factory

Legal name

株式会社メイカーズファクトリー

Website

https://maker.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Makers Factory is a Tokyo-based product design firm founded in 2013 that delivers B2B industrial design and 3D rapid prototyping services, supplemented by a digital manufacturing school, a media platform, and an e-commerce novelty goods shop for Japanese enterprise clients and individual makers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Product Design and Prototyping Services

NAICS

Manufacturing (31-33)

akta.pro primary industry

Rapid Tooling & Prototype Molds (Additive) (IMAAAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH), Machine Control, Firmware & Print Management (IMAAACAD)

Keywords

• Industrial product design
• 3D printing prototyping
• 3DCAD modeling services
• Digital fabrication education
• Novelty goods manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Design Services: Industrial product design services for BtoB clients, providing design and basic structural design using 3DCAD.
2. 3DCAD Data Creation & 3D Prototyping: Conversion of 2D sketches and drawings into 3DCAD data, combined with 3D printing prototyping. Pricing tiers: illustration-based from 200,000 yen, rough drawing-based from 120,000 yen, detailed drawing-based from 80,000 yen (CAD data only; 3D printing at 3,000 yen per unit extra).
3. Makers School Education: Digital manufacturing school offering courses in 3DCAD, CNC, electronics, and IoT master training programs.
4. Novelty Goods / Original Products: Planning, design, and production of original novelty goods and merchandise using digital fabrication equipment (3D printers, laser cutters).
5. Makers Love Media Platform: Digital manufacturing information media platform (Makers Love) with approximately 60,000 monthly unique users and 110,000 monthly page views. In 2017, launched Makers Love Shop selling 3D-printed and laser-cut products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Makers Factory is a product design company that delivers industrial product design and rapid prototyping services to Japanese businesses using 3DCAD (Fusion 360), 3D printers, and laser cutters. Its signature Total 3D Prototyping Service converts 2D sketches and drawings into 3DCAD data and physical prototypes, supported by a design thinking methodology. The company also runs Makers School for digital manufacturing education, the Makers Love media platform, and produces original novelty goods via digital fabrication.

Product overview

Makers Factory operates a multi-service portfolio centered on digital manufacturing. The core offerings include Product Design ( промышленный дизайн) using 3DCAD and 3D printing technology, a Total 3D Prototyping Service for converting sketches and drawings into 3DCAD data and physical prototypes, and Makers School for hands-on manufacturing education. Supporting these are Makers Love media platform providing digital fabrication information, and a Novelty Goods Production service using 3D printers and laser cutters for custom merchandise. The company also developed the industry-first IoT Master Training Course and Makers Love Shop combining product sales with learning materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• メイカーズラブ: 3Dプリンターやレーザーカッターなどを中心としたモノづくり情報メディア。ユニークユーザー数：６万／月、PV：１１万。
• メイカーズスクール
• メイカーズラブ・ショップ
• メイカーズファクトリー・ショップ
• Makers Love
• DR Radar

Products and services

• Product Design (プロダクトデザイン) Industrial product design services utilizing 3DCAD and 3D printing technology, employing design thinking methodology for user-centered product development. Targeted at businesses that need external product design and basic structural design for manufactured goods.
• Total 3D Prototyping Service (トータル3D試作サービス) Integrated B2B service that creates 3DCAD data from 2D sketches or drawings and produces physical prototypes using 3D printers. Pricing tiers: illustration-based from 200,000 yen, rough drawing-based from 120,000 yen, detailed drawing-based from 80,000 yen (CAD data only); 3D printing at 3,000 yen per unit extra. Supports handcraft prototyping, casting, and mass production.
• Makers School (メイカーズスクール) Digital manufacturing school offering courses in 3DCAD, electronics, electronic engraving, and other maker skills, with monthly multi-session classes conducted in equipped classrooms. Over 200 students enrolled by August 2015.
• Makers Love (メイカーズラブ) Digital fabrication information media platform covering 3D printers, laser cutters, and various manufacturing methods, reaching approximately 60,000 monthly unique users and 110,000 monthly page views. Operates as both a content portal and the host site for the 3D trial service and Makers Love Shop.
• Novelty Goods Production (ノベルティ制作) Planning, design, and mass production of original novelty goods and merchandise using 3D printers and laser cutters. Products include stationery, cases, lighting, keychains, and toys, produced for small-lot runs.
• IoT Master Training Course (IOTマスター養成講座) Six-session comprehensive IoT training program covering electronics with Raspberry Pi, 3DCAD hardware design, and smartphone app development, enabling participants to create functional IoT devices. Includes development of the DR Radar educational Bluetooth device.
• Makers Love Shop (メイカーズラブ・ショップ) E-commerce platform selling 3D-printed and laser-cut novelty products, featuring a unique combination of product sales and manufacturing learning — customers can purchase items and also learn how they were made.
• Graphic Production (グラフィック制作) Advertising graphic design and catalog/brochure production services including visual planning and design for marketing communications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3D prototyping cost reduction through integrated service model
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 3Dプリンターハウス（スリプリ）coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2015Partnered for the IoT Master Training Program. 3D Printer House (Suprri) provides 3DCAD education and consulting expertise, contributing to the comprehensive IoT curriculum alongside Makers Factory.
• 浅草橋工房coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2015Partnered for the IoT Master Training Program. Asakusabashi Workshop contributes expertise in electronics and hands-on manufacturing education, rounding out the hardware-focused portions of the curriculum.
• イメージピットcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2015Partnered for the IoT Master Training Program. Image Pit provides IT solution development and smartphone app development course expertise, covering the software/app development component of the IoT program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Xometry: Large global on-demand manufacturing marketplace connecting buyers with 3D printing, CNC, injection molding, and other fabrication services. Comparable to Makers Factory's BtoB prototyping service but operating at much larger scale and breadth.
• Protolabs: Global digital manufacturing service provider offering rapid prototyping and on-demand production across 3D printing, CNC, injection molding, and sheet metal. Comparable to Makers Factory's BtoB prototyping services but at enterprise scale with automated quoting.
• Hubs (Protolabs Network): Global digital manufacturing platform offering instant quotes for 3D printing, CNC, and injection molding services. Comparable to Makers Factory's online prototyping service, but with broader geographic reach and automation.

Emerging players

• Formlabs: 3D printer manufacturer and digital fabrication ecosystem provider for professionals and enterprises. Comparable as an enabler of the same digital fabrication category Makers Factory serves, though Formlabs sells hardware rather than services.
• Make: Magazine / Make Community: Major maker movement media platform and community covering 3D printing, electronics, and DIY fabrication. Comparable to Makers Factory's Makers Love media platform and maker education focus, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Sculpteo: Online 3D printing and digital manufacturing service bureau offering prototyping, on-demand production, and design upload tools. Comparable to Makers Factory's integrated 3DCAD-to-prototype workflow and BtoB service model.
• Shapeways: Global on-demand 3D printing and manufacturing services marketplace offering prototyping and small-batch production. Comparable to Makers Factory's prototyping and novelty goods production streams, with a broader scale and marketplace model.
• Ponoko: Digital fabrication platform specializing in laser cutting, CNC, and 3D printing services for makers and small businesses. Comparable to Makers Factory's laser cutter and 3D printer-based prototyping and novelty goods offerings.
• i.materialise: European online 3D printing service bureau offering prototyping and small-batch production for designers and businesses. Comparable to Makers Factory's prototyping and maker-focused service model, but operating across multiple geographies.
• DMM.make (now DMM.make 3D): Japan-based digital fabrication platform offering 3D printing, laser cutting, and prototyping services for individuals and businesses. Directly competes with Makers Factory's Total 3D Prototyping Service and Makers Love Shop in the Japanese market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Makers Factory