Vista AST

What Vista AST does

Vista AST LLC is a privately held, Youngstown, Ohio-based company (11-50 employees) that designs and manufactures the INVENT3D line of desktop fused filament fabrication 3D printers and bundles them with the Invent2Make K-12 STEAM curriculum program. Its proprietary cloud-enabled collaborative learning environment allows remote operation of digitally controlled fabrication equipment (3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills, vinyl cutters) and supports real-time technical assistance. Founded and led by Jack Scott, retired president and COO of Parsons, the company has built a customer base of more than 100 K-12 schools, colleges and universities, nonprofits, and government agencies nationwide, including marquee relationships with DARPA, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, NASA Glenn Research Center, and Lockheed Martin.

Vista AST monetizes across six revenue streams: hardware sales of INVENT3D 250 and 300 Series printers ($1,995-$2,495, with annual leases from $995); the multi-year Invent2Make program subscription (curriculum, professional development, makerspace services, technical support, field trips, and lending library); on-demand 3D printing services through its FabIt4U division, which operates a fleet of 60+ printers and has been active since 2014; project-based makerspace design and build services; professional development training sessions (virtual and in-person); and a lending library of STEAM project kits. The FabIt4U service, BIZ3D entrepreneurship program (co-developed with Youngstown State University), and lending library extend the offering beyond K-12 into commercial prototyping, university, and defense workforce development.

Go-to-market is predominantly direct sales to educational institutions and government buyers, supplemented by an e-commerce storefront for hardware and kits. Distribution is U.S.-only and relies on a small named team plus strategic alliances with America Makes, NASA Glenn, and Youngstown State University. No venture funding, institutional investor, or revenue figures are disclosed.

Name

Vista AST

Legal name

Vista AST LLC

Website

https://vistaast.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vista AST LLC designs INVENT3D desktop 3D printers and the Invent2Make K-12 STEAM curriculum program, serving schools, universities, and government agencies including DARPA, DoD, and NASA with hardware, subscriptions, professional development, and makerspace services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational 3D Printing Equipment and STEAM Program Services

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (541420)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMADAH

3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Robotics, Engineering & Makerspaces

SECONDARYIMAAADAL

Electronics & Industrial Component 3D Printing Services (enclosures, fixtures, functional parts)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/3D Printing/3D Printing Services (On-Demand Manufacturing & Service Bureaus)

SECONDARYEDAMADAC

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Robotics, Engineering & Makerspaces

SECONDARYIMAAAIAM

Service, Repair & Maintenance Contracts (Preventive Maintenance, Onsite Service, Extended Warranty)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/3D Printing/Spare Parts, Maintenance & Consumables for 3D Printing

Keywords

• Educational 3D printers
• STEAM curriculum programs
• Makerspace design services
• Professional development training
• Additive manufacturing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Youngstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 3D Printer Sales: Sale of INVENT3D desktop FDM 3D printers specifically designed for educational use. 250 Series starts at $1,995, 300 Series starts at $2,495. Dual head option adds $500. Lease options start at $995 annually.
2. Invent2Make Program Subscription: Subscription-based access to curriculum, professional development, projects, makerspace services, technical support, field trips, and lending library. Subscription fee includes remainder of present semester plus two additional semesters.
3. 3D Printing Services (FabIt4U): On-demand 3D printing services for prototypes to full-scale production. Operating since 2014 with fleet of 60+ 3D printers. Services include design assistance, multiple filament materials, post-print services (support removal, surface finishing, assembly).
4. Makerspace Design & Build Services: Design, installation, and operation of Maker Spaces for educational institutions. Includes customized technology packages, equipment procurement, technical assistance, service contracts for maintenance and support.
5. Professional Development Training: Virtual (real-time and on-demand) and limited in-person professional development sessions lasting two hours with digital training materials and certificates of PD attendance. Topics include 3D printing basics/advanced, 3D design, makerspace use, STEAM integration.
6. Lending Library (Project Kits): Checkout service for project kits including Colors of the Rainbow, Rockin' with Newton's Cradle, Eureka! I have it, Blowing in the Wind, Breathe Safely, Let it Glide, Spacecraft Safety, Gaining Traction on Mars, How to Measure the Moon.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vista AST designs, manufactures, and sells the INVENT3D line of desktop FDM 3D printers built exclusively for educational settings, and packages those printers with the Invent2Make K-12 STEAM program, which bundles standards-aligned curriculum, project kits, professional development, makerspace services, technical support, and a lending library under a multi-semester subscription. The company also operates FabIt4U, an on-demand 3D printing service with 60+ printers, and provides turnkey makerspace design and build services for schools and government clients.

Product overview

Vista AST is a designer and manufacturer of desktop fused filament 3D printers (INVENT3D) and related technologies specifically for education and workforce development. The company offers a portfolio comprising: INVENT3D 250 and 300 Series 3D printers; Storm Desktop CAD software; FabIt4U on-demand 3D printing services; the Invent2Make comprehensive K-12 STEAM program (including curriculum, project kits, makerspace resources, and professional development); BIZ3D entrepreneurship education; and makerspace design/build services for schools and institutions. A proprietary cloud-enabled collaborative learning environment enables remote operation of digitally controlled equipment and real-time technical support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Invent2Make: Integrated K-12 STEAM educational program offering project-based learning with technology-rich environment, including curriculum, projects, professional development, and makerspace services.
• INVENT3D
• FabIt4U
• BIZ3D

Products and services

• INVENT3D 250 Series Standard desktop FDM 3D printer featuring a 250mm x 250mm x 180mm build volume, factory-calibrated auto-level sensor, and InvenTek print surface. Starting at $1,995 for single extruder, with an optional dual head for +$500. Designed exclusively for educational use.
• INVENT3D 300 Series Large-format desktop FDM 3D printer with a 300mm x 300mm x 280mm build volume for larger educational projects. Starting at $2,495 for single extruder, with an optional dual head for +$500. Optional interchangeable High Speed hot end enables printing at up to 4x speed.
• Invent2Make Program Comprehensive K-12 STEAM educational program offering project-based learning with standards-aligned lessons, a cloud-enabled collaborative learning environment, and remote access to makerspace equipment for design and fabrication. Subscription includes professional development, projects, makerspace services, technical support, field trips, and lending library.
• FabIt4U 3D Printing Service On-demand 3D printing service supporting one-off prototypes to full-scale production using a fleet of over 60 printers. Offers design expertise, CAD modeling, reverse engineering, 3D scanning, and post-print finishing services for medical, education, government, military, commercial, manufacturing, and arts applications.
• Makerspace Design & Build Services Custom design, installation, and operation of Maker Spaces for schools and institutions. Includes 3D printers, laser cutter/engravers, CNC mills, routers, and networked design stations with service contracts and technical support.
• Professional Development Training Virtual and in-person professional development sessions (2-4 hours each) for educators covering topics including 3D printing basics/advanced, 3D design with Tinkercad or Onshape, hands-on maker spaces, STEAM integration, and curriculum-specific training. Each session includes associated digital files of training materials and certificates of PD attendance.
• BIZ3D Entrepreneurship Program Entrepreneurship education program developed by Youngstown State University that challenges students to conceptualize a business venture, design and create a product using 3D printing, and develop a business model with an elevator pitch and promotional video.
• Storm Desktop CAD Software Proprietary Windows 64-bit CAD software licensed for use with Vista AST equipment, supporting the design workflow for INVENT3D printers and makerspace projects.
• Invent2Make Lending Library Kit lending program providing project kits for check-out, including Colors of the Rainbow, Rockin' with Newton's Cradle, Eureka! I have it, Blowing in the Wind, Breathe Safely, Let it Glide, Spacecraft Safety, Gaining Traction on Mars, and How to Measure the Moon kits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Democratizes access to equipment and resources without capital expense burden, maintenance costs, or location limitations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• America MakescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVista is a member of America Makes, the nation's leading collaborative partner in additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology research, discovery, creation, and innovation. Vista supports America Makes' educational initiatives and benefits from the organization's network and resources.
• NASA Glenn Research CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVista collaborated with NASA Glenn Research Center to reach a broader audience with NASA Engineering Design Challenges. This partnership provides authentic space exploration challenges for the Invent2Make curriculum, including Mars rover projects and spacecraft safety challenges.
• Youngstown State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey personnel from Youngstown State University worked with DARPA and Vista to develop the basis for the Invent2Make Program. Youngstown State developed the BIZ3D program, and university staff contribute to curriculum development and educational initiatives.
• Applied Systems & Technology TransfercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn Scott, owner and president of Vista AST, is also a principal and owner of Applied Systems & Technology Transfer. This company designed and constructed five 53-foot Navy Fab Lab Trailers, featuring conceptual design, equipment acquisition, and installation of digital fabrication equipment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Makeblock: Makeblock offers STEAM/robotics kits and the mCreate series of 3D printers along with creator-focused curriculum, competing with Vista for K-12 makerspace and STEAM program budgets at global scale.
• SparkFun Electronics: SparkFun supplies electronics kits, microcontrollers, and maker education materials widely used in school makerspaces, overlapping with Vista's project kits and Invent2Make lending library in the K-12 maker curriculum channel.
• Pitsco Education: Pitsco Education is an established K-12 STEM/STEAM curriculum and equipment provider offering makerspace packages, 3D printers, and standards-aligned lesson plans; a broader incumbent competing for the same district curriculum and makerspace budget pool as Invent2Make.

Direct peers

• Ultimaker: Ultimaker offers desktop FDM 3D printers (S3, S5, Factor series) with explicit education programs and curriculum partnerships, directly competing with INVENT3D for the same education procurement budgets and makerspace deployments.
• Shapeways: Shapeways is an on-demand 3D printing service bureau offering prototyping and small-batch production with a similar business model to Vista's FabIt4U service, including design assistance and a variety of materials/finishes.
• XYZprinting: XYZprinting's da Vinci and Nobel series of entry-level 3D printers with the proprietary XYZmaker STEAM curriculum directly compete with INVENT3D printers and Invent2Make lessons for the K-12 education channel.
• Prusa Research: Prusa Research's Original, MINI, and MK-series desktop FDM printers, plus Prusa Education program, compete directly with INVENT3D on price-point, education-grade reliability, and curriculum support.
• Dremel DigiLab (Emerson): Dremel DigiLab offers the 3D20, 3D40, and 3D45 Idea Builder printers with dedicated education bundles and lesson plans, targeting the same K-12 and library makerspace customer set as Vista's INVENT3D and Invent2Make program.
• MakerBot (Stratasys): MakerBot, owned by Stratasys, is a direct competitor for educational desktop 3D printers (MakerBot Method, Sketch) and STEAM curriculum bundles targeted at K-12 and higher education. It competes head-to-head with Vista's INVENT3D line on school procurement deals.

Emerging players

• Markforged: Markforged produces industrial and desktop composite 3D printers (Maker, Onyx series) and is expanding into education, overlapping with Vista on workforce-development positioning and DARPA-aligned manufacturing use cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Vista AST