Futura Group

What Futura Group does

Futura Group srl is an Italian private limited company headquartered in Gallarate (Varese province) that distributes and assembles electronic equipment and publishes technical content for the electronics community. Founded in 1993 as Futura Elettronica, the company expanded in 1995 with the launch of the Elettronica In magazine (originally under Vispa Edizioni), and today operates three divisions: an Electronics Division handling proprietary assembly kits, distributed brands (notably the exclusive Italian distribution of Belgian manufacturer Velleman), and more complex remote-control and localization systems supplied pre-assembled and tested; an Editorial Division publishing the monthly Elettronica In magazine, the Elettronica In PRO professional edition, and the Open Electronics blog; and an Academy Division (Futura Academy) offering electronics training courses. The company serves electronics design professionals and R&D staff at small and medium enterprises, university and high school students and their instructors, hobbyists, and broader consumer and professional buyers. Distribution combines direct showroom sales at the Gallarate headquarters, two e-commerce storefronts (futuranet.it in Italian, store.open-electronics.org in English), and an affiliated network of over 250 retailers across Italy.

The business generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of components, kits, and assembled equipment, supplemented by recurring subscription revenue from the monthly Elettronica In publication and ancillary income from training courses. Its product catalog spans proprietary educational kits, the full Velleman kit range, and products from more than 20 Italian and foreign manufacturers. Customer-facing content is delivered through Elettronica In (10 issues per year), the Elettronica In PRO professional edition, and the Open Electronics blog, which together function as both content marketing and community-building assets supporting hardware sales.

The company is closely held with a stated share capital of €60,000, no disclosed institutional or venture investors, no subsidiaries or parent entities, and no M&A history in the available data. No public ticker, no funding rounds, and no disclosed revenue are recorded. Strategic activity in the input data is limited to incremental organic moves: the Velleman distribution partnership, the addition of the Academy division, the launch of Elettronica In PRO, the bilingual Open Electronics platform, and the expansion of the retailer network to over 250 Italian resellers. There are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or third-party model integrations in the product set.

Name

Futura Group

Legal name

Futura Group srl

Website

https://futuragroupsrl.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Futura Group srl is an Italian electronics distributor and publisher that sells proprietary and Velleman-branded assembly kits, distributed components, and remote-control systems to professionals, students, and hobbyists through e-commerce, a Gallarate showroom, and 250-plus Italian retailers, while also publishing the Elettronica In magazine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronics Distribution and DIY Kits

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)

SIC

Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, Nec (5065)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded, Maker Platforms & Development Kits Retail (CRACAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

DIY Kits, STEM Electronics & Maker Bundles Retail (CRACAKAN), Maker / DIY Electronics & Physical Computing Platforms (EDAFANAC), Electronic Components (Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors) Retail (CRACAKAA)

Keywords

• Electronics distribution
• Educational electronics kits
• DIY assembly kits
• Technical publishing
• Electronics components

Headquarters

HQ city

Gallarate

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electronics Hardware Sales: Sale of electronic components, kits, and assembled equipment through direct sales, e-commerce, and reseller network. Includes proprietary educational kits, Velleman kits distribution, and products from over 20 Italian and foreign manufacturers.
2. Technical Publishing: Monthly magazine Elettronica In (10 issues per year) covering electronics design, scientific news, and technological innovations. Includes technical texts and manuals published through the Editorial Division.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Futura Group designs, constructs, and distributes electronic equipment through its Electronics Division, including proprietary educational assembly kits, the complete Velleman kit range under exclusive Italian distribution, and complex remote control and localization systems. Through its Editorial Division it publishes the Elettronica In monthly electronics magazine, and through its Academy Division it delivers training courses on electronics and technology. Products reach customers via direct showroom sales, Italian and English e-commerce platforms, and a network of 250+ affiliated retailers across Italy.

Product overview

Futura Group srl operates three distinct divisions under one company: the Electronics Division ('Futura Elettronica', active since 1993) handles distribution and construction of electronic equipment including assembly kits (both proprietary and Velleman distributed products) plus more complex remote control and localization systems; the Editorial Division (formerly Vispa Edizioni, founded 1995) publishes 'Elettronica In' monthly magazine and 'Elettronica In PRO' professional edition; and the Academy Division offers technology training courses. Products are sold via e-commerce (Futuranet.it in Italian, Open Electronics in English), direct point-of-sale at Gallarate headquarters, and through 250+ affiliated retailers nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Elettronica In: Monthly electronics design and technology magazine published 10 times per year, serving professionals, students, and hobbyists in electronic design and computer science fields.
• Elettronica In PRO
• Futura Academy
• Open Electronics
• Futuranet

Products and services

• Elettronica In Magazine Monthly Italian-language electronics design magazine with educational and dissemination purposes, published 10 times per year. Targets electronic design professionals, R&D laboratories, technical offices, university and high school students, teachers, and hobbyists.
• Elettronica In PRO (eipro) Professional version of the Elettronica In magazine dedicated to professional electronics designers and technical specialists working in R&D and design engineering.
• Futura Academy Training Courses Structured electronics and technology training courses offered online via the Futura Academy platform for students, professionals, and hobbyists seeking to build electronics and technology skills.
• Velleman Kits Distribution Exclusive Italian distribution of the complete Velleman kit catalog of electronics assembly kits and hobby components, enabling Italian customers to purchase Velleman products through Futura Group's direct showroom, e-commerce, and 250+ affiliated retailers.
• Futura Elettronica Educational Assembly Kits and Remote Control Systems Proprietary educational electronics assembly kits, didactic circuits, and more complex pre-assembled and tested remote control and localization systems produced by the Electronics Division. Kits let beginners approach electronics theory and practice through hands-on construction; remote control systems target the professional sector.
• Open Electronics International E-commerce Store English-language e-commerce platform operated by Futura Group for international sales of its electronics products and kits, complementing the Italian-language futuranet.it store.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• VellemancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partnership for the complete Velleman kit range in Italy. Velleman is a Belgian manufacturer of electronics kits and hobby components. Futura Group distributes their entire product catalog alongside their own branded kits, serving both professional and hobbyist markets through their retail and e-commerce channels.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Adafruit: Open-source hardware manufacturer and retailer with strong educational content, tutorials, and a maker community — directly comparable to Futura's combination of proprietary kits, educational publishing, and community engagement.
• SparkFun Electronics: US-based maker electronics retailer selling DIY kits, development boards, and educational resources to hobbyists, educators, and professionals. Directly comparable product category (maker kits, educational electronics) and business model (proprietary products + distribution + educational content).
• Futura Elettronica (internal brand): The proprietary 'Futura Elettronica' brand within Futura Group itself, selling proprietary DIY kits alongside Velleman distribution. It is the company's own kit product line competing in the same Italian maker/education market.
• Arduino: Italian-headquartered maker electronics platform with open-source hardware, educational kits, and a developer ecosystem. Directly comparable as a maker/STEM education platform serving hobbyists, students, and educators — the same core customer segments Futura targets through Elettronica In, proprietary kits, and Futura Academy.
• Robot Italy: Italian electronics and robotics retailer/distributor selling components, kits, and maker products directly to consumers and educational institutions. Comparable in geography (Italy), product mix (components + kits + educational), and customer base (hobbyists, students, educators).

Emerging players

• Seeed Studio: Maker electronics platform offering open-source hardware, DIY kits, and educational products. Comparable on product mix and customer segments (hobbyists, educators, prototyping professionals), with growing focus on STEM education.

Broad incumbents

• Conrad Electronic: Large European electronics distributor and retailer (Germany-headquartered) with broad product range including DIY kits, components, and educational electronics. Comparable as a broad incumbent distribution player operating across European markets.
• RS Components (RS Italia): Global electronics distributor with significant Italian operations (RS Italia), serving professionals with components, kits, and test equipment. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing in the same Italian professional electronics market Futura serves.
• Velleman: Belgian manufacturer of DIY electronics kits and the same company Futura Group distributes exclusively in Italy. Velleman is a broad incumbent in the maker/DIY kit category and is directly comparable on product (educational kits, hobby electronics) though it manufactures where Futura distributes and publishes.

Regional players

• Melchioni Electronics: Established Italian electronics components distributor with B2B focus and broad product portfolio including educational and hobby lines. Comparable as a domestic Italian distribution peer in the electronic components and kits space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Futura Group