What Vancouver Hack Space does

Vancouver Hack Space Society is a not-for-profit society registered under the Societies Act of British Columbia and operated entirely by volunteers at 1601 Venables St, Vancouver. It runs a single physical workshop where members share access to over 100 manufacturing and crafting tools across 3D printing, laser cutting, woodworking, machining, robotics, sewing, welding, electronics, and coding disciplines. Governance follows a do-ocracy model in which members self-select responsibilities, supplemented by a Tool Champion system where volunteer members own training and maintenance for specific equipment areas.

The organization's revenue model is a recurring monthly membership at $75 CAD, optionally bundled with a $10 donation add-on ($85 tier), plus a $10/month "Friend of VHS" supporter tier for non-users. Payments are processed via PayPal or Stripe. The FAQ explicitly states that membership dues cover rent and utility bills with no grants, donations, or sponsorship funding core operations. Members progress through a structured pathway: a probationary period with limited Tuesday-evening access, followed by keyholder vetting (requiring 3 vouches from existing keyholders) granting 24/7 access, and voting rights after three months.

The go-to-market is community-led: prospective members visit during open Tuesday nights or book a tour, sign up via a self-service membership portal, pay dues, and onboard. Marketing channels are organic - a DokuWiki forum at talk.vanhack.ca, Slack, Facebook, Instagram, and an events calendar - with no paid acquisition. VHS explicitly does not perform commercial services such as laser cutting or 3D printing to order; the offering is membership access only. The Board of Directors (3-11 elected members) oversees society affairs, with no paid employees and no parent company or external investors.

Name

Vancouver Hack Space

Legal name

Vancouver Hack Space Society

Website

https://vanhack.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Vancouver Hack Space Society is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit community workshop in East Vancouver where individual members pay $75 CAD per month for 24/7 access to shared manufacturing tools, training, and maker community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Monthly membership fees provide primary revenue. Members pay $75 CAD per month for keyholder access. Additional $10/month Friend of VHS option for supporters. Revenue covers rent and utility bills. No grants, donations, or sponsorship used for core operating expenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vancouver Hack Space is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit community workshop that provides members with access to shared manufacturing and crafting tools — including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills, woodworking and metalworking machines, welding stations, electronics benches, sewing machines, and robotics gear. The society operates on a recurring monthly membership model (C$75 keyholder, C$10 supporter "Friend of VHS") and runs entirely without paid staff, using a do-ocracy governance model with volunteer tool champions providing training and equipment stewardship.

Product overview

Vancouver Hack Space is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit community workshop that operates on a membership model. The core offering consists of Probationary Membership (limited Tuesday access) and Keyholder Membership (full 24/7 access), which provide access to shared tools and equipment including 3D printing, laser cutting, woodworking, machining, electronics, robotics, sewing, welding, and crafting areas. The space also offers training and certification programs for specialized equipment. Members can optionally upgrade to Keyholder status after a probationary period. The organization also accepts 'Friend of VHS' supporters who contribute financially without accessing the space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Probationary Membership Entry-level membership at C$75/month that grants guaranteed Tuesday-evening public open-night access, access to member-only workshop areas including the laser cutter and woodshop, and access to the VHS Talk forum. Designed as the first month of onboarding before members are vetted into keyholder status.
• Keyholder Membership Full membership at C$75/month granting 24/7 access to the East Van workshop at 1601 Venables St, a physical key to the space, the ability to open the space for other members, and voting rights after three months. Requires one month of probationary membership followed by vetting with three vouches from existing keyholders.
• Friend of VHS Support C$10/month recurring supporter tier for non-members who want to financially support Vancouver Hack Space without accessing tools, facilities, or training. Provides a way for community members and alumni to contribute to rent and utility costs.
• Equipment Training and Certification Sessions Per-session paid training and certification courses run by volunteer tool champions that teach members how to safely operate specific equipment, including SLA 3D printing (C$50), CNC wood (C$100), and Sawstop Table Saw (C$25). Required for members to independently use specialized equipment at the workshop.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• NokiaminorOthersSupporting corporation that has contributed to VHS growth and success through donations of time, equipment, or resources.
• HackeryminorOthersSupporting corporation that has contributed to VHS growth and success through donations of time, equipment, or resources.
• Sunstar Electric (Kashmir)minorOthersIndividual supporter who has contributed to VHS growth and success.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Noisebridge: San Francisco hackerspace operating as a volunteer-run, donation-supported community workshop with shared manufacturing and electronics tools. Direct analog to VHS in governance style, equipment breadth, and non-commercial member-access model.
• Artisan's Asylum: Large Somerville, MA makerspace providing shared access to fabrication, electronics, and craft equipment via tiered memberships. Directly comparable equipment breadth, dues-based access, and community-workshop positioning to VHS.
• NovaLabs: Reston, VA makerspace providing members access to 3D printing, laser cutting, woodworking, and electronics through monthly dues. Closely aligned volunteer-driven, non-commercial community workshop model to VHS.
• HacDC: Washington DC hackerspace offering shared access to electronics, fabrication, and computing tools through membership dues and community events. Same member-driven, volunteer-operated community workshop model as VHS.
• NYC Resistor: Brooklyn-based volunteer-run hackerspace offering shared access to 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics, and other maker tools via monthly membership. Closely comparable membership model, equipment mix, and community-led structure to VHS.
• Crash Space: Los Angeles hackerspace operating as a volunteer-run community workshop with shared tools across electronics, fabrication, and crafts. Directly comparable in non-commercial, member-funded community workshop model.
• Pumping Station: One: Chicago-area member-run hackerspace offering shared fabrication, electronics, and craft tools. Similar volunteer governance, dues-funded operations, and equipment breadth as Vancouver Hack Space.
• MakerFX: Orlando, FL community makerspace providing shared access to 3D printing, laser cutting, woodworking, and electronics through monthly memberships. Comparable in member-led model and equipment mix.
• London Hackspace: UK-based community hackerspace providing shared workshop facilities, electronics, and fabrication tools to paying members. Comparable member-led structure and equipment offerings, operating in a high-cost city similar to Vancouver.
• Asmbly: Austin, TX community makerspace formed from a merger of local hackerspaces, offering shared tools across woodworking, metalwork, electronics, and crafts via membership. Comparable in equipment diversity, community-led model, and dues-based access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vancouver-hack-space-261300062525
• Instagraminstagram.com/vanhackspace
• Xx.com/VHS

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 Vancouver Hack Space