LVL1

What LVL1 does

LVL1 Inc. is a member-owned nonprofit hackerspace (makerspace) founded around 2009 in Louisville, Kentucky, operated under Kentucky law and governed by an elected board of directors with formal bylaws. The organization provides shared access to a physical fabrication facility whose equipment catalog is estimated at well over $100,000 in value, spanning an 80-watt CO2 laser cutter (Full Spectrum Laser and Rabbit Laser systems), multiple 3D printers (Creality CR-10, Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro), CNC machines (ShopBot, Shapeoko2, Zenbot 1216), a full metal shop (Lincoln HD175 MIG welder, Bridgeport Mill, casting equipment, burnout oven), woodworking equipment (table saws, planers, jointers), electronics workstations (oscilloscopes, reflow oven, signal generators), and audio/video production gear. Members must complete certifications for certain tools before use.

LVL1's core product is a single monthly membership granting 24/7 access to the space and equipment. Standard dues were held at $50/month for the organization's first 15 years and were raised to $65/month effective January 2025 to offset rising rent and operating costs. Supplementary revenue comes from ticketed workshops ranging from free (Laser Maintenance, Workshop Workshop) to $30 (Neopixel Workshop), and a small merchandise line of branded apparel (t-shirts, hats) sold through a Printful-powered online store. A hardship fund, the Tim VanSant Makership Fund, subsidizes memberships for members in financial need.

The customer base consists of individual makers, hobbyists, and learners interested in electronics, woodworking, metalworking, 3D printing, and creative technology projects. LVL1 acquires new members through word-of-mouth, weekly Tuesday open meetings, regional Makerfaire presence, and a digital footprint built on a WordPress site, an active wiki (70,943+ edits across 599 pages), and a Linktree social hub. Leadership includes President Kevin Flispart and contributors Kevin Price and Adam Thomas; Adam Thomas also runs merch operations. The organization is not venture-backed, has no parent company, and operates as a single-location community institution.

Name

LVL1

Legal name

LVL1 Inc.

Website

https://www.lvl1.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LVL1 Inc. is a member-owned nonprofit hackerspace in Louisville, Kentucky, offering shared access to laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC machines, and metal and wood shops via $65/month memberships. It serves individual makers, hobbyists, and learners through community workshops, tool certifications, and collaborative technology projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Monthly Membership Dues: Recurring monthly membership fees providing access to the space, equipment, and community. Current rate is $50/month, increasing to $65/month starting January.
2. Workshop Tickets: Ticketed educational workshops with fees ranging from free to $30. Proceeds sometimes go to special funds like the Tim VanSant Makership Fund.
3. Merchandise Sales: LVL1 branded merchandise including shirts and hats sold through Printful-powered online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LVL1 Inc. operates a community-run hackerspace in Louisville, Kentucky, where individual members pay monthly dues to access shared fabrication equipment and tools across woodworking, metalworking, electronics, 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC machining, and audio/video production. The organization supplements membership with educational workshops and branded merchandise sales. All operations are governed by an elected board of directors under a nonprofit corporate structure.

Product overview

LVL1 Hackerspace is a community-run makerspace offering a single unified membership that provides access to shared workshop facilities, equipment, and educational programs. The core product is the membership ($65/month), which grants access to the space and its tools including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, metal and wood shops, and electronics equipment. Associated offerings include ticketed workshops (Neopixel, Laser Cutter, Laser Maintenance) that teach specific maker skills, and a branded merchandise store powered by Printful.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LVL1 Hackerspace Membership
• Educational Workshops
• LVL1 Branded Merchandise

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PrintfulminorOthersPrintful provides the e-commerce infrastructure for LVL1's merchandise store. LVL1 can request custom items with their logo through Printful's catalog.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lvl1hackerspace
• Facebookfacebook.com/LVL1Hackerspace

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 LVL1