Tech Valley Center of Gravity

What Tech Valley Center of Gravity does

Tech Valley Center of Gravity (TVCOG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit makerspace founded in 2013 and headquartered at 30 3rd Street, Troy, New York. The organization operates a single facility containing 14 specialized maker zones covering fabrication, electronics, metalworking, woodworking, welding, laser cutting, 3D printing, fiber arts, glass, and prototyping, supported by over $250,000 of fabrication equipment available to members. It also maintains the THINQubator, a dedicated children's makerspace for K-12 STEAM programming including First LEGO League robotics and STEAM-Powered Saturdays free family workshops. TVCOG is governed by an elected 9-15 member Board of Directors with a four-person paid staff and was named to the inaugural TIME Top Incubators list in 2025.

The organization serves three primary customer segments: individual makers (hobbyists and professionals seeking equipment access and community, priced via tiered membership from $10/month Associate up to $200/month Super Maker Family), hardware startups (via the Incubated Maker program starting at $145/month with no equity taken, mentorship, workspace, and Innovate 518 tax incentives), and established businesses (via the Professional Maker tier starting at $160/month with multi-employee pricing). Membership tiers between $70-$200/month differentiate by access hours, family coverage, and 24/7 building access. Secondary revenue comes from classes and Maker Consultants ($40-$120/hour), dedicated workspace rentals, room rentals, storage add-ons, donations, and grants.

TVCOG's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on free Tuesday-night tours, public classes, free STEAM-Powered Saturdays, and a reciprocal 20% discount partnership with four regional Capital Region makerspaces (Electric City Barn, Saratoga Joinery, Innovation Center at Saratoga, Launchbox). Marketing is executed through organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Discord), email newsletters, and outreach via nearly twenty financial partners including foundations, government/economic development entities, and corporate sponsors. The organization also delivers two residency tracks (Digital Fabrication for Artists and Entrepreneurship Residency), financial assistance through the Community Access Fund, and added in-house fabrication services led by an on-staff machinist.

Name

Tech Valley Center of Gravity

Legal name

Tech Valley Center of Gravity, Incorporated

Website

https://tvcog.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tech Valley Center of Gravity is a nonprofit makerspace in Troy, New York providing shared fabrication equipment, STEAM education, and no-equity hardware startup incubation to individual makers, entrepreneurs, and businesses across the Capital Region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Makerspace Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH), Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE)

Keywords

• Shared makerspace access
• Hardware startup incubation
• STEAM education programs
• Community workshop services
• Digital fabrication training

Headquarters

HQ city

Troy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Recurring monthly and annual membership fees provide primary revenue. Multiple tiers from $10/month (Associate) to $200/month (Super Maker Family) serve individuals, startups, and businesses. Annual memberships offer 12 months for the price of 11.
2. Classes and Training: Revenue from group classes, private one-on-one training sessions, and safety orientations. Public classes available; member discounts offered. Maker Consultants available at $40-$120/hour.
3. Dedicated Workspace Rental: Additional revenue from renting workbenches ($90/month), Innovation Studios, and offices. Storage options (bins, lockers, shelves, carts, pallets) available for monthly fees.
4. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations through General Fund, Consumables, or THINQubator designations. Grant funding supports Community Access Fund, STEAM programs, and residency initiatives.
5. Event and Room Rental: Community Room ($100/hour) and Board Room ($50/hour) rental for external events, meetings, and corporate retreats. Free for private member meetings (3+ month members).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Tech Valley Center of Gravity operates a nonprofit community makerspace providing tiered memberships that grant access to 14 fabrication zones with over $250,000 of equipment (3D printing, laser cutting, woodworking, metalworking, welding, electronics, fiber arts, glass). It supplements this with a hardware startup Incubator program, STEAM education classes for K-12 students, and skill-based workshops, residencies, and fabrication consulting.

Product overview

Tech Valley Center of Gravity operates as a unified platform offering physical makerspace access combined with startup incubation and STEAM education services. The core offering is tiered membership providing access to 13 Maker Zones with over $250,000 of fabrication equipment (3D printing, laser cutting, woodworking, metalworking, welding, electronics, fiber arts, glass). This base is supplemented by add-on dedicated workspace and storage services. The company differentiates through its Incubated Maker startup program (offering mentorship, workspace, and business connections at $145+/month) and comprehensive STEAM education programming for youth (including free STEAM-Powered Saturdays and FIRST LEGO League). The product portfolio also includes maker residencies, safety training, public classes, maker consultants, and community access fund programs ensuring financial accessibility. No software, API, or AI capabilities are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Makerspace Membership Tiered membership program providing shared access to 14 fabrication zones and over $250,000 of equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills, welding stations, woodworking, metalworking, electronics, fiber arts, and glass. Multiple subscription tiers from $10/month (Associate, pay-per-day) to $200/month (Super Maker Family, 24/7 family access), serving individuals, hobbyists, families, startups, and businesses.
• Incubated Maker Program Startup incubation membership starting at $145/month offering 24/7 makerspace access, over $250,000 fabrication equipment use, dedicated workspace option, mentor introductions, regional funding connections, legal business address, software discounts (SOLIDWORKS, Fusion360, OnShape), Innovate 518 Hotspot tax incentives, and 100% product ownership with no equity taken. Designed for early-stage hardware and deep-tech founders.
• Dedicated Workspace Rentable workspace add-on including workbenches at $90/month, Innovation Studios, and offices at approximately $2.50/sqft/month (with basement offering 208V 3-phase power). Available to Incubated Maker and Professional Maker members who need a permanent spot within the facility.
• Maker Zones 14 specialized workshop zones covering 3D Printing, 2D Printing, Coworking, Model Shop, Kitchen, Laser Cutter, Electronics, Fiber Arts, Woodshop, Welding, Metal Shop, Glass, and Prototyping Center. Members must complete zone-specific safety orientations before using Yellow or Red equipment.
• STEAM Classes & Field Trips Hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math educational programs for K-12 students including one-time field trips, multi-session after-school workshops, educational memberships, and STEAM Studio family workshops. Targets schools and families in the Capital Region.
• STEAM-Powered Saturdays Free bi-monthly learn-together workshops for families with children ages 4-14, held every 1st and 3rd Saturday. Topics cover science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics through creative play and collaborative projects. Open to the general public without registration.
• FIRST LEGO League After-School Program Free after-school robotics club for middle schoolers in grades 5-8 from Troy City School District, Lansingburgh Central School District, or KIPP Prep Middle School. Sessions held Wednesdays 3:30pm-5:30pm from November-March.
• Makerspace Residencies Two residency tracks: Digital Fabrication for Artists (for LMI Capital Region residents ages 18+, provides free classes, 24/7 access, mentorship, and $500 materials budget) and Entrepreneurship Residency (for hardware startups, provides 1 year Incubated Maker membership, dedicated workspace, mentorship, and $300 services credit).
• Community Access Fund Programs Financial accessibility programs including Small Business Support Program (up to 75% Professional Maker dues reduction), Pay-What-You-Can Program (25-75% Super Maker dues reduction with volunteer requirements), Class Discount Program, and STEAM Education Assistance Fund for Troy schools.
• Group & Private Classes Educational classes spanning all Maker Zones including woodworking, metalworking, welding, electronics, fiber arts, glass arts, and digital fabrication. Group classes offered at reduced rates; private one-on-one sessions available by appointment. Most classes open to the public.
• Room Reservations Rental of meeting and event spaces including the Community Room (capacity 20-40, $100/hour, features projector, whiteboard, WiFi) and Board Room (capacity 10, $50/hour, hybrid meeting capabilities). Free for qualifying member private meetings; fee-based for public events.
• In-House Fabrication Services Design consultation, prototyping, and fabrication services provided by in-house machinist Alex Titcomb. Free initial consultation with special rates for Incubated Maker and Professional Maker members. Includes advice on local contract manufacturing resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% product ownership - TVCOG takes no equity in member companies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Electric City BarncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2026Albany-based makerspace partner in reciprocal membership discount network. COG members receive 20% discount on Electric City Barn membership. Collaboration strengthens Capital Region maker ecosystem.
• Saratoga JoinerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2026Saratoga-based makerspace partner in reciprocal membership discount network. COG members receive 20% discount on Saratoga Joinery membership.
• The Innovation Center at SaratogacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2026Saratoga-based innovation center partner in reciprocal membership discount network. COG members receive 20% discount.
• Launchbox Flexible WarehousescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2026Warehouse/office space provider partner. COG members receive first-month-free promotion for Warehouse Suite and Private Office memberships.
• Fun Stuff Design (Deirdre Shea and Julian Goldman)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-house industrial design and project consulting partner. Offers CAD mentorship (Fusion360), design for manufacturing, and validation prototyping services. Available to members and non-members.
• NYSTAR (New York State Regional Economic Development)coreOthersNYSTAR connection provides access to Innovate 518 Hotspot tax incentives for eligible incubated companies.
• MechanismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development nonprofit specializing in grassroots manufacturing. Contributed to strategic planning sessions for Dayton, Ohio makerspace development. TVCOG provided lived experience expertise.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Crucible: Oakland-based nonprofit industrial arts facility offering classes and open studio access across welding, woodworking, fabrication, and fine arts. Comparable mission of combining hands-on industrial education with community access.
• Nova Labs: Reston, VA makerspace and innovation center with member-driven access to fabrication equipment, classes, and project teams. Direct peer in community-led nonprofit makerspace operations.
• Artisan's Asylum: Large nonprofit community makerspace in Somerville, MA offering shared fabrication equipment, classes, and incubator-style workspace. Closest direct comparable by mission, model, and member-based structure to TVCOG.
• Sector67: Madison, WI nonprofit makerspace offering shared workspace, tools, and incubation support. Comparable hybrid model combining member access, classes, and startup incubation.
• NYC Resistor: Brooklyn-based hacker/makerspace cooperative offering 24/7 member access to fabrication equipment, electronics, and textiles. Comparable community-led model with tiered memberships and STEAM-adjacent programming.
• Dallas Makerspace: Large member-run 501(c)(3) makerspace in Carrollton, TX with extensive fabrication zones and member governance. Comparable in scale, nonprofit structure, and member-elected board governance.

Broad incumbents

• FirstBuild: Louisville-based GE Appliances hardware incubator/maker space. Comparable in hardware-focused incubation and shared fabrication equipment, but with corporate backing rather than nonprofit model.
• Fab Foundation: Global nonprofit that supports the Fab Lab network of digital fabrication labs worldwide. Provides the broader ecosystem framework that TVCOG operates within.

Others

• RPI Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's on-campus entrepreneurship center run by TVCOG board member Eric Ledet. Complementary Capital Region entrepreneurship resource with potential member pipeline overlap.

Regional players

• Electric City Barn: Albany, NY makerspace and TVCOG's reciprocal partner offering maker access in the Capital Region. Direct geographic overlap but distinct facility positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tvcog
• Facebookfacebook.com/TechValleyCenterOfGravity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10385763
• Instagraminstagram.com/techvalleycog

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Tech Valley Center of Gravity