SFMade.org

What SFMade.org does

SFMade (legal entity SFMade, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 that serves as the designated steward of the San Francisco Bay Area manufacturing ecosystem. The organization connects a network of more than 800 local manufacturers across San Francisco, San Jose, the East Bay, and additional Bay Area counties (San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma) — a network it states sustains more than 15,000 jobs. SFMade operates three programmatic pathways: Consumer Products (advising entrepreneurs and growing businesses in food and beverage, apparel, home goods, and personal care), Advanced Manufacturing (supporting machine shops, medical devices, food production, and electronics using technology and automation), and Youth Programs (introducing high school students to manufacturing careers via the FlexFactor K-12 program, internships, factory tours, and career panels).

SFMade's service portfolio comprises free 1:1 business advising on pricing, packaging, compliance, operations, and sales channels; workshops and forums on pertinent operational topics; a public Makers' Directory of 800+ manufacturers searchable by industry and county; an industry Job Board; policy and advocacy at city and state level; signature events (annual Here/Now, Celebrate MFG South Bay, Manufacturing Week Factory Tours, Holiday Pop-Up Store); and resources including the Fashion Pipeline Manufacturing Guide, Inventory Management Guide, Food & Beverage Manufacturing Guide, and Access to Capital Guide. The organization develops no proprietary technology products and operates on a freemium model with no membership fees.

SFMade's revenue model is entirely grant-, sponsorship-, and donation-based. Primary funding comes from government grants (city, state, federal — including the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development and CalOSBA), foundation grants (e.g., Sobrato Family Foundation), corporate sponsorships (PG&E, JPMorgan Chase, BMO, Block, Prologis), individual donations channeled to a Small Business Fund, and special events revenue. The organization's FY2024 annual budget is disclosed at $2.1 million, with 11–50 employees and a single headquarters at 150 Hooper Street, Unit 200, San Francisco. Leadership transitioned to Interim CEO Joyce Shulman (Chief of Programs Paawan Kothari remains in place); Steve Sellers is referenced as a prior CEO.

Name

SFMade.org

Legal name

SFMade, Inc.

Website

https://sfmade.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SFMade is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that stewards the Bay Area manufacturing ecosystem by providing free business advising, workshops, youth workforce programs, and policy advocacy to a network of over 800 local manufacturers sustaining more than 15,000 jobs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: SFMade's primary funding stream is government grants from city, state, and federal sources. The organization actively manages agency relationships and compliance requirements across the full grant lifecycle.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: SFMade receives support from foundations (e.g., Sobrato Family Foundation) and corporate funders (e.g., PG&E). Funding is used to support programming, youth workforce initiatives, and organizational operations.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: SFMade sells sponsorships for its events and programs, including its flagship Here/Now annual event (May), Celebrate MFG South Bay event (October), Manufacturing Week Factory Tours, and Youth Programs. Corporate sponsors gain visibility and equity commitments in exchange for financial support.
4. Individual Donations: SFMade accepts personal contributions to its Small Business Fund, which helps local makers start, grow, and build products. Donations are solicited via the website and at events.
5. Special Events Revenue: SFMade hosts annual events (Here/Now, Celebrate MFG) that engage donors and raise funds for the organization. Events include ticket sales, sponsorship revenue, and associated fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SFMade is a nonprofit organization that stewards the San Francisco Bay Area manufacturing ecosystem. It provides free 1:1 business advising, workshops and forums, a Makers' Directory, a Job Board, policy advocacy, and youth career readiness programming (including the FlexFactor K-12 program) to a network of 800+ Bay Area manufacturers.

Product overview

SFMade is a nonprofit organization that stewards the San Francisco Bay Area manufacturing ecosystem through three interconnected pathways: Consumer Products (for entrepreneurs making consumer goods), Advanced Manufacturing (for companies using technology and automation), and Youth Programs (for high schoolers exploring careers). Its service portfolio includes Business Advising and Resources, Workshops and Forums, Youth Career Readiness programs, and Policy & Advocacy. The organization operates the FlexFactor flagship youth program, maintains a Makers' Directory of over 800 local manufacturers, and provides a Job Board for the manufacturing sector. Additional resources include expert guides on Fashion Pipeline Manufacturing, Inventory Management, Food & Beverage Manufacturing, and Access to Capital. SFMade facilitates corporate sponsorships, volunteer advisors, and hosts signature events including the annual Here/Now event and Celebrate MFG South Bay event.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FlexFactor: Flagship youth program integrating into K-12 classrooms where students work in teams to identify real-world problems, design hardware-based solutions, build business models, and pitch to industry professionals.

Products and services

• Business Advising Program Free 1:1 business advising and specialized tools that help Bay Area manufacturers navigate pricing, packaging, compliance, operations, and sales channels. Targeted at SMB manufacturers that produce at least one product in the Bay Area.
• Workshops and Forums Educational sessions and networking events for the Bay Area manufacturing community, delivered both virtually (Zoom) and in person. Topics include business finances, hiring, eCommerce optimization, AI, marketing, and tax readiness.
• FlexFactor Youth Program Flagship K-12 youth program where students work in teams to identify real-world problems, design hardware-based solutions, build business models, and pitch to industry professionals. Introduces advanced manufacturing and entrepreneurship along with career pathways to high schoolers in the Bay Area.
• Makers' Directory Searchable online directory of 800+ local Bay Area manufacturers filterable by industry (Advanced Manufacturing, Apparel & Accessories, Food & Beverage, etc.), sub-category, county, and sustainability certifications. Free to access for buyers, suppliers, and the general public.
• Job Board Online portal where Bay Area manufacturing companies post open positions and job seekers browse and apply directly. Free to access; used by member companies such as Golden Bear Sportswear, Heath Ceramics, Dark Garden Unique Corsetry, Aby's Custom Upholstery, and Third Wheel Coffee.
• Policy & Advocacy Policy advocacy program that strengthens local manufacturing by amplifying Bay Area makers' collective voice at the city and state level. Provides member manufacturers with collective regulatory and economic influence unavailable to individual businesses.
• Membership Program Free membership program for any company that manufactures at least one product in the Bay Area. Members gain access to all of SFMade's core services — 1:1 advising, workshops, networking, youth programs, and directory/board listings — at no cost.
• Holiday Pop-Up Store Annual physical retail store at Embarcadero Center in San Francisco that features 60 SFMade member brands across six product categories, enabling members to reach consumers in person and generating visibility for the local manufacturing ecosystem.
• Here/Now Annual Event SFMade's flagship annual signature event celebrating Bay Area manufacturing. Hosts the Manufacturer of the Year award and convenes over 160 manufacturers, partners, and community members per edition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ local manufacturers connected with resources since 2020
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• Heath CeramicssupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Heath Ceramics hosted SFMade's Women's History Month Manufacturer Meetup 2026 at its San Francisco showroom. As a venue host and event sponsor, it provides physical space and community brand alignment for SFMade programming.
• Main Street LaunchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced in SFMade's Local Matters March 2026 newsletter as a resource partner offering low-interest loans ($10,000–$350,000) to Bay Area small businesses. SFMade directs members to Main Street Launch for access to capital financing.
• California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalOSBA participated in SFMade's AI and Future of Manufacturing Work panel discussions. The office provides free resources including CalOSBA Scale network one-on-one advising to help manufacturers evaluate new technologies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MAGNET (Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network): Cleveland, Ohio-based nonprofit delivering consulting, workforce development, and innovation services to Northeast Ohio manufacturers. Comparable as a regional manufacturing-support organization combining advising, events, and policy advocacy.
• Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation: A nonprofit industrial-park operator and economic-development organization managing manufacturing and creative-industry tenants at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Comparable in stewarding a regional manufacturing ecosystem and providing tenant services, workforce programs, and tenant-direct retail access.
• Made in NYC: A NYC-based nonprofit that supports and promotes local manufacturers through advocacy, events, and a public directory. Directly comparable regional-manufacturing steward model aimed at protecting urban production capacity.
• Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC): A Chicago nonprofit that supports and advocates for industrial businesses on the near west side. Directly comparable as a regional manufacturer-stewardship nonprofit providing advocacy, retention programming, and economic-development services.
• Automation Alley: A Michigan-based nonprofit technology and manufacturing industry association focused on Industry 4.0 adoption, business resources, and connections for manufacturers. Comparable regional steward combining advising, events, and ecosystem-building for manufacturers.
• Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI): A Maryland-based nonprofit that supports and advocates for the state's manufacturing sector through programming, networking, and workforce initiatives. Direct regional peer in structure and mission, providing advocacy and member services for local manufacturers.

Broad incumbents

• Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network: A NIST-led national network of federally funded centers providing consulting, training, and resources to U.S. manufacturers. Broader incumbent in the same space, with overlapping services (advising, training) across all 50 states versus SFMade's regional focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SFMade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sfmade
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfmade
• Xx.com/sfmade

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 SFMade.org