realraum

What realraum does

realraum is a non-profit hackerspace and makerspace founded in 2007 in Graz, Austria, providing shared physical access to tools, labs, and meeting space for technology enthusiasts, hobbyists, and biohackers. Its core facilities span multiple disciplines under one roof at Brockmanngasse 15: the TESLA electronics workshop with soldering stations, oscilloscopes, and microelectronics workbenches; the OLGA open biology laboratory supporting molecular biology, microbiology, gel electrophoresis, and bacterial culture work; digital fabrication equipment including a Lulzbot TAZ4 3D printer and an RFID-access-controlled laser cutter; and a LoTHR lounge area with quick-work electronics capabilities. The space also operates an MQTT-based room automation system accessible via licht.realraum.at for light and environmental control.

The organization's business model is membership-supported: realraum operates as an Austrian non-profit association governed by a voluntary Vorstand (board), with no venture capital, parent company, or external investors. Members pay fees (not publicly disclosed) to access equipment, while all public events and workshops remain free to attend. GTM is entirely community-driven — the organization maintains no formal sales motion, relying on a WordPress blog (wp.realraum.at), a comprehensive wiki at wiki.realraum.at, a GitHub presence at github.com/realraum, an active Mastodon account at chaos.social/@realraum, and recurring events such as sensor.community AirRohr workshops plus participation in Grazer Linuxtage and Maker Faire Vienna. Customer segments center on hackers and makers as the primary persona and biohackers/DIY biologists as a secondary, technically specialized segment. Contact is handled via [email protected] for board and membership matters and [email protected] for the biology lab.

The organization has no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no patents or trademarks on file. Geographic footprint is deliberately limited to a single Graz location, with documented knowledge-exchange visits to international peer organizations such as IRNAS in Maribor, Slovenia, and Counter Culture Labs in Oakland, California. The 18th birthday celebration scheduled for May 24, 2025 and recurring member meetings and Geekend events evidence continued operational vitality after an 18-year run that includes a temporary COVID-19 closure from March 2020 and a phased reopening in September 2021.

Name

realraum

Legal name

realraum

Website

https://wp.realraum.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

realraum is a non-profit hackerspace and makerspace in Graz, Austria, founded in 2007, providing members shared access to electronics, DIY biology, 3D printing, and laser cutting equipment under a community-supported membership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Makerspace and Hackerspace Services

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Open-Source & Developer Communities (BPAMABAM)

Keywords

• Community hackerspace
• Makerspace facilities
• DIY biology lab
• Digital fabrication workshop
• Open source hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

realraum operates a non-profit hackerspace and makerspace in Graz, Austria, providing members and visitors shared access to a multi-disciplinary workshop covering electronics (TESLA), open biology (OLGA), 3D printing, laser cutting, and IoT-based room automation. Access is gated by membership; the space functions as a community hub for hands-on experimentation, skill-sharing, and collaborative projects across software, hardware, and molecular biology.

Product overview

realraum is a non-profit hackerspace and makerspace in Graz, Austria, operating as a community workshop and meeting place. The facility spans multiple technical domains including software, hardware, electronics, and molecular biology. The core offerings include OLGA (Open bioLab Graz Austria) for DIY biology work, TESLA for electronics experimentation, laser cutting services with RFID access control, and 3D printing using Lulzbot TAZ4. The space also features a room automation system using MQTT for environmental control. These facilities are made available to members and visitors for hands-on making, learning, and collaborative projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OLGA: Open bioLab Graz Austria - DIY biology and molecular biology laboratory within realraum
• TESLA

Products and services

• OLGA (Open bioLab Graz Austria) DIY biology laboratory open to members and visitors, providing facilities for molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry experiments including gel electrophoresis, microscopy, and bacterial culture work.
• TESLA (Electronics Corner) Electronics laboratory facility offering soldering stations, lab power supplies, test equipment, and electronic component workbenches for members to work on hardware and electronics projects.
• 3D Printing Services 3D printing access for members using a Lulzbot TAZ4 open-source printer with a large build area and heated glass surface, capable of precise prints in PLA and other materials.
• Laser Cutting Services Laser cutter access for members with RFID-based access control, dead-person-button safety mechanism, and material parameter database for cutting and engraving wood, metal foil, and similar materials.
• LoTHR (Lounge Area with Mini Electronics Station) Main lounge and common area offering basic soldering and electronics testing capabilities so members can do quick project work without going to the dedicated TESLA lab.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• IRNAS (Institute for Development of Advanced Applied Systems)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange visit with Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow Luka and Boštjan from IRNAS in Maribor, Slovenia. Collaboration on Open Source Hardware projects including Koruza (free-space optical network), SafeCast (geiger counter), and GoodEnoughCNC family. Shared interest in DIY BioHacking and hardware development.
• Counter Culture LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit from Mary Ward of Counter Culture Labs in Oakland, California. Discussion about microfluidic mRNA assay in space research. Knowledge exchange on microfluidics and space-worthy satellite building.
• Grazer LinuxtageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual participation in Grazer Linuxtage conference with booth and open door events for attendees.
• Maker Faire ViennaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor at Maker Faire Vienna 2017 with 3-table stand and one-hour programming workshop. First time as a hackerspace/makerspace exhibitor.
• World Privacy and Identity Association (WPIA)minorOthersWPIA founding assembly held at realraum in Graz on December 10, 2016. Organization focuses on making knowledge about digital communication accessible and promoting privacy rights.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Genspace: Brooklyn-based community biology lab offering shared lab access for molecular biology, synthetic biology, and citizen-science projects. Direct comparable to OLGA's biohacker offering.
• Chaospott e.V. Essen-based hackerspace affiliated with the Chaos Computer Club, providing shared workshop space and community events. Same chaostreff/community model operating in Germany.
• xHain Berlin: Berlin hackerspace with shared workshop and event space for makers and technologists. Comparable German peer with similar community-first operating model.
• Counter Culture Labs: Oakland-based community biology lab running DIY biology, microbiology, and biohacker programs. Most directly comparable peer to realraum's OLGA initiative; already a documented partner of realraum.
• Attraktor e.V. Hamburg-based hackerspace association providing shared workshop, electronics, and maker infrastructure with a strong community event program. Same Verein model, similar equipment breadth.
• Binary Kitchen e.V. Erlangen-based hackerspace offering electronics workshop, maker tools, and community events. Comparable non-profit Verein model and member-driven operations.
• shackspace: Stuttgart hackerspace with shared electronics lab, 3D printing, and event programming. Directly comparable German peer in the DACH hackerspace ecosystem.
• C3Wien: Austrian hacker association in Vienna affiliated with the Chaos Computer Club, offering meeting space, workshops, and IT-security community events. Directly comparable community/chaostreff model to realraum.
• Metalab: Vienna-based hackerspace and Verein providing shared workshop, electronics, and maker facilities for Austrian hackers. Closest comparable Austrian peer; same non-profit association model, similar member-driven ethos.

Broad incumbents

• Fab Foundation: Global non-profit that supports the Fab Lab network of digital fabrication labs worldwide. Operates at a much larger scale than realraum and represents the broader institutional context for makerspace activity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/realraum
• GitHubgithub.com/realraum
• Facebookfacebook.com/realraum-116766518351869

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 realraum