MakeSpace Cambridge
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersCambridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
MakeSpace Cambridge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MakeSpace Cambridge
- Legal name
- Makespace Cambridge Ltd
- Website
- https://makespace.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MakeSpace Cambridge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Workshop Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH)
Keywords
Where MakeSpace Cambridge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
MakeSpace Cambridge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership fees: Monthly membership fee of £40 giving 24/7 access to the 4000sq ft workshop, free equipment use, personal storage box, and access to dedicated storage for large projects.
- Materials sales: Consumable materials such as plywood sheets, acrylic sheets, 3D printer filaments, leather, and other supplies sold on-site. Payment via card machine in kitchen.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard membership at £40/month |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Material usage fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
MakeSpace Cambridge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MakeSpace Cambridge operates a 4,000 sq ft community workshop in central Cambridge providing members with 24/7, 365-day access to a range of professional-grade making equipment including laser cutters, a CNC mill, 3D printers, woodworking machinery, an electronics bench, and an embroidery machine, plus dedicated craftroom and classroom spaces. Members pay a £40 monthly fee that covers access, free equipment use, a personal storage box, and dedicated storage for large projects, while consumable materials are sold separately on-site. The space is managed entirely by and for its members, with no paid staff, and operates as a community interest company.
Product overview
MakeSpace Cambridge is a member-run community workshop offering a unified suite of making facilities and services. The core offering is access to a 4,000 sq ft workshop (24/7, 365 days/year) equipped with tools including 3D printers, a laser cutter, CNC mill, embroidery machine, woodworking equipment, an electronics bench, and a dedicated craftroom for leather and textile work. This is supported by a structured membership program (£40/month), a training and equipment induction system (red/orange equipment tiers), and community programs including clubs and events organized via Meetup. Members also have access to a web-based Members App and a trouble ticketing system for equipment maintenance. All offerings are interconnected through the shared goal of enabling hands-on making and community learning in Cambridge.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Workshop Membership Monthly membership at £40/month providing 24/7, 365-day access to the 4,000 sq ft workshop in central Cambridge. Includes free use of all equipment (laser cutters, CNC mill, 3D printers, woodworking machinery, electronics bench, embroidery machine), a personal storage box, and dedicated storage for large projects. Consumable materials are sold separately. Minimum commitment is 3 months.
- Training and Equipment Induction Structured training program covering equipment safety and operation. Red-tag equipment requires formal training before access; orange-tag tools are accessible with basic induction. Training is delivered by volunteer members as part of the community-led model.
- Clubs Program
Companies that use MakeSpace Cambridge
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
MakeSpace Cambridge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
MakeSpace Cambridge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
MakeSpace Cambridge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fab Foundation: Global non-profit network supporting the Fab Lab movement with shared digital fabrication facilities worldwide. Operates a broader portfolio of labs and educational programs than any single community makerspace, including formal accreditation and curriculum frameworks.
Direct peers
- Makerversity: London-based community makerspace providing members and startups with access to digital fabrication tools and prototyping facilities. Comparable equipment offering (laser cutters, CNC, 3D printing) with stronger commercial/startup orientation.
- Leeds Hackspace: UK community-run hackerspace providing shared workshop access, training, and equipment to members. Comparable subscription-based access model and member-led operations make it a direct UK peer to MakeSpace.
- Brighton MakerSpace: Community-run makerspace in Brighton providing members with access to fabrication tools, electronics, and craft facilities. Comparable horizontal membership model serving hobbyists and small businesses.
- Bristol Hackspace: Community workshop in Bristol offering shared tools and equipment to members on a subscription basis. Comparable member-run structure and broad maker equipment offering including laser cutting, CNC, and electronics workbenches.
- London Hackspace: UK community-run hackerspace offering shared workshop facilities, equipment access, and member-led training. Closely comparable volunteer-driven model and equipment breadth (laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC, electronics) to MakeSpace Cambridge, but at significantly larger London scale.
- Nottingham Hackspace: Volunteer-run community makerspace in the UK providing member access to laser cutters, 3D printers, woodworking, and electronics. Operates on a similar subscription model with induction-based onboarding, directly comparable to MakeSpace's community-led GTM.
- Manchester Hackspace: Volunteer-operated community makerspace in Manchester providing member access to fabrication tools and electronics equipment. Operates under a similar non-profit, community-interest ethos to MakeSpace Cambridge.
- Birmingham Hackspace: Community hackerspace in Birmingham offering shared access to making tools and equipment via membership. Similar volunteer-led governance and equipment breadth including 3D printing, laser cutting, and woodworking.
Others
- TechShop (legacy reference): Historically the largest US chain of paid membership makerspaces before ceasing operations in 2017. Relevant as the cautionary precedent illustrating scaling and unit-economics risks in commercial makerspace models — informative benchmark for any expansion thesis on MakeSpace.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MakeSpace Cambridge social profiles
Digital presenceMakeSpace Cambridge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MakeSpace Cambridge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
MakeSpace Cambridge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MakeSpace Cambridge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MakeSpace Cambridge
What does MakeSpace Cambridge do?
MakeSpace Cambridge operates a 4,000 sq ft community workshop in central Cambridge providing members with 24/7, 365-day access to a range of professional-grade making equipment including laser cutters, a CNC mill, 3D printers, woodworking machinery, an electronics bench, and an embroidery machine, plus dedicated craftroom and classroom spaces. Members pay a £40 monthly fee that covers access, free equipment use, a personal storage box, and dedicated storage for large projects, while consumable materials are sold separately on-site. The space is managed entirely by and for its members, with no paid staff, and operates as a community interest company.
Is MakeSpace Cambridge a public or private company?
MakeSpace Cambridge is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was MakeSpace Cambridge founded?
MakeSpace Cambridge was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MakeSpace Cambridge based?
MakeSpace Cambridge is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does MakeSpace Cambridge make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership fees are the primary driver. The others are materials sales.
Who are MakeSpace Cambridge's main competitors?
Fab Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Makerversity, Leeds Hackspace, Brighton MakerSpace, Bristol Hackspace, London Hackspace, Nottingham Hackspace, Manchester Hackspace and Birmingham Hackspace. TechShop (legacy reference) is listed as an others.
Does MakeSpace Cambridge have an API?
No public API is recorded for MakeSpace Cambridge.
What industry is MakeSpace Cambridge in?
MakeSpace Cambridge's product category is Community Workshop Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAC, Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios), with a secondary code of EDAMADAH, 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs.