What Double Union does

Double Union is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 46-3264631) founded in June 2013 in San Francisco that operates a volunteer-run feminist hacker/maker space in the Mission neighborhood at 650 Florida St Unit M. Membership is open to all women and nonbinary people (self-identified) who complete an application and member-voting process; members pay sliding-scale dues of $0–$100 per month and receive 24/7 key-code access after orientation. The physical space is equipped with shared tools spanning sewing, electronics, screenprinting, fiber arts, 3D printing, CNC machining, laser cutting, and bicycle maintenance, alongside adjustable desks, fast internet, and a curated library of books and zines.

The organization operates a community-led go-to-market motion: public events are promoted through Eventbrite and across Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, Mastodon, Bluesky, and an announcements-only Google Groups mailing list. Revenue is generated exclusively through membership dues, tax-deductible PayPal donations (one-time and recurring), check donations, and in-kind donations routed via Community Thrift (623 Valencia St, partner #153). The technology stack is intentionally lightweight — GitHub and Google OAuth authenticate members into the open-source 'arooo' membership management application, which handles applications, voting, and key-code distribution; Stripe and PayPal process payments; Slack serves as members-only chat; Google Drive and Google Forms support internal collaboration and Code of Conduct reporting.

Double Union is governed by a volunteer board with rotating two-year terms (current President Kayleigh Stevenson, Treasurer Aiyesha Ma) and a Code of Conduct Committee, and explicitly aspires to serve as a role model for other feminist makerspaces. The organization has relocated four times since 2013, experienced a pandemic-driven shutdown and storage period in 2020, and returned to in-person operations in 2021 before settling at its current Mission location in November 2023. Strategic alliances include Bugsnag's open-source program (2025), Seattle Attic, and The Ada Initiative; the organization is not venture-backed and has no parent company.

Name

Double Union

Legal name

Double Union

Website

https://doubleunion.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Double Union is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit feminist makerspace in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood, serving women and nonbinary members through sliding-scale dues, shared tools, and a curated library.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Members pay monthly dues on a sliding-scale basis ($0-100/month) for unlimited access to the space. More specific tiers: below $100k income: $30-$75/month; $100k-$200k income: $75-$100/month; $200k+ income: $100+/month. $0 scholarship dues available for those for whom paying would be a hardship.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible one-time or monthly recurring donations accepted via PayPal. Check donations also accepted. Double Union is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 46-3264631.
3. In-Kind Donations: Gentle-used items can be donated to Community Thrift (623 Valencia St, partner #153) with proceeds designated to benefit Double Union.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Double Union operates a physical feminist hacker and maker space in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood, providing members with shared tools (3D printers, laser cutter, CNC, sewing machines, electronics, screenprinting), fast internet, adjustable desks, and a curated library for women and nonbinary people. Membership is granted through an application and voting process, with sliding-scale monthly dues of $0–$100 granting 24/7 key-coded access. The organization also runs public workshops, open project nights, and hosts community meetups through Eventbrite.

Product overview

Double Union operates primarily as a physical makerspace—a nonprofit intersectional feminist hacker/maker space and community workshop in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood. The organization provides a unified offering centered on its shared physical space at 650 Florida St Unit M, which includes workbenches, adjustable desks, and a curated library. The space is equipped with shared tools for sewing, electronics, laser cutting, screenprinting, 3D printing, and CNC machining. Beyond the physical space, Double Union offers a membership program with sliding-scale dues and key access, runs the She/They workshop series, hosts community events including Bay Area Wikipedians meetups and Open Project Nights, and maintains open source software for its public website and internal membership management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program A membership program for nonbinary people and women (trans, cis, intersex, queer, straight, and not-fitting-into-those-labels) with an application and voting process. Members pay sliding-scale dues ($0–$100/month), receive 24/7 key code access after orientation, can bring guests of any gender or age, and can store in-progress projects at the space.
• Shared Tools and Equipment Access Physical tools and equipment available at the makerspace for member use, including adjustable desks, sewing machines, fiber arts supplies, a laser cutter, electronics stations, silk screening tools, 3D printers, CNC machines, hand tools, a button maker, paper cutter, printers, and art supplies.
• Community Library and Zine Collection A carefully curated library of books and zines available to members at the physical space for reading and reference, complementing the makerspace's maker and feminist activist focus.
• She/They Public Workshop Series Public educational workshops taught by members covering maker skills such as 3D printing and soldering, plus coworking and web development events, hosted at Double Union and registered via Eventbrite.
• Open Project Nights (No UFO Left Behind) Recurring community events at the makerspace where women and nonbinary people work on unfinished crafts and projects together in a supportive environment.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• BugsnagminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 July 2025Bugsnag provides their Open Source program support to Double Union, providing credits or services that help the organization maintain their digital infrastructure.
• Community ThriftminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Thrift (623 Valencia St, San Francisco) accepts gently-used donations (clothes, household goods, furniture, books) and designates proceeds to benefit Double Union (partner #153).
• The Ada InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble Union's bylaws were largely based on those of The Ada Initiative, an organization supporting women in open technology and culture.
• Seattle AtticminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeminist makerspace in Seattle co-founded by Leigh Honeywell. Their freely shared experience and tips helped inform Double Union's founding.
• Sequoia FabricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBackup hosted Double Union's Pride Open House when Double Union experienced lock system power issues and couldn't access their space.
• Bay Area Wikipedians User GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly user group meetings hosted at Double Union on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Includes Wikipedia editing workshops and wiki-related events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Noisebridge: San Francisco-based nonprofit hackerspace operating a comparable physical maker community with shared tools and 24/7 access, but open to the general public rather than limited to women and nonbinary members.
• The Ada Initiative: Organization supporting women in open technology and culture whose bylaws directly informed Double Union's governance. Mission-aligned incumbent with comparable focus on women in tech/culture.
• Girls Who Code: National nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology through education and community programs. Broader-scale incumbent operating in the same women-in-tech mission space as Double Union.
• SF LGBT Center: San Francisco community center providing physical gathering space, programming, and resources for the LGBTQ community. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit operating identity-focused community space in SF.

Direct peers

• HacDC: Washington DC hackerspace operating as a community-organized nonprofit with shared tools, workshops, and member governance. Structurally comparable in volunteer-run, dues-funded operations.
• Artisan's Asylum: Large Somerville, MA nonprofit makerspace providing shared shop space, tools, and classes across fabrication, electronics, and crafts. Comparable in member-supported, volunteer-leaning nonprofit structure and broad tool inventory.
• The Crucible: Oakland-based nonprofit industrial arts makerspace offering shared tools, classes, and workshops across welding, blacksmithing, ceramics, and fabrication. Closely comparable in physical-membership model, tool inventory, and Bay Area geography.
• NYC Resistor: Long-running Brooklyn hackerspace offering shared tools (3D printing, electronics, laser cutting, sewing) and community education in a member-funded nonprofit model analogous to Double Union.
• Seattle Attic: Feminist hackerspace in Seattle co-founded by Leigh Honeywell that directly inspired Double Union's founding and operating model. Most directly comparable organization in terms of mission, structure, and target audience.
• Sequoia Fabrica: Bay Area makerspace that has hosted Double Union events and members; comparable community-oriented makerspace with shared tool access in the same geographic region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DoubleUnionSF
• GitHubgithub.com/doubleunion
• Facebookfacebook.com/doubleunion
• Instagraminstagram.com/doubleunionsf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/double-union

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Double Union