Defining Humanity
Defining Humanity is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit architecture organization that uses 3D concrete printing, computational design, and digital twin technology to deliver educational infrastructure, sanitation facilities, affordable housing, and community centers in underserved regions across Madagascar, the United States, and Ukraine, funded by donations, grants, and volunteer professional services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersWisconsin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Defining Humanity does
Defining Humanity is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit architecture organization that designs and delivers community infrastructure in underserved regions, with active projects in Madagascar, the United States, and Ukraine. Its core technical platform is 3D concrete printing (3DCP), operationalized through COBOD's BOD2 printer, HOLCIM's TectorPrint concrete mix (approximately 4,250 psi compressive strength), and computational design tools including Grasshopper and Digital Twin technology. Flagship deliverables include Madagascar's first 3D-printed classroom (the Pilot Hut, printed in under 18 hours with dual-layer walls achieving R-15 insulation), gender-specific sanitation facilities on Malagasy school campuses, the National Reparations Resource Center developed with FirstRepair, the Media Library and Cultural Center at the University of Fianarantsoa, and modular micro-housing communities in California built with Homes 4 the Homeless, VESSEL, and Liv-Connected.
The organization operates a community-led go-to-market model, delivering projects through direct engagement with local partners, educational institutions, and NGOs — including SECOA in Madagascar, the University of Fianarantsoa, ACASIA, and NEST in Ukraine. Its design methodology is codified in the proprietary IMPACCTS framework (Vision Crafting, Destination Designing, Pathway Planning, Aspirations Assembly, Blueprinting Tomorrow), and it supplements project delivery with educational outreach such as the GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) workshop at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and ICFAI School of Architecture workshops.
As a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit, Defining Humanity does not sell products or services commercially. Revenue is generated through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, grant funding, and in-kind volunteer professional services from architects, engineers, and community organizers. Customer-facing marketing and partnership development are conducted through content (website, blog), organic social (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook), and a sustained professional conference circuit including AIA Wisconsin, AIA Illinois, ASTM ICAM, HGA Design Conversations, LJC Design Exchange, and Chicago Innovate Tech. No pricing model, public financial disclosures, headcount, or formal funding rounds are present in available source material.
Defining Humanity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Defining Humanity
- Legal name
- Defining Humanity
- Website
- https://defininghumanity.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Defining Humanity is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit architecture organization that uses 3D concrete printing, computational design, and digital twin technology to deliver educational infrastructure, sanitation facilities, affordable housing, and community centers in underserved regions across Madagascar, the United States, and Ukraine, funded by donations, grants, and volunteer professional services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Defining Humanity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO), Waste Management & Smart Sanitation (Facilities) (HSAPAPAM)
Keywords
Where Defining Humanity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wisconsin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Defining Humanity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a nonprofit organization, Defining Humanity generates revenue through donations from individuals, corporations, and charitable foundations. Funding supports project implementation in underserved communities.
- Volunteer Services: The organization relies on volunteer contributions from architects, designers, engineers, and community organizers who donate their expertise.
- Grant Funding: Defining Humanity seeks grant opportunities to fund impactful programs and projects in education, sanitation, and housing infrastructure.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels14 records
Defining Humanity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Defining Humanity is a nonprofit architecture organization that designs and constructs 3D-printed educational, sanitation, and community infrastructure for underserved communities globally. The organization uses 3D concrete printing (COBOD BOD2 printer), computational design tools, and digital twin technology to rapidly deploy schools, sanitation facilities, resource centers, and affordable housing through partnerships with local organizations, universities, and NGOs primarily in Madagascar, the United States, and Ukraine.
Product overview
Defining Humanity is a nonprofit architecture organization that operates as a unified offering built around innovative 3D-printed educational infrastructure and community-centered design services. The portfolio centers on The Pilot Hut (Madagascar's first 3D-printed classroom), sanitation facilities, the National Reparations Resource Center, a Media Library and Cultural Center at University of Fianarantsoa, and affordable micro-housing through the Vessel initiative. These projects are delivered through the IMPACCTS design framework—encompassing Vision Crafting, Destination Designing, Pathway Planning, Aspirations Assembly, and Blueprinting Tomorrow—and supported by advanced 3D concrete printing technology (COBOD BOD2), computational design tools (Grasshopper), and digital prototyping capabilities. The organization also runs Girls in STEM (GEMS) workshops as an educational outreach program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Madagascar 3D Printed Classroom (The Pilot Hut)
Quantifiable outcome
- 3.5 million hours of learning time reclaimed annually through improved sanitation access
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Defining Humanity
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Defining Humanity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Defining Humanity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, flagship and core.
- Lamar Johnson CollaborativesupportingArchitecture firm recognized for sustainable and community-focused design. Defining Humanity presented at LJC's Design Exchange series in June 2023, showcasing innovative approaches to education infrastructure.
- HGAsupportingRenowned architecture and engineering firm with national footprint. Defining Humanity presented at HGA's Design Conversations firmwide lecture series in May 2023, highlighting synergies in technology-focused and community-focused design work.
- WASPsupporting3DCP industry partner collaborating with Defining Humanity to push boundaries of architectural design, forms, and processes for educational infrastructure.
- ASTM InternationalsupportingASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence hosted ICAM 2022 conference in Orlando. Defining Humanity participated in panel on additive construction, sharing insights on 3D printing in architecture for social impact.
- Thinking HutsflagshipCollaboration for 3D printed schools in Madagascar. Thinking Huts provides the vision and project coordination while Defining Humanity handles architectural design and project management. This partnership pioneered the first 3D printed classroom in Madagascar, completed in under 18 hours.
- COBODcoreDenmark-based 3D printer manufacturer providing the BOD2 printer for construction projects. COBOD's technology enables rapid, cost-effective construction of educational infrastructure in remote areas.
- 14Treescore3D printing contractor for the Madagascar school projects. 14Trees provides expertise in concrete printing technology and construction execution.
- HOLCIMcoreMaterials consultancy and supply partner providing TectorPrint concrete mix design with estimated compressive strength of 4,250 psi. Ensures sustainable and durable construction materials for 3D printed structures.
- SECOAcoreCivil engineer and local construction team in Madagascar. SECOA handles on-the-ground construction execution and local engineering for all Madagascar projects.
- FirstRepairflagshipNational nonprofit focused on local reparations policies. Partnership to develop the first National Resource Center and headquarters for the reparations movement, creating a beacon of hope and community hub.
- Homes 4 the HomelesscorePartnership to create affordable micro housing communities in California. Homes 4 the Homeless focuses on eradicating chronic homelessness through dignified, permanent housing solutions.
- VESSELcoreModular housing manufacturer providing innovative factory-constructed homes that are adaptable, safe, and affordable for micro housing communities.
- NEST UkrainesupportingProject by Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation providing modular homes to Ukrainian families in de-occupied areas whose homes were destroyed by Russian invasion.
- University of FianarantsoaflagshipRegional center for higher education in Madagascar (established 1977). Partnership to build 3D printed schools and develop a Media Library and Cultural Center on campus. The university aims to create a center for excellence, innovation, and development.
- ACASIAsupportingAssociation of Executives for Social Support Initiative and Action. Madagascar-based local nonprofit formulated by students and faculty, dedicated to innovative community engagement and solutions for social and cultural development of young people.
- Liv-ConnectedsupportingModular housing company providing well-designed, health-focused homes that can be rapidly deployed and arranged to fit diverse needs.
- ICFAI School of ArchitecturesupportingEducational partnership involving workshops on 3D printing practice, parametric design, and incorporating sustainable design in architecture education.
- Chicago Innovate TechsupportingAnnual symposium on innovation and technology in the AECO industry. Defining Humanity presented on automation in construction and shared insights on prototyping and digital twin technologies.
- Matteo PietrobellisupportingStructural engineer providing expertise for 3D printed construction projects in Madagascar, contributing to the technical assembly and design optimization.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Defining Humanity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 14Trees: 3D construction printing venture (backed by HOLCIM) executing the actual print work for Defining Humanity's Madagascar schools. Closely aligned on technology stack and target markets (sub-Saharan affordable housing and schools).
- MASS Design Group: Nonprofit architecture practice designing built environments (health facilities, schools, housing) for social impact in underserved regions. Closely comparable in mission-driven design approach and nonprofit operating model.
- Build Change: Nonprofit that designs and builds disaster-resilient housing and schools in low-income communities globally. Comparable as a nonprofit architecture/construction organization focused on infrastructure for underserved populations.
- Homes 4 the Homeless: Nonprofit partnering with Defining Humanity on VESSEL-based micro-housing communities in California. Directly comparable on affordable-housing mission and partnership-driven deployment model.
- Thinking Huts: Nonprofit deploying 3D-printed schools in Madagascar. Defining Humanity is its flagship architectural and project-management partner on the Pilot Hut, making it the most directly comparable peer in mission, technology, and geography.
Broad incumbents
- ICON: Commercial 3D construction printing company building homes at scale. Comparable on the underlying 3DCP technology stack that Defining Humanity uses through partners, though ICON targets for-sale housing rather than humanitarian infrastructure.
- Habitat for Humanity: Large-scale nonprofit addressing affordable housing globally. Comparable on housing mission and volunteer/donor-driven model, but operates at much greater scale and through traditional construction rather than 3DCP.
Others
- WASP: Italian 3DCP technology provider and industry partner collaborating with Defining Humanity to advance architectural forms for educational infrastructure. Comparable as a 3DCP ecosystem enabler rather than a humanitarian operator.
- COBOD: Denmark-based 3D construction printer manufacturer (BOD2) whose hardware powers Defining Humanity's Pilot Hut. Comparable as a core 3DCP infrastructure provider, not as a competing nonprofit.
Emerging players
- Emergent 3D: 3DCP consulting and construction firm focused on humanitarian and affordable-housing deployments. Comparable as a smaller, emerging 3DCP player addressing similar underserved markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Defining Humanity social profiles
Digital presenceDefining Humanity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Defining Humanity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Defining Humanity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Defining Humanity 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 Defining Humanity
What does Defining Humanity do?
Defining Humanity is a nonprofit architecture organization that designs and constructs 3D-printed educational, sanitation, and community infrastructure for underserved communities globally. The organization uses 3D concrete printing (COBOD BOD2 printer), computational design tools, and digital twin technology to rapidly deploy schools, sanitation facilities, resource centers, and affordable housing through partnerships with local organizations, universities, and NGOs primarily in Madagascar, the United States, and Ukraine.
Is Defining Humanity a public or private company?
Defining Humanity is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Defining Humanity founded?
Defining Humanity was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Defining Humanity based?
Defining Humanity is headquartered in Wisconsin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Defining Humanity make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are volunteer Services and grant Funding.
Who are Defining Humanity's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 14Trees, MASS Design Group, Build Change, Homes 4 the Homeless and Thinking Huts. Broad incumbents are ICON and Habitat for Humanity. Others are WASP and COBOD. Emergent 3D is listed as an emerging player.
Does Defining Humanity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Defining Humanity.
What industry is Defining Humanity in?
Defining Humanity's product category is Nonprofit Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAEAK, Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming, with a secondary code of BPAGABAC, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH). Its NAICS code is 236220.