What Fab Lab Livre Sp does

Fab Lab Livre SP is a publicly funded network of digital fabrication laboratories operated by the Municipal Secretary of Innovation and Technology (SMIT) of São Paulo City Hall in Brazil. Established around 2016, the network operates 17+ physical units distributed across São Paulo's diverse neighborhoods, including CEU (Centro de Educação Unificada) facilities, Centro Cultural locations, and dedicated Fab Lab spaces. Each unit is equipped with computer-controlled machines including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, electronics workstations built on Arduino platforms, sewing machines, and woodworking tools. The network catalogs 308,925 courses and provides free weekly Agenda Livre (Open Agenda) walk-in sessions of approximately four hours each, in addition to scheduled courses, project appointments, and annual flagship events including Arduino Day and SP Maker Week.

The organization operates a hybrid community-led and event-driven go-to-market motion targeting four primary constituencies: youth aged 16-20 in social vulnerability (served through the JTFD youth employment program with 432 beneficiaries in 2023, doubled from 216); people with intellectual and rare disabilities (served through the Instituto Jô Clemente partnership with up to 27 weekly participants); drug recovery beneficiaries (served through the Programa Redenção partnership with 30 participants); and the general public of São Paulo. The JTFD program is jointly coordinated with SMDET (which provides stipend funding) and SMDHC (which delivers rights-based curriculum). Strategic partners include Instituto de Tecnologia Social (co-organizer of SP Maker Week 2026), Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia (Mobile Fab Lab), Instituto Fab Lab Brasil (IFLB), and Rede Brasileira de Aprendizagem Criativa (RBAC).

Fab Lab Livre SP functions as a digital inclusion and workforce development policy program, not a commercial enterprise. All services are provided free of charge to citizens, with funding flowing entirely from São Paulo's municipal government budget through SMIT. There is no commercial revenue generation, no pricing structure, no investor base, and no disclosed budget or financial figures. The 10th anniversary of the network was celebrated at SP Maker Week 2026, with the program publicly positioning itself as the largest public digital fabrication laboratory network in the world. Operational contact for individual units routes through ITS Brasil email domains, indicating that day-to-day facility operations are likely outsourced while policy, funding, and strategic direction remain within SMIT.

Name

Fab Lab Livre Sp

Legal name

Rede FAB LAB LIVRE SP (Secretaria Municipal de Inovação e Tecnologia da Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo)

Website

https://fablablivresp.prefeitura.sp.gov.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fab Lab Livre SP is a São Paulo municipal government program operating a free public network of 17+ digital fabrication laboratories serving citizens, vulnerable youth, people with disabilities, and drug recovery beneficiaries through training, open-access workshops, and annual maker events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Digital Fabrication and Maker Education Services

akta.pro primary industry

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC), Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs (IMAAAJAA), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

Keywords

• Digital fabrication labs
• Public maker education
• Free digital manufacturing
• Social inclusion programs
• Community fabrication workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Municipal Funding: The network is funded entirely by the Municipal Government of São Paulo through the Secretaria Municipal de Inovação e Tecnologia (SMIT). Services are provided free of charge to citizens. No commercial revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fab Lab Livre SP operates a network of 17+ public digital fabrication laboratories across São Paulo, providing free access to industrial-grade manufacturing equipment (3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, electronics workstations with Arduino, sewing machines, woodworking tools) and free educational courses and workshops for citizens. Services are coordinated by the Municipal Secretariat of Innovation and Technology (SMIT) and include scheduled courses, open walk-in Agenda Livre sessions, project fabrication appointments, and targeted social inclusion programs for vulnerable populations.

Product overview

FAB LAB LIVRE SP is a network of public digital fabrication laboratories operated by the Municipal Secretary of Innovation and Technology of São Paulo. The network offers free courses, workshops, and open access to digital manufacturing equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and electronics tools. The offering consists of a platform of physical laboratories distributed across 18+ units in the city, complemented by structured educational programs including the JTFD (Youth, Work and Digital Fabrication) program for social inclusion, free courses covering topics from 3D modeling and printing to electronics and carpentry, and special events such as Arduino Day and SP Maker Week.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rede FAB LAB LIVRE SP Network
• Free Courses and Workshops Catalog
• Agenda Livre (Open Walk-in Sessions)
• User Project Fabrication Service
• JTFD Youth Employment Program (Jovem, Trabalho e Fabricação Digital)
• Disability Inclusion Workshops (Instituto Jô Clemente Partnership)
• Programa Redenção Professional Requalification Workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 people trained during SP Maker Week 2023 alone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Programa RedençãocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership between SMIT (Fab Lab Livre SP) and the Government Secretariat's Redenção Program, focused on social reintegration of drug recovery beneficiaries. The program provides fabrication skills training to stimulate employability and entrepreneurship. In 2023, 30 vacancies were offered with 4-hour workshops on Thursdays or Fridays depending on the unit.
• Instituto Jô ClementecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Partnership to provide digital fabrication training for people with intellectual and rare disabilities. The partnership conducts weekly workshops at Centro Cultural São Paulo (CCSP) covering laser cutting, 3D scanning, screen printing, soap making, carpentry, sustainability, and other fabrication techniques. Started in April 2022 and expanded in 2023, serving up to 27 participants per session with over 40 workshops offered in 2023.
• Secretaria Municipal de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Trabalho (SMDET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the JTFD (Youth, Work and Digital Fabrication) program, providing monthly stipend funding for youth beneficiaries. Jointly coordinates the Bolsa Trabalho program with SMIT and SMDHC.
• Secretaria Municipal de Direitos Humanos e Cidadania (SMDHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in JTFD program providing hybrid training on human rights, citizenship, diversity, and right to the city on Thursdays for program beneficiaries.
• Instituto de Tecnologia SocialflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of SP Maker Week 2026, the flagship annual event celebrating maker culture. Partnership resulted in the successful execution of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Fab Lab Livre SP network.
• Instituto Fab Lab Brasil (IFLB)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganized FabBR23 panel at SP Maker Week 2023, bringing together Brazilian Fab Labs for knowledge sharing and networking.
• Rede Brasileira de Aprendizagem Criativa (RBAC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduced the Festival de Invenção e Criatividade (FIC) at SP Maker Week 2023, engaging students and teachers in new technologies in education.
• Instituto Mauá de TecnologiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMobile Fab Lab partner at SP Maker Week 2023, bringing a vehicle equipped with various digital fabrication machines for hands-on project demonstrations.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fab Foundation: The global non-profit that originated the Fab Lab charter and supports the worldwide Fab Lab network. Directly comparable as the umbrella organization for the same maker/fab lab ecosystem Fab Lab Livre SP operates within.
• Make Community (Make: Magazine / Maker Faire): The organization behind Make Magazine and Maker Faire, the largest maker movement platform. Comparable as the organizer of complementary maker culture events (SP Maker Week is conceptually similar to Maker Faire).
• Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial (SENAI): Brazil's nationwide industrial apprenticeship service operating extensive technical training labs and fab labs (including Fab Lab SENAI). Comparable as a publicly funded Brazilian technical/fabrication training network.

Direct peers

• Fab Lab New York: A community-based fab lab in NYC providing digital fabrication training and access to industrial-grade equipment. Comparable as a publicly accessible urban fab lab with educational programs.
• Fab Lab Barcelona: A public digital fabrication laboratory at IAAC (Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia) offering free/subsidized access to 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines. Direct comparable as a publicly supported urban fab lab network.
• Instituto Fab Lab Brasil (IFLB): Brazilian national network of Fab Labs coordinating knowledge sharing across Brazilian fab labs. Cited as a direct partner of Fab Lab Livre SP at SP Maker Week.

Regional players

• BIOLAB / PUC-SP makerspaces: Brazilian university-based makerspaces and innovation labs offering fabrication and STEM training. Comparable as São Paulo / Brazilian digital fabrication training providers with similar populations.

Emerging players

• TechShop / The Shop Builders: Commercial makerspace operator (successor to defunct TechShop) offering paid access to fabrication equipment. Comparable as a multi-location maker facility but commercial rather than free public model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fablablivresp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDh0ZfRtRhXbdOOq_Th3hPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/fablablivresp
• Instagraminstagram.com/fablablivresp
• TikToktiktok.com/@fablablivresp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fab-lab-livre-sp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Fab Lab Livre Sp