What Thinking Huts does

Thinking Huts is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 47-4029635), founded in 2015 by Maggie Grout and headquartered in Colorado, that develops 3D-printed education infrastructure for underserved communities, with current operations concentrated in Madagascar. Its core technology uses architectural-scale 3D printers to extrude construction material layer by layer, producing school walls that are combined with locally sourced materials for roofing, doors, and windows and supplemented with solar power to leverage Madagascar's approximately 2,800 annual sunshine hours. The product portfolio centers on two named projects: Bougainvillea, the world's first 3D-printed school, opened in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar on April 14, 2022 in partnership with Ecole de Management et d'Innovation Technologique (EMIT) University and serving 2,500+ students, teachers, and community members; and the Honeycomb Campus, a multi-village, beehive-configured campus on Madagascar's west coast whose construction broke ground in 2023 and which is supported by a 2024 formal partnership with the Madagascar Ministry of Education.

The organization is staffed primarily by skilled volunteers across the USA, Madagascar, Italy, Singapore, and Germany under an all-female leadership team, with a board that includes senior executives from Microsoft, Google, BMW, L'Oréal, Huda Beauty, and Good Morning America. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: individual and family office donations (preset tiers of $25, $50, $100, $250, $1,000, and $5,000 plus custom amounts on weekly, monthly, or one-time cadences), corporate brand partnership campaigns (checkout round-ups, one-click add-ons, percentage of sales, and in-app prompts with a minimum suggested goal of $1,250 per brand partner), merchandise sales through the Think Shop online storefront (including Tala collaboration t-shirts at $25–$40 and hats at $26), and contributed volunteer services (5–10 hours per week across CRM, digital marketing, event planning, and design).

Go-to-market relies on a community-led, event-driven model combining direct donor engagement, brand-led cause marketing, and extensive earned media coverage across TIME, Forbes, Vogue, BBC World News, Good Morning America, CBS The Talk, Architectural Digest, Smithsonian, the World Economic Forum, Fast Company, MIT Technology Review, and a TEDx talk by the founder in 2021. The organization has stated it is "looking to expand" beyond Africa into Southeast Asia, and 19+ countries have formally requested schools, though the current program remains single-country. Reported impact metrics include 2,500+ students served per school, 7,500+ community lives affected, and 50+ years of continued impact per school built, with construction reportedly using up to 50% less concrete than average buildings and completing in a matter of days relative to traditional methods.

Name

Thinking Huts

Legal name

Thinking Huts

Website

https://thinkinghuts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thinking Huts is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses architectural-scale 3D printing to build education infrastructure for underserved communities, with operational projects in Madagascar serving 2,500+ students and funded by donations, brand partnerships, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Education Infrastructure

NAICS

Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220)

SIC

Prefabricated Wood Bldgs & Components (2452)

akta.pro primary industry

Modular/Prefabricated Classroom Buildings & Installation (EDAEABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

New School Construction (Greenfield Builds) (EDAEABAA), Construction-Scale 3D Printers (Concrete/Building Systems) (IMAAAAAF)

Keywords

• 3D printed schools
• Education infrastructure
• Humanitarian construction
• Nonprofit construction
• Solar school buildings

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, family offices, and supporters. Accepts one-time, weekly, and monthly donations with various preset amounts ($25, $50, $100, $250, $1,000, $5,000) and custom amounts.
2. Merchandise Sales (Think Shop): Online storefront selling branded merchandise including t-shirts ($25-$40) and hats ($26) from Tala collaboration and own-brand items.
3. Brand Partnership Campaigns: Corporate partners contribute through checkout round-ups, one-click add-ons, percentage of sales, or in-app prompts. Minimum suggested goal of $1,250 per brand partner.
4. Volunteer Services: Skilled volunteers contribute expertise in CRM management, digital marketing, event planning, and other areas with 5-10 hours per week commitment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Thinking Huts develops and constructs 3D-printed school buildings with integrated utility systems (including solar power) for underserved communities in developing countries, currently focused on Madagascar. The organization uses a hybrid construction approach combining 3D-printed walls with locally sourced materials, and partners with local governments and universities to deliver educational infrastructure faster and with less concrete than traditional construction methods.

Product overview

Thinking Huts is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that develops education infrastructure using humanitarian-driven 3D printing technology. The core offerings consist of Bougainvillea (world's first 3D-printed school, operational since 2022) and Honeycomb Campus (current solar-powered multi-village campus project). Supporting programs include the Think Shop merchandise store (featuring TALA collaboration apparel), Brand Partner Program (checkout giving integrations for corporate sponsors), Donation Program, and Volunteer Program. All offerings support the mission of increasing global access to education through innovative construction technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bougainvillea 3D-Printed School The world's first 3D-printed school, a completed pilot project located in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar, designed to serve as a proof-of-concept for 3D-printed educational infrastructure in underserved communities. The school includes a 3D-printed primary school building and adjacent teacher housing.
• Honeycomb Campus A scalable solar-powered campus concept consisting of multiple 3D-printed school buildings connected by a central courtyard, designed to serve larger student populations than single-school pilots. The current project is under construction in Madagascar with a groundbreaking held in 2023.
• Think Shop Merchandise An online merchandise storefront selling branded apparel and accessories (such as t-shirts, hats, totes, and stickers) to supporters and the general public, with proceeds supporting Thinking Huts' school construction programs.
• Brand Partner Program A corporate partnership offering that allows brands to integrate Thinking Huts' mission into checkout donations, employee engagement, or co-branded merchandise, with tiered partnership goals ranging from $10,000 to $200,000+.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2500+ students served per school built
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Madagascar Ministry of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Formal partnership announced in 2024 for Honeycomb Campus project. Government partnership essential for school construction approvals and integration with national education system.
• Ecole de Management et d'Innovation Technologique (EMIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2022University partner for Bougainvillea school project in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. EMIT oversees daily operations of the school and supplies teachers. School serves 2500+ students, teachers, and community members.
• Fender Play FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Fender Play Foundation believes in the transformative power of music and education. Their generous donation enabled completion of a matching gift campaign, bringing the organization closer to opening doors for thousands of students. Partnership creates spaces where children can learn, grow, and discover their voice through both education and music.
• San Francisco 49ersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNFL team featured as brand partner supporting Honeycomb Campus construction through checkout giving campaigns.
• NikonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCamera company featured as brand partner supporting education infrastructure initiatives.
• Olive & JuneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty brand featured as brand partner in Honeycomb Campus campaign.
• AvalineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine brand featured as brand partner supporting education initiatives.
• Washington CommandersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNFL team featured as brand partner supporting Honeycomb Campus construction.
• GisouminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty/lifestyle brand featured as brand partner.
• HeysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLuggage brand featured as brand partner.
• RefminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partner in Honeycomb Campus campaign.
• J.Lo by Jennifer LopezminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCelebrity brand featured as brand partner.
• Latham and WatkinsminorOthersLaw firm providing legal support services.
• Heidelberg MaterialsminorOthersConstruction materials company and cement manufacturer supporting infrastructure projects.
• CovingtonminorOthersInternational law firm providing legal support.
• TalacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive collaboration design collection featuring t-shirts and hats sold through Think Shop. Brand partnership creating co-branded merchandise supporting education mission.
• Hery and Adrien (Local Construction Team)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal construction team led by two brothers who lead on-the-ground construction of 3D printed schools in Madagascar. Participates in training programs to facilitate implementation of school projects.
• Ella HarisoamalalacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity leader in Madagascar providing on-the-ground support and local leadership for project implementation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• Room to Read: Global nonprofit focused on literacy and gender equality in education across Asia and Africa. Comparable as a large-scale, donor-funded education nonprofit with a similar global development mission.
• buildOn: Nonprofit that builds schools in developing countries (Malawi, Nepal, Haiti, Senegal) and runs adult literacy programs. Mission-comparable in school construction for underserved communities, but uses conventional methods.
• Pencils of Promise: Nonprofit that builds schools and provides education programs in developing countries (Guatemala, Ghana, Laos, Nicaragua). Closest mission-aligned peer; differs in construction method (traditional) and geography.

Emerging players

• Apis Cor: Construction 3D printing company developing mobile and stationary printers for buildings. Operates in adjacent applications (housing) and competes for visibility in the 3D construction category.
• WASP (World's Advanced Saving Project): Italian 3D printing company developing large-scale sustainable construction printers, including a focus on affordable and self-built housing. Overlaps with Thinking Huts' humanitarian, low-cost construction thesis.
• Mighty Buildings: US-based 3D-printed construction company using a proprietary composite material for prefabricated homes. Comparable in 3D construction technology focus, though primarily residential/US-market.

Direct peers

• ICON: US-based construction 3D printing company building 3D-printed homes and disaster-relief structures using its Vulcan printer system. Closest technology peer with overlapping humanitarian and emerging-market applications.
• 14Trees: Joint venture between Holcim and CDC Group that uses 3D printing to build schools and affordable housing in Africa (Malawi, Kenya). Most direct comparable in mission, technology, geography, and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• WinSun (Yingchuang Building Technique): Chinese pioneer of construction-scale 3D printing, having built the world's first 3D-printed buildings and large public structures. Represents the broad-incumbent technology and scale benchmark.
• COBOD International: Danish manufacturer of construction-scale 3D printers (BOD2) used by ICON, 14 Trees, and others. Enables the underlying technology Thinking Huts deploys and represents the supply-side incumbent in the space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thinkhuts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Thinking Huts