Maker Bhavan Foundation

What Maker Bhavan Foundation does

Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF) is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with an Indian Section 8 entity (STEM MBF), that operates an integrated portfolio of programs designed to transform engineering education in India by embedding hands-on making, prototyping, and innovation practice into undergraduate curricula. Its core product is the Tinkerers' Lab — a student-led, 24/7 open-access makerspace equipped with desktop manufacturing and fabrication equipment (3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, electronic testing instruments) — deployed inside partner engineering colleges, of which there were approximately 18 across tier I and tier II institutions in India as of 2024. Layered on top of the physical labs are structured programs: InventX (a six-week summer residential program requiring each team to file a provisional patent), Vishwakarma Awards (a nationwide thematic sustainability prototyping challenge), Center for Essential Skills (10 free soft-skills courses), Collaborative Classrooms (Outcome-Based Engineering Education integration), and Technovation Sandbox at IIT Bombay. The foundation also co-implements Project PRACTICE with AICTE and partners LEAP (IIT Madras Incubation Cell) and CRISP, targeting 1,000 tier II/III engineering colleges nationally.

MBF serves three interrelated constituencies: engineering colleges (which receive turnkey makerspace infrastructure, curriculum, and faculty development at no cost), engineering students (who access fabrication tools, innovation challenges, and patent-filing support), and corporate CSR sponsors plus individual philanthropists (who fund the model). The organization is funded entirely through donations, grants, and CSR contributions — FY2024 donations were approximately $925,181, up from $608K in FY2023 and $474K in FY2022. Programs are free to colleges and students, with a stated Rs. 50 lakhs (~US$60K) budget to set up and maintain a single Tinkerers' Lab over three years. The foundation grew out of a 2014 Tinkerers' Lab established at IIT Bombay by the 1975 alumni batch, was formally incorporated in 2019, and operates with a small (~9-10 person) team from offices in Mumbai and Palo Alto. Its stated ambition is to reach 100 engineering colleges by 2030, covering 10% of India's graduating engineers annually.

Name

Maker Bhavan Foundation

Legal name

Maker Bhavan Foundation

Website

https://makerbhavanfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maker Bhavan Foundation is a US-registered nonprofit (with an Indian Section 8 entity) that establishes 24/7 student-led Tinkerers' Labs and innovation programs — InventX, Vishwakarma Awards, Center for Essential Skills — inside Indian engineering colleges, funded by corporate CSR and philanthropic donations, with a target of 100 partner colleges by 2030.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education Programs

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

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), Maker / DIY Electronics & Physical Computing Platforms (EDAFANAC), STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL), STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Engineering education programs
• Maker space infrastructure
• STEM learning initiatives
• Project-based learning
• Nonprofit education foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a nonprofit registered as Section 501(c)(3) in the U.S. and Section 8 company in India, MBF generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, foundations (Kanakia Foundation, Indira Foundation), and corporate partners. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding from companies like Rieco Industries, Alkyl Amines, Technocraft, Idea Forge, Lenovo, and others supports program delivery. The foundation also receives grants and sponsorships for specific programs.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide sponsorship for programs, events, and challenges. Partners like Tata Motors, HP, Lenovo, and others sponsor Vishwakarma Awards and other MBF programs, issuing industry challenges for student participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Maker Bhavan Foundation is a nonprofit that establishes student-led, 24/7 open-access Tinkerers' Labs (makerspaces with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and prototyping equipment) within Indian engineering colleges and runs complementary programs—InventX (six-week invention/patent residential program), Vishwakarma Awards (sustainability challenge), Project PRACTICE, Collaborative Classrooms, Center for Essential Skills, LEAP curriculum, and Technovation Sandbox—to deliver hands-on, project-based learning and industry collaboration for engineering students. Programs are delivered free of charge to partner institutions and students, funded through donations, grants, and corporate CSR.

Product overview

Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF) is a nonprofit organization that operates a multi-program portfolio focused on transforming engineering education in India through hands-on, experiential learning. Its offerings span physical infrastructure (Tinkerers' Labs — open-access makerspaces in engineering colleges), innovation acceleration programs (InventX, Vishwakarma Awards, Technovation Sandbox), institutional reform initiatives (Collaborative Classrooms, Project PRACTICE), skills development (Center for Essential Skills), and partner-aligned curricula (LEAP). The programs are interconnected: Tinkerers' Labs provide the physical infrastructure for students engaged in InventX and Vishwakarma Awards; LEAP provides the pedagogical framework that feeds into Project PRACTICE; and all programs are supported by soft skills training via the Center for Essential Skills. MBF also provides online resource materials for institutions seeking to replicate the Tinkerers' Lab model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tinkerers' Lab Flagship student-led, 24/7 open-access makerspaces equipped with desktop manufacturing and fabrication equipment (3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, electronic testing instruments), designed to spark creativity, collaboration, and hands-on innovation in engineering students at partner tier I and tier II colleges in India. Established on partner college campuses through MBF's direct partnership model, funded by donations, grants, and CSR.
• InventX Formerly known as Invention Factory, InventX is a high-impact six-week summer residential program that challenges undergraduate students to design, prototype, pitch, and develop patentable solutions to real-world problems. Each team files a provisional patent application by program end. Delivered free to participants; over 100 provisional patents have been filed through this program.
• Vishwakarma Awards A nationwide thematic challenge focused on sustainability that inspires talented student teams across India to build innovative, deployable prototypes rapidly and with impact. Sponsored by corporate partners including Tata Motors, HP, Lenovo, and others who issue industry challenges for student participation.
• Project PRACTICE A transformative initiative by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Government of India, implemented in collaboration with MBF, CRISP, and LEAP, to improve engineering education in 1000 tier II and tier III colleges across India by enhancing critical thinking, strengthening industry connections, and boosting employability.
• Collaborative Classrooms An initiative that disrupts traditional divisions between classrooms and lab spaces, enabling colleges to adopt Outcome-Based Engineering Education (OBE) by integrating active learning directly into the curriculum and improving learning outcomes for students. Supports 13 courses at IIT Bombay, engaging 685+ students.
• Center for Essential Skills (CES) Offers ten world-class courses on essential cognitive and soft skills to colleges free of cost, helping prepare students for a seamless transition from classrooms to careers. Courses cover communication, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.
• LEAP (Learn Engineering by Activities with Products) A partner initiative founded by Prof T A Gonsalves with IIT Madras Incubation Cell, providing IIT-style project-based learning curriculum for engineering colleges. LEAP's hands-on curriculum empowers undergraduate students to tackle real-world societal challenges; MBF collaborates with LEAP for distribution through partner colleges.
• Technovation Sandbox A living lab approach at IIT Bombay that serves as a testbed for students to learn both need identification and deployment of solutions, gaining experience in product development, leadership skills, and entrepreneurship.
• Online Resources Provides best practices guides, laser cutter pre-use safety checklists, tutorials, and equipment lists (including inventory with price lists and suggested suppliers) for Tinkerers' Labs. Enables replication of the Tinkerers' Lab model by other institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 labs established, 35,000+ sq ft makerspace created, 2,000+ student projects in 2024
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• LEAP (Learning Engineering by Activity with Products)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019LEAP was founded by Prof T A Gonsalves with IIT Madras Incubation Cell. It provides IIT-style project-based learning curriculum for engineering colleges. In 2024, LEAP expanded to 15 institutions, impacting 2,800 students and 300+ faculty. LEAP's hands-on curriculum empowers undergraduate students to tackle real-world societal challenges and is a core component of MBF's educational approach.
• Technocraft IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate CSR partner providing funding support for MBF programs and initiatives.
• Alkyl Amines Chemicals LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSR partner funding MBF programs with executive leadership endorsement of maker education value.
• Tata MotorsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate sponsor supporting MBF innovation programs.
• HP (Hewlett-Packard)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor contributing to MBF program delivery.
• LenovomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for MBF initiatives.
• AddverbmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology company providing sponsorship for MBF programs.
• UPL (United Phosphorus Limited)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor through CSR funding.
• Rieco IndustriesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCSR partner providing funding for MBF initiatives.
• TechnoventormajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship partner for MBF programs.
• IdeaForgemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting MBF initiatives.
• EcosensesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor partner for MBF programs.
• AIA EngineeringsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCSR partner providing funding support.
• IIT BombaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship institutional partner where the maker education movement began.
• Cooper Union College (USA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partner providing mentorship and program expertise.
• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for nationwide engineering education reform.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Maker-Bhavan-Foundation-111295444554086
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maker-bhavan-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/makerbhavan_india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maker Bhavan Foundation