TechShop, Inc.

TechShop, Inc. was a membership-based chain of open-access workshops and fabrication studios, known as makerspaces.

Founded in 2006 in Menlo Park, California, by Jim Newton, Ridge McGhee, and Robert Thomas, TechShop aimed to provide access to advanced tools and manufacturing capabilities for makers, hobbyists, and innovators. The company offered membership access to professional-grade workshops equipped for various DIY projects, including woodworking, metalworking, welding, CNC machining, 3D printing, and electronics. Members could utilize the facilities 24/7 at select locations, benefiting from safety training and skill-building classes. TechShop also provided STEAM youth programs and trained over 100,000 individuals across its network, reaching a peak of over 9,000 active members. At its height, TechShop expanded to ten locations in the U.S. and partnered with international sites in Tokyo, the United Arab Emirates, and France. It collaborated with organizations like Samsung and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to support individual makers, students, and startups in their innovative projects.