How much funding has Makera raised?

Makera has raised $33M in total funding. Key investors include Huaying Capital (华映资本, joint lead); Beijing AI Industry Fund (北京市人工智能产业投资基金, joint lead); Qiming Venture Partners (启明创投, existing-shareholder over-subscription); Yuanhe Puhua (元禾璞华); CAS Star (中科创星); Qingke Ventures (清科创投).

Who is the CEO of Makera?

Josh Zhang (Qiuxi Zhang) is the CEO of Makera. The company was founded in 2019.

Where is Makera located?

Makera is headquartered in Beijing, China.

What funding stage is Makera at?

Makera is currently at the Active stage.

How many employees does Makera have?

Makera has approximately 11-50 employees.

Makera

Name: AM Companies Database
Creator: AMPulse
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

HardwareBeijing, ChinaFounded 2019· One of 1738 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

A developer of industrial-grade, intelligent desktop CNC machines and integrated software designed to make precision digital fabrication accessible to creators, educators, and professionals.

CEO / Founder: Josh Zhang (Qiuxi Zhang)
Team Size: 11-50
Stage: Active
Total Funding: $33M
Latest Round: Series A
Key Investors: Huaying Capital (华映资本, joint lead); Beijing AI Industry Fund (北京市人工智能产业投资基金, joint lead); Qiming Venture Partners (启明创投, existing-shareholder over-subscription); Yuanhe Puhua (元禾璞华); CAS Star (中科创星); Qingke Ventures (清科创投)

Technology & Products

Key Products

["Carvera: Flagship fully-automated smart desktop CNC","Carvera Air: Compact and affordable entry-level CNC mill","Makera Z1: AI-powered desktop CNC with pro-level precision","Makera Studio: Integrated design and control software suite","Makera CAM: Free, AI-assisted path generation software","4th-Axis & Laser Modules: Modular hardware expansions"]

Technological Advantage

Maintains superior rigidity using one-piece cast aluminum frames (vs. standard extruded aluminum) and simplifies the complex CNC workflow through a proprietary AI-powered software ecosystem that automates G-code generation.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Democratizes precision manufacturing by providing 'one-click' industrial CNC capabilities—such as auto-tool changing and AI-powered pathing—in a compact, user-friendly desktop form factor.

How They Differentiate

Makera differentiates through the 'Bambu Lab' approach to CNC: integrating industrial-grade automation (Auto Tool Changers, auto-leveling, and 4th-axis) into a plug-and-play desktop form factor. Unlike competitors that require manual tool changes or complex setups, Makera machines feature one-piece cast aluminum frames for superior rigidity and a proprietary AI-powered software ecosystem that simplifies the CAM/G-code workflow for non-experts.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

DIY enthusiasts (makers), STEAM educators (K-12 and Universities), product designers, jewelry makers, and research laboratories.

Industry Verticals

["Consumer Hardware/DIY","STEAM Education","PCB Prototyping","Jewelry & Art Fabrication","Medical & Scientific Research"]

Competitors

Carbide 3D (Nomad series); Bantam Tools; Snapmaker; Tormach (xsTech)

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Achieved record-breaking crowdfunding traction with the Z1 model raising over 72 million CNY (~$10M USD) in early 2025; Carvera series maintains top historical rankings on Kickstarter in the CNC category.

Major Milestones

["2021-11: Launched Carvera on Kickstarter, raising $1.78M.","2023-10: Launched Carvera Air, raising $1.1M.","2024-10: Secured Pre-A funding led by Tier-1 VC Qiming Venture Partners.","2025-01: Makera Z1 crowdfunding exceeded 72 million CNY ($10M+), setting a new industry record.","2025: Won 'Best in Content Creation' at IFA 2025."]

Notable Customers

MIT Center for Bits and Atoms; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Various STEM/STEAM Education Programs (K-12 and Universities)

https://www.makera.com

Recent coverage of Makera

Why this company matters

Makera develops desktop CNC machines that integrate industrial-grade automation into compact, user-friendly form factors. Founded in 2019 and based in Beijing, the company targets the gap between entry-level hobbyist routers and expensive industrial machining centers, aiming to make precision digital fabrication accessible to creators, educators, and professionals.

The core product line includes the Carvera, a fully automated smart desktop CNC with an auto tool changer, auto-probing, and 4th-axis support; the Carvera Air, a more affordable entry-level mill; and the Makera Z1, an AI-powered desktop CNC. All machines use one-piece cast aluminum frames for rigidity, a departure from the extruded aluminum common in consumer CNCs. The proprietary Makera Studio and Makera CAM software automate G-code generation and toolpath planning, simplifying the CNC workflow for non-experts.

Makera serves DIY enthusiasts, STEAM educators, product designers, jewelry makers, and research labs. Notable users include MIT Center for Bits and Atoms and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The company has raised $33M from Qiming Venture Partners and achieved record crowdfunding traction, with the Z1 model raising over 72 million CNY (~$10M USD) in early 2025.

Makera's competitive moat lies in integrating features like auto tool changers and AI-assisted pathing at a price point well below industrial alternatives. Competitors such as Carbide 3D, Bantam Tools, and Snapmaker generally require manual tool changes or offer less rigidity. The key open question is whether Makera can scale production and support to match the reliability expectations of professional users, or whether it will remain primarily a high-end prosumer and education tool.