The S.T.E.A.M. Room Fab Lab
Operates a community makerspace and Fab Lab providing public access to 3D printing, CNC, and laser tools for STEM education and prototyping.
- CEO / Founder
- Kirk Cheyney
- Team Size
- 1-10
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- $0.02M
- Latest Round
- Crowdfunding
- Key Investors
- Inventables; Community Donors
Technology & Products
Key Products
Memberships; Rentable Workshops; STEM/Art Classes; Summer/Winter Camps; 3D Printing Services
Technological Advantage
First Fab Lab in Iowa; established community network with local schools and universities; large-scale facility (8,000+ sq ft) with diverse toolsets.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Provides affordable, tiered membership access to industrial-grade digital fabrication tools and STEM workshops, reducing the barrier to entry for local makers and startups.
How They Differentiate
Claimed as Midwest's largest makerspace; offers 24/7 access tiers and a broader toolset (ceramics, fiber arts) than regional competitors like Putnam Museum Fab Lab.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
General public, students (ages 12-18), artists, engineers, and local startups
Industry Verticals
Education; Consumer; Art/Design
Competitors
Putnam Museum Hubbell-Waterman Fab Lab; Cedar Valley Makers Fab Lab
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
20 campers per summer session; 8,000 sq ft facility; Midwest's largest makerspace claim
Major Milestones
Founded in 2014 at Iowa City Marketplace; Launched summer camps in 2015; Relocated to 8,000 sq ft facility at 870 S Capitol St; Restarted community clubs post-COVID
Notable Customers
University of Iowa; Kirkwood Community College; Keystone High School