A Baltimore-based maker education company since 2011, FutureMakers is known for bringing playful engineering into the learning lives of children and the educators who guide them. Its Sparks give PK–8 learners an individual project to build, keep, and revisit, while helping teachers lead hands-on lessons with confidence across classrooms and community programs.
TeacherGeekFamily- and teacher-run TeacherGeek makes hands-on engineering materials in Upstate New York, where most of its products are manufactured for classroom and home projects. The company is known for a build system that lets students work with real tools, recycling-bin materials, and designs they can repeatedly revise. Its Sail Car earned a 2020 Presidential Awardees’ Product of Excellence recognition.HOLLEY, NY
Open WorksFounded in 2016 to rebuild Baltimore’s manufacturing economy from the grassroots up, Open Works is a nonprofit makerspace where members use shared fabrication shops, studios and classes to turn ideas into products. Its 34,000-square-foot facility also provides contract fabrication, producing projects such as Baltimore’s solar-powered Wi-Fi stations and custom furniture. The organization supports about 118 jobs, works with more than 1,000 young people each year and runs an annual competition that has invested in Maryland manufacturing startups.BALTIMORE, MD
STEAMshapes LearningFrom its Maryland base, STEAMshapes Learning designs and manufactures hands-on educational kits that turn American-made cardstock into tactile math, science, engineering, and art activities. Woman-owned and family-run, the company creates pre-cut, screen-free materials for learners from pre-K through grade 5, with its K–4 math workbooks pairing physical shapes with standards-aligned exercises. Its compact kits are designed by educators and artists to support independent exploration and learners of varied abilities.SPARKS, MD
OWI IncorporatedFor more than four decades, OWI Incorporated has been known for award-winning educational products that make STEM learning hands-on and approachable. Founded in 1980 to bring its technology background into education, the company develops buildable robotics and energy-focused kits for students, families, and educators, with curriculum support created alongside teachers.CAMDEN, NY