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A Call for New Makers
The Call for Makers is open for Maker Faire Bay Area and WE WANT YOU!
Dale Dougherty
May 30, 2025
Jason Reynolds holds a Portal gun replica from the game Portal, shared with him by another maker; behind him is a large print he made of a cube from the same game. (photo by Amanda Garley)
This week, we had an online Maker Town Hall to promote participation of makers at Maker Faire Bay Area. We are always looking for new makers. Certainly, while we appreciate makers who have exhibited in the past, we want to encourage new makers to join in.
Makers are often the faint signal that something new is happening, and it is hasn’t yet caught the attention of others. Makers do things for their own reasons, and often it is simple as they were interested in doing it. They see connections; they see problems worth solving; they see new forms of expression that want to be created. This is why makers are important for economic as well as cultural reasons.
We’re looking for new projects in robotics, AI devices, and autonomous anything as well as interactive art and games. We’re looking for mobile exhibits that can participate in our Maker Parade each day and also wander around Maker Faire. We like to have as many hands-on activities as possible for attendees, young and old.
Here is a video with photos of makers at Maker Faire Bay Area last year.
I know from talking to a few makers in the past that some are reluctant to exhibit. Their project is not finished; they don’t think anyone would be interested; they don’t know if they could stand at a booth for two days — those are some of the excuses I’ve heard. What I would counter with is how much the makers who do come and exhibit at Maker Faire get from the experience. For one, they get feedback on their project from other people, and having someone express interest in what you do can motivate you to take your project even more seriously. Also talking to people about what you do might seem exhausting, it is also energizing. Maybe, the best reason is to be a part of Maker Faire is that you meet other makers. I wish I knew how many friendships started because a couple of makers met and talked at Maker Faire.
Another excuse that I’ve heard is that you don’t think your project is good enough. I say, let others be the judge of that. Besides, there’s no prize for having the best project at Maker Faire; the reward is the conversations that encourage you and others to keep making.
Our BHAG (Big Hairy Ass Goal) for Maker Faire is to encourage EVERYONE to see themselves as Makers. I believe it is like giving them a gift, and when they open it, they can discover all the joys and some of the frustrations of making something. It is a gift they can enjoy for all of their lives and also share it with others. It is an expression of our common humanity.
I especially want to encourage women to come show their projects. Not only do we appreciate what you do but we hope it helps other women and girls see themselves as makers. The same is true for people of color. Please know that you are welcome and we want you to have a positive experience. I urge you to come share what you make.
If you are already a maker or manage a makerspace, please help us spread the word and reach out to new makers and invite them to participate at this year’s Maker Faire Bay Area or at a Maker Faire near them. We need EVERYONE.
Here’s a link to the Call for Makers for Maker Faire Bay Area.
Here’s what you’ll be getting yourself into:
Panorama of coal sheds at Maker Faire Bay Area (photo by Amanda Garley)
Jason of Jinxbot
Jason Reynolds attended the Maker Town Hall this past week and he told us that he was happy that his company Jinxbot had been acquired. Located in Mountain View, Jinxbot is a 3D printing service bureau. I asked Jason to tell us about how Jinxbot got its start and how he participated as a maker at Maker Faire Bay Area/.
Jason with daughter and Giant Arcade at Maker Faire Bay Area (photo by Amanda Garley)
True to Silicon Valley, I started humbly in my garage and I have now come full circle back to the Maker community.
I launched Jinxbot alone, with one 3D printer and a lot of caffeine. I earned enough from that one to buy two, two became four, and so on—until I maxed out the electrical capacity of my garage. During the pandemic, I found a small retail space in Mountain View and turned it into a functional shop. Later, I opened a dedicated lab for prototyping, experimentation, and teaching. It’s been a completely bootstrapped labor of love from day one.
But my roots in making go back further. I’ve been a longtime volunteer at Maker Faire, a huge part of my maker DNA. The early exposure to MakerBot and all the wild ingenuity on display inspired me deeply. Paella night was always epic and full of family and friends.
The first year Jinxbot had a booth was the final year at the San Mateo Fairgrounds—an honor. When Maker Faire returned, I was excited to join again, selling glow-in-the-dark prints near the dark tent. Last year, we showed off our Giant Arcade Machine and PinSim VR pinball rig. This year we will represent our nonprofit, PrintCycle, which focuses on 3D printing sustainability.
Locally, I’m committed to building and connecting maker communities. I sit on the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce board to support local creators, and on the board of the Mountain View Public Library, where I teach 3D printing classes and will be helping to launch a new makerspace later this year. Also teaching classes at the Hacker Dojo, and soon Circuit Launch.
Now, with the recent acquisition of Jinxbot by Peak Technology, I’m continuing to run operations while gaining the bandwidth to support the Maker movement more than ever before.
Thank you for everything you’ve built with Make—it’s played a big role in everything I’ve built, too.
I’m happy to learn of Maker success stories and I wanted to share Jason’s. Turning an idea into a project and then transforming it into a business is another important thing that makers do. Feel free to share your story with me ([email protected]) so I can share it with others.
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