Qafeer Makerspace - Pioneering Innovation Hub
Qafeer Makerspace was one of the first makerspaces in the Arab world, inspired by MIT's model and funded through the region's first successful crowdfunding campaign. Khaled's role evolved from 3D designer to machine operator to robotics instructor to production lead over approximately three years. The makerspace taught approximately 500 students across comprehensive robotics courses and served enterprise clients with prototype manufacturing, creating an innovative business model where course students became makerspace service customers.
Problem Solved
Egypt and the Arab region lacked accessible innovation infrastructure for makers, entrepreneurs, and students to prototype and manufacture their ideas
- •Designed client prototypes in SolidWorks as 3D Designer
- •Operated industrial prototyping equipment including 3D printers, CNC machines, and laser cutters
- •Created comprehensive robotics curriculum from Arduino fundamentals to advanced kinematics
- •Taught approximately 500 students across multiple robotics courses
- •Managed enterprise prototype manufacturing contracts
- •Contributed to first successful crowdfunding campaign in Arab region
- ✓Co-founded one of the first makerspaces in the Arab world based on MIT's model
- ✓Part of first successful crowdfunding campaign in the Arab region
- ✓Taught approximately 500 students across comprehensive robotics curriculum
- ✓Created courses spanning Arduino fundamentals to advanced inverse kinematics
- ✓Served enterprise clients with prototype manufacturing services
- ✓Operated industrial equipment including 3D printers, CNC machines, and laser cutters
- ✓Developed innovative business model where courses funnel students to makerspace services
- ✓Manufactured notable prototypes including self-following travel bag for airports
Scale
- • 500+ students taught
- • Multiple enterprise clients served
Technology Stack
Challenge
Funding expensive imported prototyping machinery for Egypt-based makerspace
Solution
Executed first crowdfunding campaign in Arab region, successfully reaching funding goal
Impact
Enabled purchase of industrial-grade equipment and facility setup
Challenge
Building sustainable revenue in emerging makerspace market
Solution
Created innovative course-to-services funnel where students taking courses need to manufacture projects and use makerspace services
Impact
Developed consistent revenue stream combining education and manufacturing
Challenge
Teaching diverse skill levels from beginners to advanced students
Solution
Designed comprehensive curriculum spanning from Arduino basics to advanced inverse kinematics, allowing progressive skill development
Impact
Students could build graduation projects during courses, demonstrating practical skill acquisition
Situation
In 2014, a master's student visited MIT and was inspired by their makerspace concept. Egypt and the Arab region lacked accessible innovation infrastructure for makers, entrepreneurs, and students to prototype their ideas. The vision was to bring the makerspace model to Egypt.
Task
Khaled joined as a co-founder with responsibilities evolving from 3D design to machine operation to robotics instruction to production management. The team needed to fund, build, and operate a world-class makerspace while creating sustainable revenue.
Action
The team executed the first crowdfunding campaign in the Arab region, successfully reaching their funding goal. They rented and renovated a space, importing prototyping machinery. Khaled designed client prototypes in SolidWorks, learned to operate 3D printers, CNC machines, and laser cutters, and eventually created a comprehensive robotics curriculum teaching everything from Arduino fundamentals to inverse kinematics. An innovative business model was developed where course students needed to manufacture their projects, naturally becoming makerspace service customers.
Result
Qafeer Makerspace became one of the first makerspaces in the Arab world. Over approximately three years, the facility taught roughly 500 students and served enterprise clients with prototype manufacturing. Notable projects included a self-following travel bag for airports. The experience fulfilled a dream of designing, building, and manufacturing products from scratch to final delivery, while establishing foundational skills in manufacturing, teaching, and entrepreneurship.
Technical
- • Industrial prototyping equipment operation (3D printing, CNC, laser cutting)
- • SolidWorks for production-ready designs
- • Robotics curriculum design and instruction
- • End-to-end product development from design to manufacture
Soft Skills
- • Crowdfunding campaign execution
- • Technical instruction and curriculum design
- • Enterprise client management
- • Business model innovation
Key Insights
- 💡 Educational programs can drive manufacturing business through course-to-services funnel
- 💡 Making physical products from scratch to finish is deeply fulfilling
- 💡 Emerging markets can leapfrog by adopting proven models like MIT's makerspace