Acquisition expands SoulCrafted’s creator-centric ecosystem to 8 million users, reinforcing its commitment to human-made designs and sustainable revenue models.
MyMiniFactory has acquired 100% of Thingiverse from UltiMaker.
The deal unites nearly over 8 million Thingiverse users with MyMiniFactory, a curated, for-profit 3D design file-sharing platform primarily focused on tabletop miniatures, props, and gaming-related content.
With the companies uniting, Thingiverse becomes a SoulCrafted platform. That means human-made designs, human curation, and a model built around creator sustainability. Thingiverse joins MyMiniFactory, YouMagine and the SoulCrafted Slicer under this umbrella.
“This is about what kind of internet and future we want,” said Romain Kidd, new CEO of Thingiverse. “AI-generated content is everywhere now and is a threat to the livelihoods of real creators everywhere. We know from launching SoulCrafted that there’s real demand for spaces where human work is valued and protected. Thingiverse will be one of those spaces.”
Pledging to be a human-first platform
MyMiniFactory has spent a decade proving that creator-first economics actually work in the world of 3D printing, having now paid out over $100 million to independent creators. Thousands of independent creators run sustainable businesses through the platform from their nearly 1 million paying customers.
The track record extends beyond its flagship platform. YouMagine, acquired by MyMiniFactory in 2024, has transformed from a file repository into a thriving community where more technical creators now earn sustainable income from their RC designs.
In addition to this, MyMiniFactory operates Scan the World, an open-source museum and community driven initiative that has preserved tens of thousands of cultural artefacts, 3D scanned and made 3D-print ready by a global community of volunteers.
What this means for Thingiverse
MyMiniFactory was founded under the ethos that creators deserve to be valued. Not as content generators. Not as data points. As skilled individuals whose work has worth.
The open sharing ethos of Thingiverse stays. MyMiniFactory will introduce sustainable business models for creators with an emphasis on SoulCrafted content rather than AI and non-printable content.
“We know you’ve been let down before. We know trust is earned, not announced. So, we’re not asking you to just take our word for it. We’re asking you to help us shape what comes next, shape the future of Thingiverse,” the company asks to the Thingiverse community.
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