Innovation
Fund
Our first community-powered innovation fund for the next era of 3D printing. Founding Sponsorships to honor the makers whose work contributed to the success of U1. Open Competition to reward the ones taking it further. We give back, you build forward — together on Snapmaker U1.
Final Winners
20 projects awarded by tier — sorted A to Z, with one exception: Paxx12 goes first, because we like him too much. Huge congratulations to all the winners!
First Prize · $5,000 each
Paxx12 Snapmaker U1 Extended Firmware
Flagship Klipper distro for U1 featuring Fluidd, Spoolman, RFID, and smooth updates; a vital community cornerstone.
Full Multi Nozzle-Printing
Enables per-extruder layer heights and nozzle mixing, speeding up prints and unlocking full multi-tool potential.
multiACE
Mature U1 mod driving up to 4 ACE Pro units for 16 colors with web UI control, greatly expanding multicolor boundaries.
Second Prize · $3,000 each
AFC-Klipper-Add-On
Hardware-agnostic Klipper automation layer unifying various AMS units, helping U1 break beyond 4 colors reliably.
BMCU-Klipper
Cost-effective open-source multi-color mod supporting 32 filaments and smart tip-forming, expanding U1 printing limits.
Bespok3d
Innovative Klipper app store enabling one-tap installation of plugins and features without complex terminal commands.
FOrcaSlicer
Tailored U1 OrcaSlicer fork supporting asymmetric nozzle sizes, variable line widths, and shell-over-core printing.
Miniskyline
Web generator turning global GIS data and celestial bodies into slicer-ready multi-color 3MF models seamlessly.
OrcaSlicer-ImageMap
Slices smooth image textures onto prints via perimeter extrusion modulation and fixed CMYK cycles on U1.
Sidecar 16-Color MMU
Clever 16-color MMU utilizing U1 toolchanging to swap and purge filaments in parallel during active printing.
Third Prize · $1,500 each
Bambu 2 Orca
Zero-upload 3MF converter seamlessly migrating MakerWorld models to U1 presets with commercial-grade polish.
ChromaMatter -AI Model Print Studio
Converts AI-generated 3D models into U1 Full Spectrum 3MF projects using smart mesh slicing and CIE76 color mixing.
ditherforge
Robust geometry pipeline turning textured models into 4-color dithered prints tailored for U1 fast tool changes.
Kromacut
Transforms 2D images into layered full-color 3MF prints using Beer-Lambert optical modeling and color mixing.
Lumina Studio
Calibration-based color workflow transforming images into predictable multi-material 3MF prints with custom LUTs.
MakerWorld to Snapmaker U1
Browser extension enabling one-click in-page conversion of MakerWorld profiles to native U1 projects locally.
SindriCAD
Open-source parametric CAD with full sketch constraints and direct 3MF export with per-body extruder mapping for U1.
U1 Slicer For Android
Brings full OrcaSlicer workflow to Android with native multi-color painting and wireless printing directly to U1.
U1 Print Hub
Self-hosted fleet dashboard for U1 printers featuring multi-machine monitoring, queuing, and PWA mobile support.
UI Rework for Full-Spectrum
Refactors Full-Spectrum OrcaSlicer with intuitive filament cards and modular UI, greatly elevating UX for mixed colors.
Phase 1 is in evaluation.
Submissions closed September 7, 2026. 66 projects made it in — the committee and the community are scoring them now.
Final list confirmed October 15.
Phase 1 closed on September 7. Community voting runs September 22–30, then we publish provisional results on October 9 and hold a review window until October 15 before the list is final.
The final list was confirmed on October 15, 2026. Prizes are paid out by November 13 — questions? Write to community@snapmaker.com.
Frequently asked.
Who can apply for Phase 1 and Phase 2?
+Anyone. That said, having a U1 in hand makes debugging much easier. If you've got a great idea but no machine, email community@snapmaker.com and let's talk — we may sponsor a unit to help you get started. Go for it.
Do I need to own a U1 to participate — or what if my project requires more than one?
+Same as above — you don't strictly need a U1 to apply, but we strongly recommend getting one (yes, really 😄). Since the whole point of the fund is to push U1 further, having one in hand to debug on dramatically improves your chances of winning. If you've got a strong idea but no machine, or your project genuinely needs more than one U1, submit through the form above to reach our community team — we'll review your case and do our best to support you.
Does my project have to be 100% open source?
+No, open source isn't required. Our goal is to encourage innovation — if you have a great or even wild idea that pushes U1's boundaries, we want to see it. Closed-source projects are welcome too, as long as you have a working demo to share.
Can I submit multiple projects per phase?
+Yes. You can submit additional projects via the form on this page, or send them directly to community@snapmaker.com.
What if I started my project before June 9?
+No problem — in fact, it's often better. Mature projects tend to be stronger entries. We just ask that the project be meaningfully connected to U1.
How do I get considered for the Sponsorship Track?
+Reach out at community@snapmaker.com, or talk to one of our community admins in any Snapmaker channel. We review these conversations internally — if there's a fit, we'll get in touch to discuss what kind of support makes sense. And we welcome you telling us exactly what you need.
How is the community vote calculated?
+We're building an online voting system that will let users like projects directly on the site — that'll be the main data source. The exact weighting is still being finalized.
What if I disagree with the final results?
+The review window closed on October 15, 2026, and the final list is now confirmed. If you spot something that looks wrong — a miscounted vote, a project you think was misjudged, a rule you think we misapplied — write to community@snapmaker.com and we will still look into it. Prizes are paid by November 13.
How is the cash prize delivered?
+Provisional results are published October 9 and confirmed October 15 after the review window. Phase 1 prizes are paid by November 13 via online bank transfer. Taxes are the winner's responsibility, but we'll do our best to provide any documentation you need.
Do I keep IP after winning?
+Absolutely. We're here to provide support, not take your work. For projects that meaningfully benefit U1, we may invite you to collaborate on bringing it further — but those details would be negotiated with you individually.