Innovation
Fund
Phase 2 is open. A $50K open call for the next wave of U1 innovation — submit your project on the Snapmaker Forum, share it with the makers who push U1 forward, and put it in front of our technical committee. Submissions run October 28 – December 24, 2026.
Three reasons. One mission.
The U1 didn't get here alone — it stood on the shoulders of an innovative community decades in the making. This fund is how we say thank you, and how we keep that movement going.
Push U1 further
Unlock everything U1 can do — through community-built software, hardware, and workflows we couldn't ship alone.
Give back to the community
Cash, recognition, and platform support for the developers who keep 3D printing moving forward.
Welcome the next wave
3D printing is entering its color era. We want more makers, hackers, and newcomers showing up to shape what comes next.
Two ways to say thank you.
$50K goes to direct sponsorship of developers who've already shaped U1.
$100K powers two open competitions where any maker can win.
Thank you for
making something wonderful.
For developers who've already shaped U1 in meaningful ways. We provide steady monthly cash support so you can keep building.
- Full Spectrum
- OrcaSlicer
- Klipper
- Moonraker
- Fluidd
- More TBA
For everyone with an idea.
Open to every developer and U1 user. 3-month build window. Public evaluation by the committee and the community.
- 20 winners
- 3 tiers
- Public showcase
Round two. New ideas, same energy.
Same open structure as Phase 1 — including the two-week review window before results are final. Try again, build something new, level up your last entry.
- 20 winners
- 3 tiers
- Public showcase
The shoulders we stand on.
Full Spectrum is the first project we're proud to sponsor. The others are the work U1 stands on. We didn't build U1 alone — and we don't plan to forget it.
Moonraker
Web API bridging Klipper to modern interfaces. Essential to every modern slicer integration.
OrcaSlicer
The slicer behind Snapmaker Orca. Open-source, community-driven, foundation for Full Spectrum.
Klipper
The firmware that pushes 3D printer hardware further. Powers fast, precise printing on U1.
Fluidd
The web UI that gives Klipper a friendly face. Clean, fast, mobile-ready — the front door.
Full Spectrum
Generates 100+ intermediate colors from 4 filaments by alternating layers. Built as an Orca fork.
Surface Color Stitch
Breaks each top surface into a stack of independent layers — you control what every layer is made of, unlocking multicolor textures and finishes you couldn't slice before.
Meet the Phase 1 winners.
20 projects, one incredible wave of U1 innovation. Here's who won Phase 1 — and the bar Phase 2 is setting out to beat.
See all 20 Phase 1 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 2. Twenty innovators.
Bring your boldest U1 build to the Forum. Share it with makers around the world, let the community vote, and let our technical committee decide. Cash prizes, recognition, and a stage to amplify your work.
Submissions Open
Post your project in the Forum category
Submissions Close
Last day to submit
Vote & Review
Community Vote + Technical Committee, through Jan 13
Provisional Winners
Results published, review window opens
Final List
Confirmed after the review window
Winner Info
Collection & prize logistics
U1 Pioneer
- Winner's badge and certificate
- Official social media spotlight
- New product beta access
Eco-Enhancer
- Winner's badge and certificate
- Official social media spotlight
- New product beta access
Active Builder
- Winner's badge and certificate
- Official social media spotlight
- New product beta access
No machine yet? We'll send one.
If you're at the idea stage — a promising concept but no U1 to validate it on — choose the U1 Hardware Sponsorship track instead of the cash fund.
A U1, to build on.
Submit your project with the sponsorship option, and we'll get a machine to you so you can build it, test it, and prove it on real hardware.
- Idea-stage projects that haven't been validated on a U1 yet
- Makers who don't own a U1 but have a strong, specific concept
- Pick "U1 Hardware Sponsorship" when you submit on the Forum
- Community Vote ranks all projects — the Top 10 advance to in-depth review
- Cash Fund and U1 Hardware Sponsorship cannot both be awarded to the same project
- DM an admin to unlist your topic within 12 hours
- Unlisted projects skip the Community Vote and are reviewed later, off the main timeline
How to participate.
Four steps. Everything happens on the Snapmaker Forum.
Read the rules
Check the Phase 2 timeline, project categories, and scoring criteria on the Read First topic.
Create a Forum account
Posting requires a free Snapmaker Forum account — it takes a minute.
Post your project
Create a topic in the Phase 2 submission category, fill in the embedded template, and pick your tags.
How projects are judged.
Four dimensions decide the technical score — then we mix it with how the community votes.
Project Innovation
Pioneers new functional directions and solves hard problems with creative, original methods — unlocking new use cases for U1: new print modes, material combinations, or workflows.
— Core DimensionTechnical Depth
Reaches into key parts of U1's hardware, firmware, or software stack, delivers verifiable results, and clearly explains the core logic, parameter sources, and boundary conditions.
— Core DimensionProject Completeness
A fully functional, verifiable result — with docs, tests, and user guides — rather than a concept or half-finished prototype. Validated on real U1 hardware.
— Core DimensionU1 Ecosystem Contribution
Solves genuine U1 pain points and produces reusable tools, data, or hardware that other U1 users can deploy directly — with real use cases and discussion in the community.
— Core Dimension- Reviews the Community Vote shortlist
- Independent scoring, 0–10 per dimension
- Averaged across reviewers
- Same-category projects cross-checked
- Top 60 (Cash Fund candidates) and Top 10 (U1 Sponsorship candidates) advance to the Tech Committee review
- Results published after voting closes
Who decides.
A balanced panel of Snapmaker insiders, community veterans, and respected industry voices — with a strict recusal system to keep judging impartial.
Snapmaker Official
- Product team U1 Platform
- Engineering team Hardware & Software
Industry Experts & Community Tech Committee
- Engineers & experienced enthusiasts from Forum / Discord / FBG Group
- Industry Experts from 3D printing community
Ready to submit?
Phase 2 submissions open October 28 and close December 24, 2026. Everything happens on the Snapmaker Forum — create a topic in the submission category, fill in the embedded template, and you're in.
Three steps to enter.
Post your project in the Innovation Fund Phase 2 category. A step-by-step tutorial is pinned in the Read First topic — check it before you post.
Forum registration is required to post. Questions? Write to community@snapmaker.com.
Frequently asked.
Who can apply for Phase 2?
+Anyone with a project that meaningfully connects to U1 — a slicer plugin, firmware, hardware mod, workflow, accessory, app, or something we haven't thought of. You don't need a U1 in hand to submit, though it helps with validation. If you need a machine, pick the U1 Hardware Sponsorship track.
Can I re-submit a project from Phase 1?
+Yes — whether you won or not. For re-submissions, project progress is a criterion: if you won last time, we need to see significant progress or new capabilities; if you didn't, meaningful progress is enough. We also weigh submission diversity, so newcomers aren't penalized.
How do I create a topic on the Forum?
+Open the Phase 2 submission category, create a new topic, and fill in the embedded template. Pick at least two tags: Fund Type (Cash Fund or U1 Sponsorship) and Project Category. A step-by-step tutorial is pinned in the Read First topic.
Cash Fund or U1 Hardware Sponsorship — which should I choose?
+If you already have a U1 and mainly need funding to develop and refine your project, pick the Cash Fund. If you are still at the idea stage with no machine to validate on, pick the U1 Hardware Sponsorship. The two cannot be awarded simultaneously.
What counts as "Original New Idea" vs "Derivative / Improvement"?
+Original: the core concept and implementation are yours, not built on an existing open-source project, commercial product, or third-party work. Derivative: you improve, extend, or adapt existing work — name the original project and describe what you added during the competition. Config tweaks, UI polish, or minor patches are not substantive additions. Misrepresenting originality can lead to disqualification.
Does my project have to be open source?
+No. Open source isn't required — closed-source projects are welcome as long as you share a working demo. If your project is open source, list the license (MIT, Apache 2.0, etc.).
Can I submit more than one project?
+Yes. You can post multiple topics in the submission category — each project gets its own topic.
How is the Community Vote calculated?
+The official vote runs on EasyPromos with email verification and opens about one week before the submission deadline — you can still submit during the vote, and we'll add your project within 24 hours. Results are published after voting closes.
What if I disagree with the results?
+Provisional winners are announced January 14, 2027, and the review window runs for a week. Write to community@snapmaker.com with anything that looks wrong before the final list is confirmed on January 21.
Do I keep my IP?
+Absolutely. We're here to support your work, not take it. Any deeper collaboration would be negotiated with you individually.