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.
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. 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.
Two phases. Twenty innovators each.
Bring your boldest U1 build. Share it with makers around the world. Make the community better — and walk away with cash, recognition, and a stage to amplify your work.
Submissions Open
Build & submit your project
Submissions Close
Last day to submit
Evaluation Ends
Committee + community vote
Winners Announced
Cash & honors awarded
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
How to participate.
Four steps. Open to every developer and U1 user worldwide.
Prepare your project
Build something on or around U1 — slicer plugin, hardware mod, workflow, accessory.
Publish openly
Upload to GitHub or any publicly accessible page — blog, site, your own platform, or a Patreon-style page where supporters can back your work.
Share with community
Post in any Snapmaker community channel so makers can find and discuss it.
Submit & be reviewed
Submit via the form below, message an admin, or accept an official invitation.
How projects are judged.
Three dimensions decide the project score — then we mix it with how the community feels about your work.
Innovation & Technical Depth
Fresh functional directions. Hard problems solved with creative, original approaches that unlock new use cases on U1.
— Core DimensionOpenness & Quality
We favor open source — reproducible on GitHub, fully documented, built to extend. Closed-source projects can qualify if they give back another way: open APIs, transparent setup, and a real commitment to the community.
— Core DimensionPracticality & Adaptability
Solves real, common U1 pain points. Broad potential to be reused, remixed, and adapted across the community.
— Core Dimension- Snapmaker PMs & senior engineers
- Industry experts
- Community tech committee
- GitHub repository stars
- Community channel likes
- Project page upvotes
Who decides.
A balanced panel of Snapmaker insiders, community veterans, and respected industry voices.
Snapmaker Official
- Product Manager U1 Platform
- Senior R&D Engineer Hardware & Software
- Snapmaker Founder Final round
Community Tech Committee
- Engineers & enthusiasts Nominated
- Senior community admins Forum & Discord
- Active power users Self-nominated
Industry Experts
- Slicer expert To be announced
- Hardware expert To be announced
- Community expert To be announced
Submit your project in 2 minutes.
Phase 1 is open — submissions close September 7, 2026. Drop your details, share your GitHub link, and let's see what you've built.
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, submit your details through the form above and let's talk — we may sponsor a unit to help you get started. Go for it.
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.
How is the cash prize delivered?
+Winners will be contacted within two weeks of the announcement and paid via online 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.