The team behind Mayku have come a long way since co-Founders Ben and Alex joined forces in 2015. We’ve grown from being just the co-founders to being a team of 22! So who exactly is behind the brand?
Between us, we’ve launched countless products, managed supply chains for global corporations and written hundreds of thousands of lines of code. We're a team united by a belief in the power of making - find out more about us below.
The Co-Founders
I'm Benjamin Redford and I'm the CPO at Mayku.
What was your proudest achievement before joining Mayku?
Building the world's first mini Instagram projector, Projecteo
Why did you join Mayku?
I started it, lol.
What’s most exciting about your future at Mayku?
Building the rest of the desktop factory!
What’s your favourite FormBox make?
Turning a potato into a cactus pot. It’s an absolutely legendary make. Simple, useful, beautiful and accessible.
What’s your favourite thing about being part of the team?
Working with excellent, lovely, hard-working people through what has been a tough couple of years! Absolute heroes.
What’s your name and what do you do at Mayku?
I’m Alex, one of the founders and the CEO here at Mayku.
What was your proudest achievement before joining Mayku?
Good question…I’m not very good at being proud of myself! Let me think…Ok, I have one. When I was working at Visa as part of the business development team in my first job before going to university I fought for the power of design and after joining as an intern, became the first-ever designer in their commercial team in London. After I left they hired a full-time designer.
Why did you start Mayku?
I started Mayku with Ben because I believe everyone should have access to the tools needed to create. I believe that making things is an essential part of what it means to be human and that it’s wrong that only large companies can access the amazing machines that live in factories and are used to make the products we use every day. I want to help make product creation accessible to anyone.
What’s your favourite thing about being part of the team?
Working with such an exceptional bunch of talented people every day - constantly being amazed by what they can do and by what our community of creators do with our machines.
What’s most exciting about your future at Mayku?
I cannot wait to see what everyone makes with our latest machine - the Multiplier. What I’m even more excited about is our software platform which will make designing for our machines accessible to anyone with an idea, without needing any background knowledge in how to design for manufacturing.
What does ‘power to the makers’ mean to you?
It’s about democratising manufacturing, it’s about shifting power structures away from centralized companies and towards decentralized micro-factories, run by creators. It’s about empowering people to make things locally and to create things that serve their local community and the people to whom they are connected directly.
Marketing and Content
What’s your name and what do you do at Mayku?
I’m Jayne, Head of Marketing. I initially joined the team in 2020 to lead influencer marketing and social media at Mayku. I quickly got involved with broader marketing initiatives and now manage a talented team of marketing and customer service specialists to raise awareness, trust and loyalty in our brand.
What was your proudest achievement before joining Mayku?
After a couple of years working at London’s top digital agencies, I ran my own digital marketing agency specialising in remote work and allowing me to spend a number of years as a digital nomad. I worked on social media and influencer projects for a variety of global brands in fashion, beauty and food including SheaMoisture, LuluLemon and Nokia. My last freelance gig before Mayku was working on communications for Climate Assembly UK with Sir David Attenborough and the UK House of Commons.
Why did you join Mayku?
I honestly thought I’d stay self-employed forever, but when I saw the job ad I was instantly curious. I’ve always been fascinated by creative arts, small businesses and how things are made, so the Mayku vision instantly resonated with me. Having run my own creative businesses (Etsy resin jewellery shop and a hand screen printed t-shirt business) I could instantly see how my experience could benefit Mayku.
What does ‘power to the makers’ mean to you?
In a world of unhealthy levels of mass manufacturing and copycat culture, it’s important to think about different ways of creating. By empowering individuals and small businesses we can bring back locally made, sustainable creative processes and unlock a vast diversity of global talent who might otherwise not have the tools to bring their big ideas to life. Mayku can play a big part in reducing the time and cost needed for manufacturing for a variety of makers.
What’s most exciting about your future at Mayku?
I absolutely love hearing from our customers and collaborators and learning the latest ways our tools have been used. Whether it be for making tiny golden crowns for taxidermy goats or creating the latest luxury chocolate treat for Harrods, it’s genuinely amazing to see the process and end results. It’s great to know we’re playing even a small part in the growth of these talented makers and creators. I can’t wait to hear the next ridiculous use case.
What’s your favourite Multiplier make?
Lead Creator, Agustín and I worked on some collaborations with creators as part of the launch campaign of the Multiplier. Little did we know the challenges of manufacturing dozens of custom molds on a prototype machine that was still being taken apart every other week when we planned it, but we did it. So, I have to give a shout-out to the stunning chocolate Magnolia flower created for Harrod’s chef, Philip Khoury. Not only did the finished product look amazing, but the process of working with Agustín also inspired Philip to learn Fusion 360 for himself so that he can use 3D printing back in the Harrods kitchen with his FormBox.
What’s your favourite thing about being part of the team?
I enjoy the variety of different audiences that we deal with. Our products have such an endless list of applications that there’s always a new niche to learn about. Just when we think we’ve made an extensive list of all possible industries to talk to, another one pops up with a question we’ve never heard before. This keeps me on my toes and keeps things super interesting. Can you use the Multiplier to make microfluidic devices? Well, we’ll find out very soon thanks to a customer in the Netherlands that found us on Twitter.
What’s your name and what do you do at Mayku?
My name is Agustin Arroyo, and I'm Mayku's Lead Creator. I help all teams with anything content-related, including creating unique templates, testing new accessories, educational content and even helping our community members transform their ideas into products.
What was your proudest achievement before joining Mayku?
I've been an active member of the maker community since I was a student, and being able to share back and inspire other makers is something I am really proud of.
Why did you join Mayku?
I was a FormBox user before joining Mayku, and I could see how they're changing how things are made. I simply wanted to be a part of it.
What does ‘power to the makers’ mean to you?
It means makers can finally stop thinking about the high outsourcing costs and they can finally focus on their ideas.
What’s most exciting about your future at Mayku?
The makers we'll meet on the way. Seeing them succeed with the help of our products.
What’s your favourite FormBox make?
An enclosure I made for an electronic toy for my cat.
Product Team
What’s your name and what do you do at Mayku?
Hi, My name is Will and I’m a Design Engineer at Mayku. I specialise in the innovation and development of new products and machines here, from concept through to manufacturing.
What was your proudest achievement before joining Mayku?
Probably the series of youtube videos I made about things I built, like building a working roller coaster in my back garden. I had so much fun planning, making and shooting them!
Why did you join Mayku?
Mayku’s values and vision really clicked with me, and the opportunity to design and develop radically innovative machines was very exciting!
What’s most exciting about your future at Mayku?
Working on ambitious projects and developing the next generation of machines for makers is incredibly exciting, interacting with users, being able to solve their problems and being able to work in a team that strongly values innovation is fantastic
What’s your favourite Multiplier make?
As an engineer, I think our test template is fantastic. It really shows just how much detail and flexibility the Multiplier can provide, and I can’t wait to see what users make with it!
What’s your favourite thing about being part of the team
The constant drive and mutual feeling between all of us to make the best possible products and experiences for our users, and working with a very talented team to realise those goals is incredibly rewarding.
What’s your name and what do you do at Mayku?
Hi! My name is Chris and I’m our Lead Product Manager. I’m responsible for the product hardware team at Mayku and thrive on the challenge of bringing ideas to life from an initial sketch through to product launch.
What was your proudest achievement before joining Mayku?
Before joining Mayku I was part of the NPD team at Joseph Joseph. Here I helped drive the design, development and launch of innovative homeware products, proudly many of these ranges have gone on to become the best in their category.
Why did you join Mayku?
Mayku’s vision instantly resonated and the role felt like the perfect fit. The opportunity to build the world's first desktop factory was something I had to be a part of.
What does ‘power to the makers’ mean to you?
Power to the makers for me is about removing barriers to design, production and commercialisation of ideas. The ability to empower people to take back control and to launch products not only on their schedule but in a way that works for their business. The relevance and potential in the current global position feels monumental.
What’s most exciting about your future at Mayku?
It’s a very exciting time at Mayku with everyone in the team having the rare opportunity to make a big impact on our growth. The product team has ambitious development plans that will build upon transforming how new ideas are brought to life and productionised. The un-industrial revolution is on the horizon!
What’s your favourite thing about being part of the team?
People and culture are two things that are highly valued at Mayku, coupling these values with a clear vision we are all focussed on building something exceptional.
Operations and Finance
What’s your name and what do you do at Mayku?
I’m Heidi, Head of Operations here at Mayku. My role involves overseeing all operational aspects of the company strategy. I help to set our strategic goals and am responsible for the flow of operations information across the team. I also work closely with the leadership team to foster an inclusive culture and embed our company values throughout the organization.
What was your proudest achievement before joining Mayku?
Before joining Mayku I was a Senior Operations Manager at Flock, an insurtech scale up in the UAV (drone) and motor space. I helped to drive the team and company to be more productive and successful as we scaled. Joining as an early employee and being part of the legacy team, it was wonderful to play a part in making the world a safer, smarter place, through a suite of smart insurance products.
Why did you join Mayku?
I’ve always been attracted to companies that are creating technologies that will be used for the greater good. And at Mayku that means working with an exceptionally talented team who are on a mission to make manufacturing local, simple and accessible to all. By bringing product manufacturing closer to the point of sale and connecting consumers directly to creators we’re boosting local economies and making a positive impact on the planet and society. It’s so exciting to be part of the Creator community and incredibly rewarding to see the impact our products are having on entrepreneurs, SMEs and local businesses across the globe.
What does ‘power to the makers’ mean to you?
I love helping Creators unlock something special, witnessing their “rocketship moment” when they’re able to take their idea from an abstract image in their imagination and convert it into a tangible and usable product line in minutes. For many Creators, it’s the beginning of a new career, or more broadly, a step towards their dream career and that’s just so wonderful to be a part of.
What’s most exciting about your future at Mayku?
We’re working hard on our new software and design service and it’s such an exciting time to be a part of that new arm of the business. Just tell us your brief and we’ll work with you to design a custom 3d template. We’ll print it and send it directly to your door. It’s super simple to use! It’s an amazing service and I can’t wait to see how it develops. We also launched the Mayku Multiplier, and it’s an incredible machine. I’ve been with Mayku for 6 months now, and I’m still amazed by the detail and quality of the Multiplier. It’s so sensitive it can capture the indentations from a highlighter on a post-it note - just mind-blowing!
What’s your favourite thing about being part of the team?
I love working at Mayku because everyone shares the same creative vision and is dedicated to the mission. This truly creates a family environment where everybody is there for each other. It’s such a wonderful and supportive culture here. Alex and Ben in particular are phenomenal co-founders and really care about delivering excellent products.
What’s your name and what do you do at Mayku?
Dan Schonfeld, Finance Director
What was your proudest achievement before joining Mayku?
Going vegetarian 3 years ago.
Why did you join Mayku?
I’ve been an investor in Mayku since 2019, and when Alex told me the company needed help on the finance and fundraising side, I saw an opportunity to help so I jumped in.
What does ‘power to the makers’ mean to you?
Enabling people who make cool stuff to make more and better products locally and with less environmental impact.
What’s most exciting about your future at Mayku?
Scaling the company towards an exit!
What’s your favourite thing about being part of the team?
The bi-weekly Among Us sessions!
Want to be part of Team Mayku?
Our round of investment on Crowdcube has hit overfunding, but there's still time for you to own your very own shares in Mayku.
You can make a crowdfunding investment from just £13.68, though the platform is used by a community of angel investors who can invest thousands. Only a limited number of shares will be released so if you want to join our investment community, we recommend you claim your piece as soon as possible.
Investments of this nature carry risks to your capital. Please Invest Aware.