Kerala Startup Mission opens Maker Sprint prototyping course; apply by October 23

Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), the state government's agency for start-ups, has invited applications for Maker Sprint, a short, hands-on training programme in digital fabrication for people who want to turn ideas into physical prototypes. The call for applications was announced on Friday, 9 October 2026. The programme begins on 26 October at Fab Lab Kerala on the Technopark Phase I campus in Thiruvananthapuram, and the last date to register is 23 October. Participants will learn to use machines such as laser cutters, PCB milling machines, vinyl cutters, 3D printers and wood CNC routers. No prior experience in fabrication is needed, and a certificate is given on completion.

Many young founders and students have ideas for gadgets, tools or hardware products but no way to build a first working model. Hiring a workshop or buying machines is expensive, and most college labs are not set up for rapid prototyping. A fab lab gives shared access to the machines that turn a sketch into an object: a laser cutter can shape acrylic or wood panels for an enclosure, a PCB mill can produce a simple circuit board, and a 3D printer can make plastic parts in hours.

Short training like this lowers the barrier to hardware entrepreneurship. Once someone knows how to use these machines, they can return to the lab to build and test designs, show a physical prototype to mentors or investors, and improve it quickly. For hardware start-ups, a believable prototype often makes the difference in getting early support.

The programme is also useful beyond start-ups. Engineering and design students can add practical skills to their portfolios, makers and hobbyists can learn tools they would otherwise find hard to access, and small manufacturers can see how digital fabrication might speed up their own product development.

With only about 10 seats, interested applicants should register early. They should also check the exact number of training days and the fee on the KSUM page before applying, since published details differ slightly.

Short-term: A small group of participants will gain hands-on skills in five common digital fabrication machines within a week.

Long-term: Programmes like this can help Kerala build a pipeline of hardware founders and skilled makers who can prototype locally instead of outsourcing early design work.

Who is affected: Students, young founders, makers and hobbyists, early-stage hardware start-ups, and small manufacturers in and around Thiruvananthapuram.

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