MakersKit gets $1.5M to bring the maker movement to retail stores

Los Angeles-based startup MakersKit has landed $1.5 million in Seed funding, led by Tribeca Venture Partners. Other investors include Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, Mesa+, Greycroft Partners and Vayner RSE. The company, which is targeting the ‘maker movement,’ sells do-it-yourself project kits that include an interactive instructional video component. The company started as live DIY workshops in San Francisco created by co­founders Mike Stone and Jawn McQuade, which they decided to essentially package and sell. MakersKit currently has in-store, nationwide retail deals in place with Urban Outfitters and Nordstrom.

It was founded in early 2013 and graduated from the recently-completed TechStars New York City accelerator spring class.