LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
Your product. Their crazy idea. One impossible working demo.
We are seeking exhibitors, hardware brands, makerspaces, equipment partners, mentors, makers and supporters to turn a proposed on-site maker scavenger hunt into an open, collaborative build.
This is a community proposal led by Peter Pan's Techland, tentatively aligned with Maker Faire Shenzhen, December 12–13, 2026. The challenge, exhibitor participation, venue, official branding, partner status and sponsor benefits have not been confirmed by the festival organizer. We are now collecting expressions of interest and discussing an authorized format. We do not represent the event organizer or collect payments on their behalf.
← Challenge landing · Full plan and rules →
01 / Why support this experiment?
Instead of another static booth logo, your product enters a real prototype built in public. Makers discover your platform, visitors watch it do something new, and your team meets builders who might become users or collaborators. The final Maker Passport recognizes who contributed what, with consent.
Mutual value: product hands-on trials · developer feedback · authentic integration story · cross-booth connections · opt-in credits in build docs and recap. These are intended opportunities, not guaranteed impressions, leads, sales or reach.
02 / We are looking for five types of contribution
| Contribution | Examples | What we need from you |
|---|---|---|
| A — Products / components (GIFT) | ESP32 / RP2040 / Linux dev boards; sensors; displays; motors; servos; LED modules; drivers; buttons; cables; recycled parts; enclosures | Quantity offered, compatibility notes, declared gift terms, contacts |
| B — Equipment / reusable devices (LOAN) | Cameras, robot parts, test instruments, lab supplies, advanced compute boards | Asset list, allowed uses, owner, condition, check-out/return policy |
| C — Shared workshop access (TOOL) | Soldering stations, 3D printers, multimeters, oscilloscopes, crimpers, safe power, work tables | Supervision / operator availability, access schedule, consumables, safety procedures |
| D — People and expertise (MENTOR) | Engineers, SDK maintainers, makerspace staff, prototyping coaches, design mentors | Mentor topic and shifts, no exclusive technical advantage, public acknowledgement preference |
| E — Cash, logistics & content | Venue / tables, power, logistics, signage, printing, PPE, awards, photography, video, connectivity | Scope, budget or service offered, approvals, branding / usage rights |
Product wish list — especially useful at a maker fair
- Computing & control: ESP32 variants, Arduino-compatible boards, RP2040, STM32, Linux SBCs, HATs, USB serial modules.
- Sensing: buttons, touch, IMU, ToF, PIR, light, humidity, microphone, RFID/NFC, camera, ultrasonic modules.
- Motion: micro servos, safe low-voltage motors, wheels, gears, motor drivers, linkages and printed brackets.
- Feedback & interaction: LED strips/rings, e-paper/OLED/TFT, small speakers, buzzers, vibration motors, receipt printers (with safe supplies).
- Connection & fabrication: USB cables, Dupont wires, connectors, screws, adhesives, enclosures, PCB scraps, filament and laser-cut offcuts.
- Shared tech: oscilloscopes, multimeters, regulated current-limited supplies, soldering tools, 3D printing slots, and supervised mechanical fabrication.
- Nontechnical oddities: harmless surprise objects, packaging, discarded keyboards / mice, costumes, pieces for whimsical interactions.
For high-value single units, loan to a shared pool rather than give them away. Do not assume a donated product must be new, but it must be safe and usable.
03 / The booth-level partnership
A participating booth may choose any one or more of the following:
- One-item station: make an agreed small product, sample, or component available to participating teams, subject to your quantity limit. No compulsory donations.
- Mentor station: offer short scheduled help with SDKs, interfaces, electrical design or mechanical integration.
- Challenge station: publish one optional, safe mini-mission or design constraint (e.g. “make this sensor control something surprising”).
- Device demo loan: allow a tracked part/device to be used in the shared workshop, then collect it back.
- Workshop sponsor: provide time on your staffed equipment instead of donating hardware.
Each visit should be short and respectful. A booth can pause participation when busy, can decline a request, and never has to surrender its display model. The steward tracks shortages and reallocates shared resources fairly.
04 / Equipment use, lending and return terms
A donation is not a loan. An equipment-use session is not a transfer of ownership. Every physical contribution must be classified before handover.
Before event → submit equipment description and quantity; identify owners and safe-use limits; declare whether the item is a gift, loan or supervised-use resource; agree on insurance, damage responsibility and (if any) deposit in writing with the responsible organizing entity.
At check-out → label or record asset ID / serial number where applicable; photograph condition if appropriate; sign the pass with recipient, approved location, expected return and safety instructions.
During use → stay in approved area; prohibit unapproved modifications, risky power and re-lending without permission. Shared equipment is scheduled through a neutral queue.
At return → power off, inspect with owner or steward, sign receipt, record missing accessories. Escalate loss or damage through pre-agreed terms, not arbitrary on-site demands. Sponsors should not lend equipment unless custody, liability and insurance questions are resolved.
Fair access pledge
- Sponsor support does not purchase an exclusive right to participants, projects, judging, prize outcomes or stage time.
- The shared kit should offer the same basic consumables to every team. Scarce premium equipment must be booked fairly.
- Loaned equipment is not a personal prize. Teams should not list sponsor display assets as their property.
- Sponsor names and product marks are credited only with agreement; software licenses, third-party images and personal data remain protected.
05 / Proposed partner acknowledgement
Final recognition depends on venue/organizer authorization, media permissions and actual delivered support. Potential options:
| Partner type | Proposed attribution |
|---|---|
| Participating exhibitor | Contributor listing, Maker Passport stamps, project-level material provenance |
| Product or shared-tool partner | Documentation credits, equipment use label and partner mention in approved recap |
| Funding / logistics supporter | Partner mention in sponsor section, approved signage / event recap (subject to organizer) |
| Volunteer / technical mentor | Mentor credit in documentation, photos / quotes only with permission |
No invented sponsor tiers, exclusive packages, view guarantees or official Maker Faire logo rights. We can negotiate a written scope of deliverables and asset/brand approvals once feasibility is confirmed.
06 / Indicative needs and budget
Proposed first edition: 8–12 teams, 2 days, approximately 20–30 voluntary booths. The working cash model is RMB 8,000–20,000 for basic consumables, printing, logistics, safety/tools, documentation and awards. It is only a preliminary estimate and excludes paid venue rental, formal insurance, taxes, staff wages and major rentals if required. In-kind contributions can reduce outlay. See the full budget and contingency plan.
Priority collaboration order: (1) organizer approval and safe workshop area; (2) voluntary booth partners; (3) shared equipment and power; (4) consumables, mentors and safety team; (5) media and optional awards.
07 / How to raise your hand
Email: twinkle-pirate@hotmail.com
Suggested email subject: Makers Challenge 2026 — Sponsor / Exhibitor Partnership
Please include:
- Brand / booth / organization name and contact person (and whether you will exhibit at Maker Faire Shenzhen).
- Contribution category: GIFT / LOAN / TOOL / MENTOR / FUNDING / LOGISTICS / MEDIA.
- Product models, available quantities, approximate availability date and location.
- Whether items can be kept, must be returned or require supervised operation; any usage, copyright or photo restrictions.
- Technical information: power specs, SDK/documentation, working-condition notes and safety constraints.
- Whether you are interested in a booth mission, product demo or technical mentoring; contact and time availability.
- What acknowledgement you would like; we will confirm what is feasible and authorized before promising it.
Suggested outreach text:
Hello! We are preparing an independent Makers Challenge concept for Shenzhen Maker Faire 2026: teams visit willing booths, collect donated parts or borrow equipment, then build and live-demo a new device. We're looking for product donors, shared equipment, makerspace tools and mentors. All contributions are opt-in, loans are documented and returned, and we will credit makers with permission. This is still a proposed side event pending organizer approval. Would you be interested in discussing a small contribution or booth collaboration?
08 / Decision timeline
Now: open partner-interest conversations, inventory available goods and submit proposal to the event organizer. Once approved: sign off on space, operator roster, safety/insurance, donation vs loan documents, recognition rights and a public schedule. Before opening registration: confirm enough booths and a baseline resource pool. After event: reconcile asset returns and publish an opt-in project and contributor recap.
For participants, see the complete Makers Challenge plan and FAQ.
Peter Pan's Techland independent concept · Proposal v1.0 (October 18, 2026). The Maker Faire Shenzhen event itself is listed at shenzhenmakerfaire.com. No organizer or sponsor endorsement is implied.