MyMiniFactory Acquires Thingiverse, Vowing to Build an Anti-AI Creator Powerhouse

LONDON – February 12, 2026 – The digital landscape of 3D printing was redrawn today as MyMiniFactory announced its 100% acquisition of Thingiverse, the world's largest repository of 3D designs, from its parent company Ultimaker. The deal unites Thingiverse’s massive user base with MyMiniFactory’s curated, creator-focused platform, forming a new industry titan with nearly 8 million combined users.

More than a simple business consolidation, the acquisition is being positioned as a defiant stand for human creativity. The combined entity will operate under the banner of MyMiniFactory’s ‘SoulCrafted’ movement, an initiative expressly designed to value, protect, and financially support human-made design in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence.

“Every major content platform is now flooded with AI-generated material, and creators are paying the price,” said Romain Kidd, the MyMiniFactory executive who will now serve as the new CEO of Thingiverse. “This acquisition is our answer: a combined platform of 10 million users where human creativity is the product, not the training data.”

A New Chapter for a Neglected Giant

Launched in 2008, Thingiverse became a foundational pillar of the consumer 3D printing movement, a sprawling, free-to-use library that empowered a generation of makers. However, in recent years under the ownership of first Stratasys and later Ultimaker, the platform’s momentum stalled. Community forums and social media have been rife with complaints about persistent bugs, a lack of new features, and a general sense of abandonment.

For many long-time users, the platform felt “painfully neglected,” a digital giant left to languish under the weight of its own technical debt. Sentiments on community forums often described Thingiverse as being “adrift,” with many fearing it might eventually be shut down due to a lack of clear strategic direction from its corporate owners. The news of the acquisition has therefore been met with a mix of cautious optimism and relief, with some users expressing hope that MyMiniFactory has “rescued” the platform from a slow decline.

The 'SoulCrafted' Mandate: A Stand Against AI

At the heart of this acquisition is MyMiniFactory's 'SoulCrafted' philosophy, a strict anti-AI policy launched in 2025. The movement is a direct response to the proliferation of AI-generated models, which the company argues devalues the skill, time, and originality of human designers. Under this mandate, the platform actively prohibits AI-generated 3D models and imagery.

Enforcement is not merely a slogan. MyMiniFactory utilizes a combination of manual verification for new uploads and community-reporting tools. Creators may be asked to provide process evidence, such as work-in-progress files or sculpting videos, to verify the human origin of their designs. This commitment to authenticity will now be extended to Thingiverse, with plans to implement detection systems and gradually remove existing AI-generated content from the site’s 6 million-plus design library.

To further support its mission, MyMiniFactory has also established a “SoulCrafted Creator Fund,” offering financial support and emergency assistance to artists, cementing its role as not just a marketplace, but a patron of human craftsmanship.

A Proven Model for Creator Payouts

MyMiniFactory brings more than just a philosophy to the table; it brings a proven economic model that has already paid out over $100 million directly to independent 3D printing creators. This track record is the company’s core argument for why it can succeed where others have struggled to make large design repositories sustainable.

“We’ve paid out $100 million to creators without venture capital subsidies or ad revenue,” stated Rees Calder, who is stepping into the role of CMO for Thingiverse. “That’s the model we’re bringing to Thingiverse. No empty promises, just a proven track record.”

MyMiniFactory’s model is a hybrid, combining free content with a marketplace and premium subscriptions. Creators can earn up to 90% of their sales, a rate the company claims is the most favorable in the industry. This creator-first approach was successfully tested following the group's 2024 acquisition of YouMagine, which was transformed from a static file repository into a thriving community marketplace where technical creators could generate income.

The Future of Thingiverse: Balancing Ethos and Economics

Leadership has been quick to address the primary concern of the Thingiverse community: the fate of its open-sharing ethos. MyMiniFactory has confirmed that Thingiverse will remain free to use and its core principle of open sharing will be preserved. The goal is not to put content behind a paywall, but to introduce sustainable monetization pathways that creators can opt into.

The new leadership team, which also includes Arys Andreou as CTO, has emphasized its commitment to listening to the community. A live Q&A session scheduled for February 17 is intended to be the first of many conversations to help shape the platform’s roadmap. The immediate challenge will be immense: integrating the two communities, addressing Thingiverse's long-standing technical issues, and carefully curating a library of millions of unverified designs to align with the 'SoulCrafted' standard.

For the millions of makers, designers, and hobbyists who call Thingiverse home, this acquisition marks a pivotal moment. It represents a potential rebirth for the platform, promising a new era of stability, innovation, and a renewed focus on the human creators who built it. As Kidd stated, the vision is clear. “We want them building what comes next with us.”