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Digital maker-entrepreneurs in open design: What activities make up their business model?

Author

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  • Troxler, Peter
  • Wolf, Patricia

Abstract

The business models of digital maker-entrepreneurs in open design are inextricably linked to the broader open design community. Digital makers share designs on online platforms such as Thingiverse and use digital manufacturing technology such as 3-D printing as a generative mechanism for their entrepreneurial activities. There is a general understanding of how sharing works in that community and the basic design parameters that determine the business models of these digital maker-entrepreneurs, which are based on a portfolio of activities. This study is based on in-depth interviews with 11 digital maker-entrepreneurs from the open design community. We investigate the activities that constitute their business models using activity theory as a lens with which better to understand them. This study provides a perspective on the complexity of the relationships in which these activities are embedded and analyzes the activities related to the production, distribution, and consumption of value. Finally, we examine the exchanges between digital maker-entrepreneurs in the community, shedding light on how digital maker-entrepreneurs share and exchange goods, services, and knowledge as peers.

Suggested Citation

  • Troxler, Peter & Wolf, Patricia, 2017. "Digital maker-entrepreneurs in open design: What activities make up their business model?," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 60(6), pages 807-817.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bushor:v:60:y:2017:i:6:p:807-817
    DOI: 10.1016/j.bushor.2017.07.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Erickson, Kristofer, 2018. "Can creative firms thrive without copyright? Value generation and capture from private-collective innovation," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 61(5), pages 699-709.
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    4. Mady, Khalid & Anwar, Imran & Aboelmaged, Mohamed & Sulub, Mohamed Ahmed, 2025. "Digital entrepreneurial platform capability: Instrument development and validation, and its impact on entrepreneurial performance," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    5. Joern Block & Christian Brandstetter & Michael A. Zaggl, 2025. "Maker motives and entrepreneurial opportunity evaluation in academic makerspaces," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 65(2), pages 973-993, August.
    6. Elia, Gianluca & Margherita, Alessandro & Passiante, Giuseppina, 2020. "Digital entrepreneurship ecosystem: How digital technologies and collective intelligence are reshaping the entrepreneurial process," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    7. Tabarés, Raúl & Kuittinen, Hanna, 2020. "A tale of two innovation cultures: Bridging the gap between makers and manufacturers," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    8. Bhattacharyya, Jagriti & Subrahmanya, M.H. Bala, 2024. "Determinants of a digital start-up's access to VC financing in India: A signaling theory perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
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    10. Ram Subramaniam & Murali Sambasivan, 2025. "Analyzing the role of digital/non-digital technology entrepreneur typology in external factors’ influence on venture launch decisions," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.
    11. Mulhuijzen, Max & de Jong, Jeroen P.J., 2025. "The household sector innovation ecosystem: A framework and policy implications," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    12. Miao, Yumeng & Du, Rong & Ou, Carol, 2022. "Guanxi circles and light entrepreneurship in social commerce : The roles of mass entrepreneurship climate and technology affordances," Other publications TiSEM f19a203f-abb6-4835-9c34-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    13. María Jesús Ávila-Gutiérrez & Alejandro Martín-Gómez & Francisco Aguayo-González & Juan Ramón Lama-Ruiz, 2020. "Eco-Holonic 4.0 Circular Business Model to Conceptualize Sustainable Value Chain towards Digital Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-32, March.
    14. Wolf, Patricia & Klotz, Ute & Gaudenz, Urs, 2020. "Mitbestimmung von Mitarbeitenden aus DIY-Communities," Study / edition der Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Düsseldorf, volume 127, number 438.
    15. Thierry Rayna & Ludmila Striukova, 2021. "Assessing the effect of 3D printing technologies on entrepreneurship [Évaluer l'effet des technologies d'impression 3D sur l'entrepreneuriat]," Post-Print hal-04096075, HAL.
    16. Hanna Saari & Maria Åkerman & Barbara Kieslinger & Jouko Myllyoja & Regina Sipos, 2021. "How Open Is the Maker Movement? Integrative Literature Review of the Openness Practices in the Global Maker Movement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-20, December.
    17. Jérémy Bonvoisin & Robert Mies & Jean-François Boujut, 2021. "Seven observations and research questions about Open Design and Open Source Hardware," Post-Print hal-03395460, HAL.
    18. Vladimiras Dolgopolovas & Valentina Dagiene, 2021. "On the Future of Computational Thinking Education: Moving beyond the Digital Agenda, a Discourse Analysis Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-21, December.
    19. Umair Baig & Batool Muhammad Hussain & Ieva Meidute-Kavaliauskiene & Sigitas Davidavicius, 2022. "RETRACTED: Digital Entrepreneurship: Future Research Directions and Opportunities for New Business Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, April.
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