Buffalo-based STEM startup Thimble at $100K and counting in crowdfunding campaign

Call it a full circle moment.

A Buffalo-based startup that launched with a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2016 is back at it.

Thimble initially raised nearly $300,000, well beyond its $25,000 goal, on Kickstarter.

This time, the developer of STEM maker kits has taken to Republic, a popular platform that lets people take an equity stake in startups (Kickstarter campaigns are usually structured around pre-sales or marketing initiatives). Thimble raised more than $100,000 in its first week and is hoping to reach $1 million within the four-month campaign.

The cash will support Thimble’s emerging stake in the K-12 education market. After years of exploring the best market fit for its kits, Thimble is now working with 16 school districts across the U.S. and seeing interest that could see that number grow quickly.

“We’ve been able to prove ourselves with our work in schools surrounding Buffalo,” Pedroso said. “We think we’ve found our niche.”

The money will help Thimble grow its team. Pedroso added a sales rep in August and wants to hire more to take advantage of untapped potential in the market. Thimble is also looking to hire customer success personnel that support existing clients. The startup not only sells kits to districts but also software licenses and professional training for teachers.

Thimble is also still running its direct-to-consumer model. The company has four full-time employees working out of its headquarters and production space on Great Arrow Drive.

Pedroso said the crowdfunding campaign is on schedule toward its eventual goal

“This closes the loop on our whole crowdfunding journey,” Pedroso said. “It’s a great way to come full circle and it spreads the awareness of what we’re trying to create.”

Thimble is among 28 local companies to acknowledge growth-oriented financing this year. The others include Jerry ($103 million), Squire ($60 million), Centivo ($51 million), Tackle.io ($35 million), Torch Labs ($25 million), CleanFiber ($11.9 million), Circuit Clinical ($7.5 million), Kangarootime ($6 million), SomaDetect ($6 million), Kickfurther ($5.9 million), HELIXintel ($1.6 million), Joblio ($4 million), Verivend ($2.5 million) Ognomy ($1.37 million), Patient Pattern ($1.2 million), Ellicottville Greens ($1 million), Immersed Games ($540,000), Braid Babes ($415,000), MemoryFox ($380,000), Zizo Technologies ($200,000), AirExpert ($100,000), Immunaeon ($100,000), Oro Sports ($100,000), Real Talk ($100,000), Alo ($100,000), HiOperator (undisclosed) and Classavo (undisclosed).