Zach Kaplan is co-founder of Inventables, a Chicago company started in 2002 that provides a source of materials to inventors. He’s a supplier and adviser to other Chicago entrepreneurs who build novel things.
“The process of product development, the process of product design is now accessible to anyone with ambition,” he told Blue Sky. “Regardless of age, regardless of background, regardless of how much money you have.”
Kaplan sees sophisticated manufacturing technology, along with new crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, turning the old industrial model on its head. Where once large corporations and retailers determined what was made and what was sold, now smaller manufacturers can both make things on their own and take advantage of online funding and distribution channels, from Etsy to Amazon, to test the market and eventually sell their product, he says.
Prior to Inventables, Kaplan created Lever Works, a custom web application and hosting company that sold to multimedia firm Leo Media in 2001. He has spoken about product development and innovation to audiences at the TED Conference and the Industrial Designers Society of America National Conference.
Kaplan sits on the advisory committee for the Museum of Science and Industry’s Fast Forward Exhibit. He is also a board member at the Tinkering Lab of the Chicago Children’s Museum. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois.
Find him on social: @zkaplan Zach Kaplan Zach Kaplan
Age: 39 •Website: inventables.com
More on Zach Kaplan
At Technori, Inventables CEO calls for wider use of school maker labs – March 30, 2016
Inventables begins shipping Carvey, its 4th desktop carving machine – Dec. 31, 2015
Inventables raises $5 million in Series B funding – Oct. 6, 2015
Inventables targets makers, startups with unveiling of the X-Carve – March 3, 2015
Big ideas for 2014: Power of makers will continue to grow – Dec. 30, 2014
2014: A big year in Chicago for exits, initiatives and Kristi Ross – Dec. 30, 2014
Carvey, Inventables’ desktop carving machine, gets Kickstarted quickly – Oct. 21, 2014
Blue Sky event: 3D printing and ‘the power of the crowd’ – Oct. 7, 2014
Inventables to donate 3D carving machines to libraries in 50 states – May 12, 2014
Search more on Zach Kaplan in Blue Sky
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Zach Kaplan shows objects made with 3D printers on display in their offices.
(Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Jan. 29, 2014)
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Zach Kaplan speaks during Blue Sky’s “How 3D Printing Can revolutionize your business” event at The 3D Printer Experience.
(Andrew A. Nelles / for Blue Sky / Oct. 6, 2014)
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Zach Kaplan shares an idea during a brainstorming session during a “Design Jam” organized by Design House and held at the Teams Design headquarters.
(Alex Garcia / Chicago Tribune / June 26, 2014)
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Zach Kaplan and marketing associate Michael Una, left, demonstrate Shapeoko 2, a new computer-run milling machine at company’s warehouse.
(Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Jan. 29, 2014)