Local · Makers · Real Projects

Startershive connects people who build things with the projects worth building.

Building a skateboard, a sail yacht, a resin lamp, or a custom controller? Find the person with the skill or tool to make it real.

Bringing the project

Building something? Find the skill, the tool, or the person you're missing.

Post the project and what's keeping it stuck. Someone nearby has exactly the piece you're missing.

Post a project
Post a project ~ 5 MIN
Bringing the skills

Got skills, tools, or time to put into something real?

PCB designers, woodworkers, fabricators, CNC operators, firmware developers, leatherworkers, 3D printing specialists: if you build things with your hands or your code, you belong here. Find a project nearby, or let them find you.

Browse profiles ~ 5 MIN

Projects like these

I'm building an electric skateboard with a custom motor controller.

Brushless motor, custom BMS, and wireless throttle built from the ground up.

I'm automating a hydroponics setup and need help finishing the controller.

Microcontroller managing pH, EC, temp, and automated dosing for a grow rack.

I'm off-grid and need a solar charge monitor sorted.

MPPT charge logging and battery analytics for a remote cabin solar setup.

I'm refitting a sail yacht and need custom fittings made.

One-off stainless and carbon deck hardware for a full cruiser refit.

I'm casting a resin lamp with an embedded LED controller.

Epoxy pour with integrated PWM dimmer and wireless dimming control.

I'm building a kinetic sculpture and need the servo control figured out.

Multi-axis moving sculpture that responds to sound and ambient light.

I'm logging tide and swell for my local surf spot.

Low-power sensor buoy with LoRa uplink and a live web dashboard.

I'm motorising a telescope mount with GPS tracking.

Alt-az goto mount with star-alignment firmware and sky-object tracking.

These are illustrative. The real ones are posted by people like you.

How it actually works: four moves

01 Specimen
Project title
PCB designer for IoT hydroponics
KiCad ESP32 +1

Post or profile

Describe what you're building, or what you can build. Five fields. No fluff.

02 Specimen
TM
T. Mokoena
Observatory · 7 yr
PCB STM32

Browse

Filter by skill, location, and availability. Read short bios and see what each person has built.

03 Specimen
SD
Saw your post. I've done a few ESP32 boards. Want to chat?
Yes, Thursday 4pm?

Reach out

Message someone whose work fits. We don't sit in the middle. No bidding, no rates, no fees.

04 Specimen
TM
SD
Building together
off-platform · agreed terms

Build together

Agree on terms between yourselves. Equity, hourly, swap-skills, whatever fits. We're out of the way.

Recently joined

All people
WV
Wayne van der Merwe
Other Western Cape
Vibe coder (Claude and Gemini) Advanced excel +2
Available
EV
Estelle van den Heever
Cape Town Metro
Genetics Biotechnology
Open to approaches
LV
Louis van den Heever
Other Western Cape
Sculpting Painting +1
Open to approaches
H
Hendrik
Cape Town Metro
Electronics Process Control +1
Open to approaches

Recently posted

All projects
#3 · 4 weeks Open
Screen-Free Audio Platform for South African Children
Product/UX Designer Full-Stack Developer
#2 · 1 month Open
Silicone nightlamp with weather indication
silicone casting mold making
For project starters

Post your project

Describe what you're building and the skill or tool you need. Someone nearby will find it.

Post a project
For skill contributors

Put your skills on the map

Create a profile, set your availability, and let the right projects find you.

Create a profile