🚀 Kickstarter · Kickstarter 2014 · 2014

Foldscope

Origami paper microscope you assemble yourself

Founder: Manu Prakash Category: Education

Successfully funded ($400K+) — grew into a global education platform

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About Foldscope

A Foldscope is an optical microscope that can be assembled from simple components, including a sheet of paper and a lens. It was created by Manu Prakash and designed to cost less than one USD to build. It is a part of the "frugal science" movement which aims to make cheap and easy tools available for scientific use in the developing world.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

The Story

An ultra-low-cost microscope you fold from a printed sheet of paper plus a tiny lens. Magnifies up to ~140x.

The Pitch on Kickstarter

Foldscope appeared on Kickstarter (Kickstarter 2014) in 2014. Manu Prakash pitched the product to the audience. Successfully funded ($400K+) — grew into a global education platform.

Where they are now: Funded and shipped. Now used in classrooms and field labs worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Foldscope still in business?

Funded and shipped. Now used in classrooms and field labs worldwide.

Who founded Foldscope?

Foldscope was founded by Manu Prakash.

Did Foldscope get a deal on Kickstarter?

Yes — Successfully funded ($400K+) — grew into a global education platform.

Where can I buy Foldscope?

Foldscope is available on Amazon and eBay. We compare current prices across both at our /results page — link below.

Related from Kickstarter

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