Challenge Closed

Deadline: Jun 9, 2026 10:30 AM EDT

Total Entries: 59

Pico Builders Challenge

One tiny chip. Infinite printable builds. Design and upload a printable Thing built around a Raspberry Pi Pico (any variant). You can use the actual hardware or design purely from the official CAD files. Cases, mounts, enclosures, functional tools, IoT gadgets, weather stations, home sensors, desk toys, robots, music makers, weird peripherals. Include STLs, a BOM, and assembly notes so the next maker can fork it. Tag your upload with #PicoBuilders so it appears in the challenge.

Prizes

A podium worth building for. Hardware bundles direct from Raspberry Pi. Homepage features on Thingiverse. A slot in The Build newsletter (75K makers).


  • 1st Place: The Ultimate Pi Kit
    • $500 cash
    • 8 GB Raspberry Pi 5 kit
    • Raspberry Pi Touch Display
    • Raspberry Pi Zero 2W
    • Raspberry Pi Camera Module
    • Book of Making 2026
    • Raspberry Pi Handbook 2026
    • Thingiverse hero banner + Raspberry Pi blog post
  • 2nd Place: Pi 5 Bundle
    • $250 cash
    • Raspberry Pi 5
    • Raspberry Pi Touch Display
    • Raspberry Pi Zero 2W
    • Raspberry Pi Camera Module
    • Book of Making 2026
    • Raspberry Pi Handbook 2026
  • 3rd Place: Pico Creator Pack
    • $100 cash
    • Raspberry Pi Zero 2W
    • Raspberry Pi Camera Module
    • Book of Making 2026
    • Raspberry Pi Handbook 2026

    10 Honourable Mentions: Ten more standout entries each receive a Raspberry Pi Pico kit, plus a feature in The Build newsletter.

    Winners will be contacted by a Thingiverse moderator via email. All prize decisions are final.

    How to Enter

    Four steps from idea to upload.

    1. Pick your Pico: Any board in the family is fair game. Pico, Pico W, Pico 2, Pico 2 W. Headers optional.
    2. Build it: Design, print, wire, photograph. Document the wiring and any firmware so makers can fork it.
    3. Upload to Thingiverse: Include STLs, BOM, code, wiring notes. You must tag your Thing with #PicoBuilders or it won't appear in the challenge.
    4. Win the thing: Judged by a panel from Thingiverse and Raspberry Pi. Hardware, homepage features, blog coverage.
    *Make sure you have an active Thingiverse account. If you're creating a new account to participate, please note that it may take up to 24 hours before you can upload your design.

    Official Rules

    GENERAL: Take Flight Challenge (the “Contest”) asks designers to submit a creative design. Before entering the Contest, each Contestant (as defined below) must review and be bound by these official Contest rules (“Official Rules”) as set out below. By entering the Contest, Contestants accept and agree to be bound by these Official Rules.

    CONTEST PERIOD: The Contest will begin on Tuesday, 28/04/2026 at 6:00 AM CEST and end on Tuesday, 09/06/2026 at 5:00 PM CEST (the “Contest Period”). All entries must be received no later than Tuesday, 09/06/2026 at 5:00 PM CEST

    SPONSOR: The Contest is sponsored by Thingiverse (the “Sponsor”), and is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with any social media website or platform, including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. All communications with respect to the Contest should be directed to the Sponsor at the foregoing address or to [email protected].

    WHO MAY ENTER CONTEST: The Contest is open to natural persons 13 years of age and over (15 and over for residents of Norway and 18 and over for residents of Germany) at the time of entry (“Contestant” or “You”) who have an account on thingiverse.com (“Sponsor Account”). Contestants under 18 years of age must obtain written consent from a parent or legal guardian in order to be eligible to enter this Contest and receive any prizes. Please see the “ACKNOWLEDGMENT” section in these Official Rules for details. The Contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Contestants are subject to all notices posted online, including but not limited to, Sponsor’s Terms of Use. Sponsor reserves the right to verify your eligibility. You agree to provide Sponsor with any proof of eligibility requested by Sponsor and your refusal or failure to timely provide such proof may result in your disqualification from the Contest. Anyone participating in the Contest or claiming a prize in the Contest in violation of these Official Rules will be disqualified.

    WHO MAY NOT ENTER CONTEST: The following categories of persons are NOT eligible to enter the Contest or win a prize: (a) Employees and their immediate families (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) or those living in the same household (whether or not related) of Sponsor, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, prize suppliers, distributors and advertising and promotion agencies (collectively, “Contest Parties”).

    CONTEST ENTRY (HOW TO ENTER): You must upload your submission, including at least one STL, at least one photograph of a completed print, and any supporting documentation) to your Thingiverse account using the Contest hashtag. Any automated computer receipt (such as one confirming delivery of entry) does not constitute proof of actual receipt by Sponsor for purposes of these Official Rules. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry for any reason, in its sole and absolute discretion. Duplicate entries will not be considered. No purchase is necessary to enter the Contest. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Normal Internet access and usage charges imposed by your web service will apply.

    SELECTION OF WINNERS: A panel of Sponsor’s employees will select the winning entries based on creativity, quality, and printability of the designs submitted. In all cases, Sponsor’s decision is final and binding. The winners will be selected at the end of the Contest Period. Winners will be announced at Thingiverse Challenges. Winners will be contacted by one of the moderators in the Thingiverse team over email.

    PRIZE(S):

    Full list of prizes can be found at Pico Builders Challenge.

    Winners are solely responsible for all expenses, costs or fees associated with acceptance and/or use of the prize, including without limitation, all taxes (if any). A winner is not a recipient of a prize until Sponsor has verified him or her as a winner. Sponsor will be deemed to have awarded the prize to a winner after it has been formally transferred and such winner will then assume full responsibility for the prize(s). All prize selections are at Sponsor’s sole discretion and Sponsor reserves, at its sole discretion, the right to award no prizes if no participants complete the Contest according to these Official Rules.

    In order to comply with any delivery or other requirements to fulfil the provision of prizes won, Sponsor may share your name and address with third parties.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: By entering in this Contest:

    (a) You agree and accept these Official Rules.

    (b) You represent and warrant that your entries are your own creative work, that you own all rights in your entries, that your entries do not violate any applicable laws, and that your entries do not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity, or other intellectual property or other rights of any person. You assume all responsibilities and consequences if submission is found to be otherwise. Sponsor will not be held responsible if legal action results from public exhibition.

    (c) You represent and warrant that all the information you provide about yourself while registering or in subsequent communications with Sponsor are truthful and accurate.

    (d) You acknowledge that Sponsor may use 3D-printed prints of the winning design for promotional and commercial purposes, including, but not limited to, events, marketing material, retail store displays, and use by distributors and resellers of products of Sponsor.

    (e) You waive any right to inspect or approve finished photographs, audio, video, multimedia, or advertising recordings and copy or printed matter or computer generated scanned image and other electronic media that may be used in conjunction therewith or to approve the eventual use that it might be applied.