MFG.com is an online marketplace

Marketplace

A marketplace is the space, actual, virtual or metaphorical, in which a market operates. The term is also used in a trademark law context to denote the actual consumer environment, ie. the 'real world' in which products and services are provided and consumed.-Marketplaces and street markets:A...

 for manufacturers. The company reportedly has more than 200,000 members around the world. Members include buyers, engineers, purchasing professionals, job shops and contract manufacturers. Its headquarters are in Atlanta and the company also has offices in Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

 and Shanghai

Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...

.

MFG.com is privately owned by Mitch Free, Founder and CEO, Bezos Expeditions and Fidelity Ventures

Fidelity Ventures

Fidelity Ventures is the venture capital arm of Fidelity Investments. Based in Boston, Massachusetts and London, Fidelity Ventures invests in emerging technology companies in North America and Europe. Their focus is on the go-to-market stage, where companies have products and early customer...

. The company currently employs 175 people worldwide.

History

MFG.com was founded by Mitch Free in 1999 with the first site transaction taking place on February 14, 2000. Free, a former machinist, was a CAD/CAM dealer at the time and he started the business for his customers. Free bootstrapped the entire venture and gradually acquired and retained customers growing the company to a profitable business. In 2005, Free accepted an investment from Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos

Jeffrey Preston "Jeff" Bezos is the founder, president, chief executive officer , and chairman of the board of Amazon.com.-Early life and background:...

 of Bezos Expeditions. In June of 2006, MFG.com acquired Geneva based SourcingParts.com and in October 2006, the company opened its second largest office in Shanghai. In 2007, Fidelity Ventures invested in the company.Mitch Free still serves as the CEO of the company with members of Bezos Expeditions and Fidelity Ventures sitting on the board.

MFG.com was named by Business 2.0 as one of the 15 companies that will change the world in 2006.

Buyers and Engineers

Buyers use MFG.com for free. Buyers, engineers

Engineer

An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...

 and purchasing professionals upload their RFQs

Request for Quotation

A request for quotation is a standard business process whose purpose is to invite suppliers into a bidding process to bid on specific products or services. RFQ, generally means the same thing as IFB ....

 online and are connected with suppliers that meet their qualifications. “Buyers” have the ability to connect with job shops and contract manufacturers based on geographic location, certifications or capabilities. Buyers can also have job shops and contract manufacturers sign electronic NDA

Non-disclosure agreement

A non-disclosure agreement , also known as a confidentiality agreement , confidential disclosure agreement , proprietary information agreement , or secrecy agreement, is a legal contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties...

 forms.

Job Shops and Contract Manufacturers

Job Shops, machine shops and contract manufacturers pay an annual subscription fee to use MFG.com. These individuals have full access to RFQs being sourced by members of the purchasing community.