Katz-Moses
Specialty woodworking tools, jigs, and educational content.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
* | $2.0m | Growth Equity non VC | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Katz-Moses (KM Tools) is a tool development, e-commerce, and media company catering to the woodworking community. It manufactures and sells its own line of branded woodworking tools, jigs, and accessories, alongside distributing products from other brands like 3M, CMT Orange Tools, and Suizan. Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer sales via its Shopify-powered website, which features over 400 SKUs. The business model integrates content and commerce, leveraging a popular YouTube channel with over 590,000 subscribers to market its products and build a loyal community.
The company was founded by Jonathan Katz-Moses, who began his woodworking journey in 2014. His path started after a near-death experience in 2010 which prompted him to leave his construction business to pursue his passion for making things. Frustrated with the poor quality of many woodworking tools on the market, he began creating his own solutions, starting with the Katz-Moses Magnetic Dovetail Jig. After sharing a video of the jig on YouTube, he sold 27 units in one day, validating his creator-driven business model. The company's growth is fueled by this cycle: identifying gaps in the market based on audience feedback, developing a tool, and promoting it through educational content.
Based in Goleta, California, the company operates a sophisticated production facility with multiple CNC routers and laser cutters to manufacture its in-house products. This infrastructure also allows KM Tools to partner with other content creators, helping them bring their product ideas to market by handling manufacturing and fulfillment. In 2025, the company received a $2 million seed investment from Slow Ventures' Creator Fund to accelerate product development and team expansion. A key part of the company's ethos is its philanthropic arm, the Katz-Moses Woodworkers with Disabilities Fund, which receives a percentage of sales to support makers facing physical and mental disabilities.
Keywords: woodworking tools, specialty tools, e-commerce, content creator, tool development, YouTube, woodworking jigs, Shopify, direct-to-consumer, educational content, inventor, joinery tools, dovetail jig, stop block, maker community, CNC manufacturing, digital plans, woodworking accessories, craft supplies, creator economy