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Innovation Factory launches Factory Floor

May 2, 2012 in Industry, Innovation Factory

The great folks at Innovation Factory in partnership with the Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation have got a new initiative called Factory Floor that I think you should know about. Factory Floor is a co-creation space located in The Don Pether Business Incubation Centre, the collaborative space is based on a clubhouse model where Innovation Factory clients can reserve “hot desks” daily, weekly, or just occasionally. Start-up entrepreneurs and business professionals alike are being encouraged to take advantage of the space to work, share, and innovate together. The space joins a growing number of venues in Hamilton with shared working space including Cobalt Spaces, Mohawk College’s iDeaWORKS and Joe Accardi’s Platform 302.

At last weekend’s Startup Weekend Hamilton event in the Mohawk College Collaboratory one thing just about everybody commented on was the “buzz” or the “vibe” in the room. Participants were actively collaborating, not just with themselves, but across teams as well. I saw participants filling out other team’s market research surveys, giving each other’s products “a quick once over” for feedback, discussing strategy, and generally helping each other try to build better startups. I know one local Hamilton entrepreneur who wasn’t actually participating in Startup Weekend but instead volunteering at the event, who ended up staying all night on Saturday just because he found the atmosphere so helpful to getting his own work done! So I’m really glad to see that Hamilton now has a new initiative aimed at creating a collaborative atmosphere for startups to work in every day of the year… it can be a difference maker.

From the website:

Innovation Factory is totally jazzed to introduce a new initiative to Hamilton’s Innovation Community – Factory Floor, a co-creation space for innovators to work, collaborate, and grow together! Beginning May 1st, Factory Floor will be open daily from 8:00am – 4:00pm, with optional 24/7 access for full-time users. It will operate out of McMaster’s Don Pether Business Incubation Centre in collaboration with the Xerox Centre on the third floor at McMaster Innovation Park. Factory Floor offers free coffee, copying and collaborating with 16 unique seats and meeting room availability. Space is limited so make your reservation today!

Pricing details:

HOTDESKS
$60/month
- Entitles you to 8 full days (8am-4pm) throughout the month
- Includes 4 hours free meeting room space
- Seats must be pre-booked and are subject to availability

FULL-TIME
$150/month
- Entitles you to 24/7 accessthroughout the month
- Includes 10 hours freemeeting room space
- Your seat is guaranteed

Tour details:

Clubhouse? Co-creating? Hotdesking? What does it all mean?
Join us Wednesday afternoons throughout May for an OPEN HOUSE at FACTORY FLOOR. Chat with our clubhouse coordinator, Leah, and check out the space! See what Innovation Factory and McMaster Innovation Park might have to offer you and your growing business!
We’re serving treats and bevys between 1pm and 3pm May 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 in suite 304. Contact Leah to arrange another time.

 

 

  • http://abdallahalhakim.tumblr.com/ Abdallah Al-Hakim

    great news and initiative taken by innovation factory and XCEEI. It will be great for the XCEEI students to get more involved with such projects. Very similar in concept to the social innovation initiative in Toronto http://socialinnovation.ca/space/csispadina which has proven to be very popular with local community

    • http://twitter.com/hamiltonkb Kevin Browne

      Cool. I had heard of the social innovation centre in Toronto but I had never seen pictures of it, it looks great.  There’s actually a bunch of businesses moving from Toronto to Hamilton lately:  http://www.thespec.com/news/business/article/715798–headquarters-hamilton  Hopefully the Factory Floor helps to push along that trend.  ;-)

      • http://abdallahalhakim.tumblr.com/ Abdallah Al-Hakim

        If the city of Hamilton can get its act together then you could potentially see lots of entrepreneurs moving to Hamilton. One simple reason is the cost of living. Another would be the proximity to Waterloo which in my opinion where the real action is happening on business development front. But first, Hamilton needs to become a more desirable place to live for young people. I think the innovation factory is a step in the right direction.

        • http://twitter.com/hamiltonkb Kevin Browne

          I think Hamilton already has become a desirable place to live for young people.  Between the Art Crawl and Super Crawl, H24 film festival, fringe festival, and the awesome music scene, it’s getting tough to beat Hamilton for “desirable to live for young people”.  

          Right now I’m in a new coffee shop called Radius on the corner of Augusta and James South, one of several that’s opened on James Street in the last couple months, and it’s a 30 *second* walk from a whole row of great bars and restaurants with patios, and the Go Station that can get you into the GTA:

          http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Augusta+and+James+South+Hamilton,+Ontario&hl=en&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=41.746476,90.527344&hnear=James+St+S+%26+Augusta+St,+Hamilton,+Hamilton+Division,+Ontario+L8P+3A2&t=m&z=16

          The place even has meeting and office space upstairs that’s perfect for startups too!  Nice new condos are popping up along Locke, James South, the North End, etc.  It’s a great time to be in Hamilton!

          • http://abdallahalhakim.tumblr.com/ Abdallah Al-Hakim

            Kevin,

            those place sound great and I hope you are right about Hamilton. I should mention that I am Hamiltonian myself but currently reside in Toronto. I am big believer in the city’s potential and advocate for it amongst many of my Toronto’s friends. The problem is that the city does have an ‘image’ problem which will take time to change. I do visit Hamilton frequently but usually end up on the mountain where my parents live. I have been to the innovation factory several times and have heard about art crawl and other events in the city. I think next time I am in town, I will make an effort to spend more time downtown. I am optimistic about the future!!

          • http://twitter.com/hamiltonkb Kevin Browne

            I definitely agree that we still have an image problem, and that it will take time to change.  I’m glad to hear that you advocate for it with your Toronto friends.  :-)  If you’re ever by Hamilton this summer and want to take in an art crawl just drop me a line, they happen every 2nd Friday of the month.

          • http://abdallahalhakim.tumblr.com/ Abdallah Al-Hakim

            I might take you up on that. Actually I heard few days ago that a friend of mine, Jason Potter, is participating in the art crawl with a photography exhibit so I might come and check it out. Thanks for the offer

  • http://www.getsnappay.com/ Jim Rudnick

    Thanks so much Kevin for your lead on this story….and as you know, Snappay is the first official “tenant” in the new Factory Floor incubator at the MIPs Centre….and we’re proud to be there as well! So….a challenge to other startups….drop by any Wednesday in May to look over the premises and then sign up for a desk…hey, the one beside us is empty – you in? :-)