Making It in Massachusett s And what does that have to do with South Florida?
Dec 18, 2015
Making It in Massachusetts
And what does that have to do with South Florida?
Who is Matt Trask? And why is he telling me about this?
Who is Matt Trask? And why is he telling me about this?
What is a Makerspace?
Workshop–centered coworking
Focus on hardware side of hackerspaces
Design-Oriented Innovation: at the nexus of engineering, technology and art
Primarily structured as a master lessee, with user members
Most are not-for-profit collectives, a few are for-profit or public/private partnerships
What is a Makerspace?
Enabled by: programmable prototyping tools (e.g. Arduino), 3-D printers (e.g. Makerbot), laser cutters, crowdfunding (e.g. Kickstarter), the internet, DIY, Lego’s modularity, open source software solutions
Influenced by: robotics, hackers, artists, set designers, innovation competitions, electronic component salvage, welding, lock picking, sewing, Burning Man devotees, craftsmen, custom bicycles, TED talks, Singularity
What is the Purpose of a Makerspace?
Creative stimulation
Collaboration
Encouragement
Friendly competition
Driven by Open-Sourced information from the Internet, interdisciplinary collaboration
“A new level of organization and facilities”
Where do Makerspaces Form?
Depends on the location of individual Founders
Where there is a potential pool of members
What Makes a Makerspace?
Shared facilities and services such as whiteboards, couches, coffee bars
But the Defining Component is the Workshop!
CNC Machines, Laser Cutters, 3D Printers, Welding Equipment, Mechanical and Electronic Tools
How do Makerspaces form?
A small diverse group of founders meeting informally
Meetup.org
1. Landlord-funded makerspaces
2. Corporate model, like a healthclub, such as Tech Shop
3. Community/corporate sponsorship
Stages of Makerspace Development
Early Stage
Growth Stage
Mature Stage
Stages of Makerspace Development
Early Stage: Founders draw in their friends, meetings are held to plan a facility, operating model is devised
What type of Making?
Membership model?
Onsite classes?
Individual vs. shared workspace?
Stages of Makerspace Development
Early Stage:
Where to locate?
How to equip?
How to prioritize and make decisions?
What legal structure?
Budgeting?
Membership fee structure?
Insurance?
Membership requirements?
Stages of Makerspace Development
Early Stage:
South Coast Innovator Labs (SCIL)
The Collaborative/Gateway Consulting
BOLT, Boston
The Geek Group of Western MA
Xylem, Somerville
T.E.S.L.A./WAG, Worcester
Haverhill Hardware Horizons Competition (H3C)
Stages of Makerspace Development
Growth Stage:
Grows roots
Stabilizes identity, location, and member base
Establish facilities
Establish educational and social events
Stages of Makerspace Development
Growth Stage:
“Makerspaces serve as workplace, clubhouse, social hub, and training center. The more functions the space serves, the more attractive it is to the community, and the more the community bonds to it. In some cases, members actually move nearer to these locations.”
Stages of Makerspace Development
Growth Stage:
Necessary systems such as billing, accounting, website development, member database management, payroll for staff and instructors
Stages of Makerspace DevelopmentGrowth Stage:
Educational components (sample from Artisan’s Asylum)
Saturday, September 29 9:00am Crash Course: Programming-CEMI Electronic Media Institute 12:00pm Basic Machine Tools Training 12:00pm Metal Lathe Testing 2:00pm Manual Milling Machine Testing 3:00pm What the Fluff? Festival! 3:00pm Basic Metalworking Machine Tools 4:00pm CNC Mill Testing 7:00pm CEMI Weekly Jam
Sunday, September 30 12:00pm Public Robotics Lab Office Hours 1:00pm Organic Modeling in Blender 2:00pm Oxy-Acetylene Tool Training 2:30pm CNC Mill Tool Training 4:00pm 3D Printer Tool Training
Monday, October 1 7:00pm Bicycle Maintenance II 7:00pm Lathe: Intro to Woodturning
Stages of Makerspace Development
Growth Stage:
Industry Lab, Cambridge
Artisan’s Asylum, Somerville
Stages of Makerspace Development
Growth Stage:
Landlord-initiated offers of space to lease
Incubator Area
Accelerator programs
Begun generating profitable businesses
Stages of Makerspace Development
Mature Stage:
When and how to grow
Spin-off companies
Leadership succession
Replicate in new locations
Stages of Makerspace Development
Mature Stage:
Fab Lab
South End Technology Center (SETC)
Mobile Lab, Roxbury
Economic Development Potential
Job Creation Facility Staff Startups/Tenant companies
Capital Attraction Venture Funding Kickstarter. IndieGogo, etc.
Grant Potential DARPA National Science Foundation Foundations Workforce Development Funding SBIR Grants
Conclusions/Recommendations
Tying all this to South Florida
“a Makerspace about every twenty miles”
Palm Beach L.E.D., Jupiter
NoBo, Boynton Beach
Hack Delray/Startup Delray, Delray Beach
Caffeine Spaces, Boca Raton
The Learned Nerd, Deerfield Beach
Maker Square, Ft, Lauderdale
The Lab, Miami
Reference
This White Paper:
http://ampitupma.com/pdf/makerspacesreport_april2013.pdf
Make Magazine – www.makezine.com
Makers: The New Industrial Revolution, by Chris Anderson – www.amazon.com
Thank you!
www.MattTrask.Com
www.NeedFirmware.Com
www.TechFoundery.Com