“Launch something.”
That’s the response from Hackspace community director Stephen Murphey when asked what, exactly, one is supposed to do with a “hack space.”
"this isn’t about bricks and mortar. We’re working to create a community of like-minded entrepreneurs. People who want to collaborate, bounce ideas off each other, and share expertise,"
Murphey has a fancier answer ready too, depending on the questioner.
“Hackspace is an open community where users can come together to share resources and knowledge to build new ventures and bring life to their ideas,” he says.
Which sounds nice, but that kind of polished, message pointy language is somewhat at odds with how SkySong’s newest venture came together. Think bootstrapped all the way.
“We started with the room, tables and chairs and the Internet, but we’re building everything else as we go,” Murphey says. “We’re operating as a true startup.”
The biggest thing Murphey is working to build is the community.
“The space is great – and we really do have a great area to work with here – but this isn’t about bricks and mortar. We’re working to create a community of like-minded entrepreneurs. People who want to collaborate, bounce ideas off each other, and share expertise," he says.
“For example, your experience in product could help save me from making a big mistake with my technology and vice versa. That’s the vision.”
The Hackspace community got a boost earlier this month at a launch party attended by more than 60 students, faculty and community entrepreneurs (and even one baby, Alex von Graf, who spent most of the night in a front pack and might be the world’s youngest entrepreneur).
Max Mendoza, co-founder of Entourage Marketing, attended the launch party and spoke about the opportunity he saw.
“Hackspace provides an alternative to working from home or a computer lab, but the vibe is not your ordinary office environment,” Mendoza says. “It fits the SkySong mantra of being a center of innovation.”
“The innovator-in-residence program is a great opportunity to give back to the entrepreneurial community in Phoenix,”Mendoza is on tap to be an “innovator in residence” at Hackspace, once that program officially starts. Murphey says idea is to have an experienced entrepreneur in the room as often as possible. These individuals would be available for students to ask questions and figure out the thorny issues that come with launching a startup business or nonprofit.
ASU has also reached out to the local startup community to provide guidance and advice.
“The innovator-in-residence program is a great opportunity to give back to the entrepreneurial community in Phoenix,” Curtis Miller, co-founder of Flatterline, says. “I look forward to providing mentoring and assistance to ASU students interested in pursuing their own ventures.”
“The IIRs have done this before,” says Murphey. “We really think they’re going to be a great resource for ASU students working here.”
Hackspace is open to ASU students and community entrepreneurs from 12 - 5p.m. every weekday, with “Hacknights” on Thursdays that extend the hours from 6 - 9p.m. Find out more at http://hackspace.skysong.asu.edu/
