Innovation Factory launches Factory Floor

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.