Well, I guess it's a good thing?!?

Oh My Gosh!

So, this phrase is oft overused in our sea of texts and emails.  But in this case, it is totally appropriate.

In the last two weeks we have located a very sweet space, worked on a business plan, signed up for a 2.5 day entrepreneur class at Baylor and had a request for a potential floor plan.  And we celebrated like Dr Woody on Psych when we got verified on Google+.  Who knew that this would be an accomplishment! Also, we currently have a secret agent on deployment scouting out potential interest on Baylor Campus.  It will be fun to get another's input on the parameter and scope of a project like this.  I hear I owe her a glass of wine :)

But enough fun.  We have a few harrowing weeks ahead.  "Why?" you may ask.  Well, we feel a pressing need to get things on paper for potential business partners because they are starting to ask more specific business (financial) questions.  This pressure is good.  But I am constantly reminded of our basic premiss, things always get better when done collaboratively.  And as such, we feel more pressure than ever to start up a meetup or interest meeting with others who may be interested in creating a club that could form the "consultation committee" for the more basic questions.  What equipment should we start with?  What classes should we offer at the start?  How should we market ourselves and to whom?  What layout would best meet our market needs (we're aiming for a 5000 sq ft facility).  And what would be fairly priced membership tiers.

These are the most pressing topics at hand.  I mean, once you get past the ever-pressing topic of funding.  So if you have any answers, we certainly have our ears open.  Right now I am working on a Business plan and trying to incorporate an economic outlook report published by Hankamer in 2013.  In general, it encourages me.  Though, I am one of the unemployed so maybe I shouldn't be.  Not sure yet, but life goes on!

So what is a makerspace?  That is what most people ask when Rick and I talk about this business venture.  Well, it means a lot of things to a lot of people.  But the fact is, the idea of makerspace is exploding around the nation.   Milwaukee Maker Space put it well: We aim to foster a community of makers by providing an environment in terms of people, equipment and space that supports the creative process and personal growth. Modern software, the Internet and economies of scale have all come together to allow ordinary people with a little bit of know-how to begin blurring the lines between manufacturer and consumer. With some effort and the help of a growing community of makers it is possible for a lone individual to make things of amazing quality and functionality.  We envision a space that brings together a community of DIY people with wonderful fabrication equipment in a way that supports collaboration, creativity, ingenuity and personal development. Our long-term goal is to have a top-rated fabrication lab, community classes and individual pods that support startups and small-businesses.  Our hope is to build out this lab that is accessible to those in higher education, individual innovators and community youth groups (like 4-H and Scouts), but focused on the maker community in Waco.  For a better look at what this means practically, take a view of Artisans Asylum, ATX Hackerspace or Maker Works.  Then, dream with us as we think about how amazing this would be in Waco, Texas.