Philly Brain Space

Philadelphia is a city in search of a technology haven. It has history, business, the Mint, and its share of entrepreneurs, but somehow it gets overlooked when it comes to technology.

How can that be changed? Hackerspaces have come and gone in the city of brotherly love, and even though some of them are still around (The Hacktory, Hive76), they are … quiet.


Besides, a hackerspace is a great place to party, hold a class, or solder up a new arduino to mix drinks.  It's not so great a place to monetize a product, figure out if what you have is actually a salable product, or do some “Work from home” while not at home.

So what's the difference between Co-working and Hackerspaces?

• Hackerspaces are technology oriented, with space to solder or weld or fabricate a project or component. They range from fully equipped machine shops, to vaguely empty space with tables for people to work on. 3D printing and fabricating is common at many of them.
• Co-Working spaces are places for people to work. Whether a rented office, or a hot/hotel desk, where you can get some time to yourself. It also means “co-working”, where you can collaborate with the people around you to get a project done or moved along. Need a direct mailing expert? He might be next to you. How about a business plan written? 3 desks down.

Philly BrainSpace is the portmanteau of them both.

PhillyBrainSpace is where Ingenuity and Entrepreneurship collide.  It’s a place for business people to go and do work. And for hackers to work with them. Scratch a hacker, find a person who wouldn't mind monetizing her ideas. Scratch an entrepreneur, find a hacker of processes and methodologies.

What would happen if you had two discrete spaces, two rooms or floors, with a distinct connection? Go downstairs, play Guitar Hero, grab an espresso, relax, chat, collaborate, solder a bit, or co-program. Go upstairs, work on your laptop or read or think in peace and quiet. Book a secure conference room to discuss the monetization process, or how to patent the latest innovation with your business partner you just met. Private offices can be to meet with a client, or to conduct a small business out of, not yet ready to move to your own premises.

Simple Hypothetical Case Study - Small software firm - While the coders are collaborating in the Loud area, busily creating content, the salesman is working out of a desk near them, to be able to ask questions about capabilities when clients ask.  Their President and CFO are working out of a private office in the Quiet area, to develop a strategy for marketing, sales, and eventual exit strategy.  And if they decide they need another coder, or a new salesman, they just look around, find the right candidate, and hire them on the spot.  Or at least ask, “Who knows a good Ruby coder, looking for work?”  Someone will.  No need for a recruiter.  Personally vouched for candidates, right there.  Hey, they found their CFO that way!  Why not?

They run their web server in a Virtual Private Server they get free as a member benefit.  They also run their code versioning system, mail server, and file shares on the same server.  It’s hosted right there in the same building, in HackerSpaceHosting’s Server Room.  Not a big server room, but powerful.  4 racks, chock full of servers and switches.  With the ability to use VPS’s for a low cost, or co-locate their own server if they need extreme power, having their entire staff and infrastructure in the same building is a huge benefit to startups with limited funding, or seeking to define their needs.

About 4 times a year, conferences are held in the spaces, with all the networking, mixing of ideas, contacts, and just plain fun that ensues at InfoSec conferences.  Some of the conferences are free, like Security B-Sides or SecCamp, and some are paid, like Black Hat or Shmoocon.  It will attract new members, bring new ideas, new connections, and a heck of a lot of fun to the space.

Ideally, some pro bono, charity style work would also be done.  The FIRST Robotics organization is very strong in Philadelphia, and high school kids are a huge source of energy, ideas, and enthusiasm.  As well, Philadelphia Infragard (FBI Public Private Partner Org), Philadelphia ECTF (Electronic Crimes Task Force, the US Secret Service equivalent to Infragard), HTCIA (High Tech Crimes Investigation Association), and FLEOA (Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association) all have local chapters.  Giving them meeting space would again, attract new members, give current members the opportunity to garner government contacts, and help to keep local and federal law enforcement “up” on current technologies and businesses in the area. 

Hackers and Businesspeople get along fine!  It's bureaucracy that neither of them like.  

PhillyBrainSpace - Hacking & Business, for fun and profit.


        Home