Manufacturing Incubators

Blog Post
Title	Manufacturing Incubators
Author	Yunnie Huang
Series
Content status	Idea
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© edegan.com, 2016

https://manufacturing.gppcpa.com/enewsletters/article/how-manufacturing-incubators-are-moving-manufacturing-into-the-21st-century/ This gives a general summary of what manufacturing incubators are

  Concept of Incubators
  Business concept that was first developed in the 1950s.
  Usually, incubators offer a stable place to develop business concepts (office space, ability to network) along with infrastructure to turn these concepts into reality
  Startup businesses and concepts can be developed without the pressure to generate revenue instantly.
  Typically associated with technology firms.

  Incubators in Manufacturing 
  Require more expensive, different resources (in comparison to technology startups.) This include tools, machinery, etc(shared so they're affrodable). 
  Decline in manufacturing jobs in the U.S. in the last several decades. 
  But evolution of manufacturing technology (3D printing, robotics) make business and labor models more affordable. 
  Benefits - (1) access to common tools and infrastructure (2) collaboration and idea sharing (3) networking (4) business infrastructure 

  Economic Impacts of Manufacturing Incubators 
  Gaining manufacturing jobs in the U.S. from foreign countries. This is partly due to rising wages in China and India and partly due to new technologies. Result is increased demand for those manufacturing incubators. 

Written in 2015 about an incubator in Chicago http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-industrial-incubator-0210-biz-20150209-story.html

Fulton-Carroll Center Incubator in Chicago https://www.illinoisinnovation.com/fulton-carroll-center-incubator

  Created in 1980 (one of the largest and ones of the first five in nation).
  $2.6 million in federal grants.
  Size of a city clock, 410,000 square-foot
  Challenge: "retaining its sense of community while nudging companies out of its nest." The center wants companies to grow and graduate in just a few years, which prevent development of long and meaningful relationship.
  During an average month, 2-4 tenants move in or out. 
  Total of 138 businesses employing 550 people.
  The center has became more selective because higher demand. 
  Charges $8-$11 per square foot rent (less than price for comparable space in its neighborhood.)

Written in August 2016 https://medium.com/@ChicagosMayor/chicagos-manufacturing-businesses-are-getting-their-own-incubator-6a692ceeee82 New manufacturing incubator called mHub. Their website is very cool and organized. https://mhubchicago.com/

  63,000 square-foot 
  can serve hundreds of startups at one time (on the members page of their website I notice they are very few startups that actually do manufacturing) 
  10 fabrication labs equipped with a 3D-printing lab, electronics labs, plastic molding, textiles,welding and grinding, wood shop, and wet lab.
  partner with business accelerator programs, venture capitalists, engineering and product development consultancies, and universities
  locates in Tech Triangle with easy public transportation
  offers basic (starting at $145/month) and full-time membership and office space leasing 
  Started because advisory council under Mayor Emanuel’s Regional Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs

August 2017 http://seattlebusinessmag.com/manufacturing/industry-space-seattle-gives-small-manufacturers-room-grow Industry Space Seattle

  47,000-square-foot building
  10 industrial work spaces, a furnished conference room and offices.
  Gives tenants the use of 10 overhead crane systems, which can cost $60,000 to $80,000 each, Bianchi says, along with a $30,000 compressed-air system, a $20,000 forklift and an industrial paint booth.
  Tenants include LED lighting, custom metal manufacturing and 3-D printers for metal fabrication. Most have 2-4 employees.
  In 2015, the city of Seattle awarded Industry Space $100,000
  Impact Washington is a nonprofit that provides consulting services and business mentoring to fledgling manufacturers. 

Advance Business & Manufacturing Center Incubator http://www.greatergbc.org/programs/economic-development/advance-business--manufacturing-center

  A program provided by the Greater Green Bay Chamber in Wisconsin.
  Provides manpower (students from local college), expensive technologies, professional work-space, and business advice.
  Clients include non-profits, consulting firms, software development, law firms etc. Some examples of manufacturing startups are FoamFit Tools (they build customized tool organizers for individuals and companies of all sizes) and  Machine Plus LLC (a custom to medium production shop with experience in auto, air, manufacturing, medical, U.S. Navy, paper, etc.)  

For some reason this page cannot be reached anymore http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.blueskystewardship.org/incubator/ Blue SKy Stewardship

  Nonprofit that envisions a technologically self-sufficient local food economy that believes an incubator is the place to start.
  2000 square foot warehouse space, equipped with a variety of equipment.
  For thinkers to solve problems of food and (metal) waste.

Feb 2016 https://hbr.org/2016/02/entrepreneurs-take-on-manufacturing Examples of software-enabled manufacturing startups

  Pebble - a Kickstarter-funded project that has now sold over one million smart watches (and which predated Google’s Android Wear smart watch and the Apple Watch).
  Nebia - a start-up water-efficient showerhead maker in San Francisco — recently scored investment money from Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google Chairman Eric Schmidt’s family foundation. 
  Drop - a startup that makes a $100 iPad-connected kitchen scale and software app now widely available in Apple Stores and the Apple website, 
  Fitbit