First founded in 2006 and based in San Jose, CA, TechShop has since opened several locations across the US, including locations in Pittsburgh, PA, and Detroit, MI. Since 2006, the workspace has given birth to a lot of different innovative products – all from its members – ranging from the original prototype for Square to things like the Lumia lamp and the DODOcase. In the case of DODOcase, it was created by someone who initially had no idea how to use any of the tools, who made over a $1 million in sales three months later. TechShop DC-Arlington is TechShop’s eighth location, and will hopefully replicate these kinds of hardware successes.
According to Hatch, one of the primary motivators for coming out to DC was the area’s large engineering population, and to see what kinds of hardware innovations could arise when this population is given open access to tools and resources available through TechShop. But, as we’ve constantly seen in the startup space, it’s sometimes difficult to convince people – engineers, especially – to leave their traditional industries (with their comfortable salaries and benefits) and take the risk in a new space. For Hatch, he sees TechShop as an instrumental factor for reducing that risk: TechShop CEO Mark Hatch will be speaking about the Maker Movement at the USA Science & Engineering Festival at Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Sunday, April 27, 2014, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. TechShop’s exhibit at the festival will be located at Booth Number 5221 (Hall D).
