When serial entrepreneur Elizabeth Varley and TechCrunch Europe editor Mike Butcher founded TechHub in 2010, they envisioned a place where the movers and shakers of the tech community could congregate under one roof, grow their businesses and connect with mentors and experts. Now, it has become the largest startup network in Europe—and for its U.S. debut and eighth workspace, TechHub selected Somerville's Davis Square as its home. This is in part because when former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick saw the facilities for himself on a trip to London last year, he “knew right away” that our state could benefit from this facility—especially since Boston mirrors England’s capital in a lot of ways.
“The growth and investment strategy was compatible with our own,” Patrick told me in a phone interview. “There’s a similar emphasis on education, innovation and infrastructure.”
Now, as the figure who saw potential for TechHub in the Bay State, Mr. Patrick is becoming the Somerville location’s founding member. This is a special role: In each city, the first member is considered a sort of "spiritual guide." In Bangalore, the mirror member is Mohandas Pai, the chairman of Manipal Global Education and former Infosys CFO.
“I imagined this sort of levitating figure in a white robe,” Patrick said jokingly. “But in all honesty, I was so honored to be asked.”
While the Boston area has no shortage of coworking spaces, accelerators and incubators, Patrick insisted that TechHub has a few distinct advantages mainly because it’s specifically geared toward technology startups.
“Because they’re working on related projects, this is a place where entrepreneurs can help each other,” he said. “And it also puts them in contact with a global network of other startups.”
Being connected to an international community of startups, investors, journalists and politicians all around the world via TechHub means entrepreneurs may be able to exchange ideas, collaborate and innovate at a faster rate. Moreover, members are allowed to work in any of the locations around the globe while traveling, which offers a valuable opportunity.
There are plenty of other perks that come with joining TechHub beyond access to working space. The annual membership fees for Boston start at $450 (or $250 for current students), and includes free tickets to TechHub networking events such as Demo Nights or talks from successful founders. Mini-presentations are often followed by Q&A sessions, where pizza is plenty and beer is bound to flow freely. All members also reap publicity through TechHub’s large social media network, blog, and newsletter.
On April 7, TechHub’s soft open will coincide with a demo day. Then, on April 30, the office will be hosting a #ifnotnowthenwhen launch party for existing members, as well as those who just want to celebrate the new US presence of this haven for entrepreneurs.
