Texas Border Business –
By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez,
Steve Ahlenius president and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, is one to have a passion and gets excited to be part of helping start-up businesses and taking the time of creating learning experiences for businesspeople and beginners. !
Today, he announces in Exclusivity through Texas Border Business the opening of TechSpace a Collaborative Place located on the 3rd floor of the old main street library, a building that also houses the Creative Incubator.
According to Steve, he envisioned this idea about a year ago and today it becomes a reality, the product of hard work, creativity and the partnership with Texas Wilson “Making Space Work”.
Texas Wilson works closely with universities and tech companies. “We were really fortunate to get them to partner with us in making this happen.” He said, “Texas Wilson is almost like a public-private partnership with us. They brought their designers and they figured what furniture they could use in TechSpace and make it work as a collaboration place.”
In essence TechSpace, powered by Texas Wilson is a collaborative place for tech start-ups, programmers, coders, college students, small tech businesses and corporate refugees.
Steve pointed out that the creative incubator is on the first and second floor with art and the third floor was part of many conversations. Steve and his team were looking for ideas different other than just expanding in terms of more artists. So the idea of TechSpace, an open collaboration space was adopted. “It occupies 2,500 square feet designed for people that want to work together if they want to collaborate, or if they want to just go up there, and find a place to work, they can do that,” Steve said.
The membership to be able to have access to the TechSpace is $15.00 for the first 5 months as an introductory offer. “It goes to $25.00 a month after that,” he said.
Aside from a nice open and inspiring space, TechSpace also has a kitchen that will have soft drinks and coffee. “It’s a place for people to go, and work, and have access to Wi-Fi Internet,” he added.
“We also have studio office spaces for tech companies that want to be there and want to work and mentor with other tech startup companies.” He said, “It’s designed to facilitate people meeting, and working on projects together and that’s the idea behind Tech-Space.”
Steve’s hope is to get results as they have had with Idea Lab, and the Innovation Grant, and I&E Network.
“For example,” he said, “The Idea Lab was created by the McAllen Chamber to help innovators develop their ideas, explore and define “the customers”, and look at market space and market categories.” He continued to say, The McAllen Innovation Grant it’s an Awards program through a competition that awards on the basis of the strongest and most potentially viable ideas, as well as the best presentation. And I&E Network is a program designed to facilitate the connection and networking of inventors and entrepreneurs with the end goal of creating businesses, jobs and local wealth.”
TechSpace is without a doubt an idea that goes perfect with our times; computers that use apps or special programs of the digital world are managing our world.
“TechSpace is for those folks that are interested in tech, in programming, in coding to have an opportunity and to have a place where they can meet up, that they can work on their ideas, and projects, and try to bring those to the market place,” Steve stated.
He also said that the other key move is that they are partnering with Code RGV. “They are going to be offering classes, and training at TechSpace as part of being one of the tenants at Tech-Space.”
He finalized by saying, “They are going to be helping run the collaboration process as far as people getting training, and getting hooked and will get their ideas off the ground.”
More information about TechSpace you can visit it them at 601 S. Main St. or call 956-682-2871. TBB
