Jul 7, 2023 15 min read Digital 52: Global Coworking Stories

Digital 52 4️⃣1️⃣ - From Seed to Success: MotionLab Berlin's Path to Building a Hard Tech Community, Driving Awareness, and Achieving Impact.

Today’s story will take you to Berlin. What’s there? A very special space that has been advocating for more recognition around hard tech and hardware since its inception: MotionLab Berlin.

Today’s story will take you to Berlin. What’s there? A very special space that has been advocating for more recognition around hard tech and hardware since its inception: MotionLab Berlin.

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Their Tags in the book
Makerspaces - Peer-to-Peer Learning

Read the full story of MotionLab Berlin on page 77 of "Around The World in 250 Coworking Spaces".

If there's one thing that a coworking space excels at, it's connecting its physical environment with a clear purpose and mission. But what does that mean exactly? Let's delve into today's featured space to find the answer. MotionLab Berlin is more than just a coworking space or a makerspace. It's a multi-purpose space with a specific mission: to raise awareness and provide support for all things related to hardware. While they could have achieved this through a website alone, having a physical space allowed them to accomplish something crucial from the very beginning: bringing together like-minded individuals and organizations who share their passion and align with MotionLab's vision and mission.

However, let's be realistic. Building such a vibrant space and community didn't happen overnight, especially in a world where software often garners more recognition than hardware. So, how did MotionLab manage to reach its current position? That's the story we're about to explore today!

➡️ A little refresher

Who’s behind the featured space?

Meet Christoph Neye, Fridtjof Gustavs and Chris Iwasjuta.

If you wonder how the trio ended up opening MotionLab, Christoph explained: “I had a vision to create a unique type of bike but faced rejection from manufacturers who dismissed my idea as foolish. Undeterred, I turned to FabLab where I met Chris, my first co-founder. His response was simple yet impactful: “Let's do it.” As we progressed with our project, we reached a point where FabLab's limited space and resources hindered our further advancement. In search of a larger facility, we sought out existing labs but couldn't find a suitable option. This led us to make the bold decision to establish our own lab. However, we recognized the need for business expertise to make this endeavor successful. Fortunately, Fridtjof, our second co-founder, was recommended to us as someone possessing the necessary business knowledge.”