The Network Hub
| [[File:|thumb]] | |
| Industry | Startup Launch Pad |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canda |
Key people | Minna Van, Jay Catalan and John Van (Co-Founders |
| Website | thenetworkhub.ca |
The Network Hub is a 7,000 square-foot coworking space in Vancouver, British Columbia. The space functions as a start-up launchpad for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Offering memberships that cost less than traditional office rentals, its members gain access to an affordable shared professional work space, meeting rooms, and monthly events focused on business and technology (WO).
Launched in the summer of 2006, it is the longest running coworking space in Vancouver (LA). Members can access space by the day, week, month or year. The Network Hub also provides its members additional services, including receptionist and phone answering services (VP).
In 2010, CBC’s Rick Chung featured The Network Hub as part of a growing trend toward coworking spaces (RC). The Network Hub provides its members access to a shared workspace, private offices and meeting rooms. It distinguishes itself from competing service providers by emphasizing community partnerships and networking activities (DE).
The Network Hub is nominated for a 2012 Small Business Influencer Award: Corporations (IN). The company has been featured in Mashable, CNN, CBC, and Get Connected magazine (GC, CN, RC, MA).
History
The Network Hub was launched in 2006 with co-founders Minna Van, Jay Catalan and John Van (HB). The original office is in downtown Vancouver, Canada (THH, WO, VP). They recently launched an additional site in New Westminster, Canada in 2011 (SM).
The space serves individual business needs in a collaborative communal environment (TNH). Van and her partners are all young web designers and programmers with a background in entrepreneurship (PN). The stated goal of the organization is to “To help people with great ideas launch their business faster and leaner” (SM).
The Network Hub hosts businesses from different industries. Clients include software developers, gaming companies, designers, consultants, and marketing service providers (DE). The Network Hub hosted eight small businesses in 2006, all headed by entrepreneurs under the age of 30 (PN). By 2007 the company hosted 20 small businesses, primarily in Information Technology (PN). In 2009, The Network Hub hosted 35 businesses (UN). The average time of use for long-term clients is two years (DE).
Get Connected magazine featured the Network Hub as an example of cost-saving business models in their Spring 2009 edition (GC).
In 2010, CBC’s Rick Chung featured The Network Hub as part of a growing trend toward coworking spaces (RC).
In 2011, The Network Hub announced plans to use the office space as an art gallery showcasing local Vancouver artists. Artists partnering with The Network Hub received one hundred percent of all sales (TNH). Featured artists include Scott Sueme, Jonathan Taggart, and Jason Athens (TNH).
Sarah Kessler featured The Network Hub as a model coworking space in several articles for Mashable Business’ website in January, 2011 (MA).
Membership
Members access space ranging from individual desks to large office spaces and meeting rooms (UN). Phone answering services, mailboxes, business plan assistance and networking services are additional packages that can be accessed by its members.
Events
The Network Hub hosts monthly Meet-Up events for entrepreneurs in the Vancouver area (SM). They organize the largest monthly networking event in Vancouver, the Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup, which has featured speakers such as Vancouver’s Mayor Gregor Robertson (YO). It also hosts other Meet-Up events about WordPress, web design, Drupal, Joomla, blogging, social media, and being a mom CEO. The Network Hub also hosted a WordPress Theme Hackathon. (WPY)
In 2010, The Network Hub sponsored the first annual Freelance Camp Vancouver Conference (HB). This program is designed for freelancers and provides skill training and networking opportunities. Previous trainings have included web design, invoicing, and social media networking strategies (HB). The 2012 conference is scheduled for September. The Network Hub hosted 2011’s NASA Space Apps Challenge Hack-A-Thon. This 48-hour event challenged members of the hacker community to develop new software to solve space-themed tasks for NASA (LA,SP).
In 2012, The Network Hub expanded community partnership activities. In June, the New Westminster branch sponsored the Royal Columbian Hospital Fundraiser in British Columbia (RI).
Awards
The Network Hub is currently in consideration for a 2012 Small Business Influencer Award: Corporations (IN).