In theory, hackerspaces are great places where "people can meet and work on their projects." In practice, however, hackerspaces - like any start-up - have the DNA of the co-founders and original visitors. As such, some hackerspaces are better managed than others. Likewise, some hackerspaces are a better "fit" for one type of hacking or another (start-up hacking, hardware hacking, artistic hacking, etc.)
Hacker Dojo just happens to be extremely well-run, well-funded, and perfectly located in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Would love to have people drop by the Dojo anytime, or just ask me questions here. (I'm the David Weekly who co-founded the Dojo, quoted in the article.)
I wish something like this existed in Pittsburgh. Sounds like a great place. If something like that does exist here and I just don't know about give me a heads up! :-D
I usually work out of Sunfire in an office tower in downtown mountain view, mainly because I get a nice desk in a secure office for free, and get to be around great entrepreneurs and angels/vc people. However, I am also a member of hackerdojo and find it a great place for team meetings, events, and anything collaborative -- I just like having a desk where I can leave a bunch of monitors and other stuff all the time, which is the one thing hackerdojo doesn't offer.
Another great office space in mountain view is Layer 42, over by Google -- it is a colo facility with cubes for rent, and you patch straight into your cage.
Maybe if we hack real nice we can get an @anybots QB receptionist to greet visitors some day. Would need new login kiosk option, though: Guest, Member, Staff, Robot!
I went to the Dojo for a few events when I went to school in the Bay Area. It sold me as a welcoming community and a safe space for exploring new ideas. I'm considering relocating to the Bay just so that I'll have access to the TechShop and HackerDojo communities.
Something that would normally take months takes only a few weeks when you are surrounded by people who are working towards the same goal cheering you on.
On a semi-related question, I'm seriously considering moving back to Silicon Valley to enable me to really focus on my startup. I can probably find couch space with friends, but that gets old pretty quickly.
Any suggestions for finding good, simple accommodations around Mountain View? I need a secure space with a bed, shower, and a simple kitchen, preferably not shared.
Yep, I can do Craigslist etc, just wondering if I'm missing anything untraditional.
Hacker dojo may have been the tipping point for me. I've applied to YC and a couple of others, but may not need that level of support. Hacker dojo may be just right.
I started my first company in Mountain View almost 15 years ago. Seems an auspicious place to start this one.
Being a NYC dev, I get the feeling most of the local hackerspaces are mostly hardware/art centric (Resistor or Alpha One), or they are co-working spaces first and community space second (New Work City).
For a $100 a month I'd been in a NYC Hacker Dojo at least 2-4 evenings a week if it was more of a start-up/developer type space than the others.
I have been on the Dojo mailing list since well before launch but unfortunately the $100/month membership fee has prevented me from being able to enjoy in person. I resolve, however, that my business to at some point make enough to pay for this some day!
You can drop in at Hacker Dojo for a $10/time suggested donation before you maybe become comfortable enough and affluent enough to afford it on a monthly basis ;)
I did not know that. I respect and understand operating costs too much to beg for exemption so it's nice to hear there's a codified way to go about it.
Noisebridge.net is cheaper -- and donation based - you can stop by for free, drop a $20 in the bucket and get right to hanging out and seeing whats going on.
The Dojo is a little bit more expensive so that we can improve the space for coworkers -- stuff like buying spare monitors, desks, chairs, heating & cooling, etc.
There's no overhead -- 100% of the member's cash goes into rent & improving the space. We have bi-weekly meetings where members can see how their money gets used.
Yes, I recognize they are differnt -- was posting it as an alternative.
BTW- I had a thought today after reading your post; why dont hackerspaces, like NoiseBridge and The Dojo partner with Techshop.ws -- It would be great to see if each membership could get you access, or partial access to each space.
I host Hack Fridays at Brown University in RI every friday. I'm seeing if I can open it to the general public, but if you'd like an email when I figure it out, email DTrejo [at] c̣ś.b̀r̉ọŵņ.ễd̃ǔ
The ML class has become popular and has been split into different streams. You might try the intro class. Plenty of direction is supplied in that class.
There is even a hackerspace in Pittsburgh: http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/HackPittsburgh
In theory, hackerspaces are great places where "people can meet and work on their projects." In practice, however, hackerspaces - like any start-up - have the DNA of the co-founders and original visitors. As such, some hackerspaces are better managed than others. Likewise, some hackerspaces are a better "fit" for one type of hacking or another (start-up hacking, hardware hacking, artistic hacking, etc.)
Hacker Dojo just happens to be extremely well-run, well-funded, and perfectly located in the heart of Silicon Valley.