Ask HN: How to start and build a successful hackerspace in your city
Being a newcomer/foreigner in this town, I'm a bit lost tbh finding connections and common interest. Meetup groups are academic and sleepy here. Paris, Berlin and London have great hackerspaces and I can usually find like minded ppl quickly. I think it would be cool to see hackerspaces also in smaller cities and where old + young guys can interact and teach each other.
Has anyone here been involved with building a hackerspace?
How are they are organized and set up?
What is the best way to figure out if there are enough people are in your area to make it a viable project?
Who sponsors these places? e.g. Is it individuals who are providing their private garage or companies who provide the facility? Do I approach companies and ask them if they want to cover some of the facility/running costs?
I can see many of benefits why companies would encourage these spaces such as helping their engineers get broader hands-on skills during after-work activities. And a great network effect for the company where people can easily find a new colleague in these places if their company happens to have a job opening. (all without recruiters and with lower risk because the persons skills are known etc).
If anyone can share some experience? Thanks
[0] http://hackerspaces.org/