Startups

NextFab opens bigger and better space to sold out crowd in South Philly [EVENTS]

The makers who run NextFab Studio aren’t the only people excited about their recent move to a larger location on Washington Avenue in South Philly. An estimated crowd of 650 interested neighbors packed the two-floor, 21,000-square-foot facility on Thursday for the grand opening. Formerly run out of University City, the studio — a membership-based, high-tech […]

President Evan Malone addresses the crowd.

President Evan Malone addresses the crowd.

The makers who run NextFab Studio aren’t the only people excited about their recent move to a larger location on Washington Avenue in South Philly.

An estimated crowd of 650 interested neighbors packed the two-floor, 21,000-square-foot facility on Thursday for the grand opening.

Formerly run out of University City, the studio — a membership-based, high-tech workshop and prototyping center, billing itself as “Philadelphia’s gym for innovators” — now boasts a “residency” program in addition to its traditional membership options.

NextFab President Evan Malone used the occasion to announce the first two residents: Love Park Robotics, which develops control and navigation software for autonomous robotic vehicles and High Tide Innovations, a newly-formed medical device company that seeks to help solve problems faced by surgeons in the operating room.

Machinery company spokespeople gave demonstrations to attendees.

Company spokespeople gave demonstrations of the high-tech machinery to attendees.

Through the residency program, NextFab is “dipping a toe into the realm of incubating ideas and startups,” said Malone, of the space that also hosts a cafe.

And that contributes to what “really represents the spirit of the city right now” said Philadelphia Chief Cultural Officer, Gary Steuer, “this incredible intersection of creativity, art, culture, design, science and technology, all coming together with the spirit of collaboration.” Steuer also noted that he was sporting NextFab-made Sharif Pendleton cufflinks.

The opening featured facility tours, presentations by Professor Youngmoo Kim and the newly opened Drexel ExCITe Center, as well as demos of the high-tech machinery that lives at NextFab, including a 3D printer and water-jet cutting machine.

The sweetest part of the night? A goodie bag containing a three-dimensional chocolate, laser cut into the NextFab logo, hidden inside of a paper pyramid.

Companies: Love Park Robotics / NextFab

Before you go...

Please consider supporting Technical.ly to keep our independent journalism strong. Unlike most business-focused media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational support.

3 ways to support our work:
  • Contribute to the Journalism Fund. Charitable giving ensures our information remains free and accessible for residents to discover workforce programs and entrepreneurship pathways. This includes philanthropic grants and individual tax-deductible donations from readers like you.
  • Use our Preferred Partners. Our directory of vetted providers offers high-quality recommendations for services our readers need, and each referral supports our journalism.
  • Use our services. If you need entrepreneurs and tech leaders to buy your services, are seeking technologists to hire or want more professionals to know about your ecosystem, Technical.ly has the biggest and most engaged audience in the mid-Atlantic. We help companies tell their stories and answer big questions to meet and serve our community.
The journalism fund Preferred partners Our services
Engagement

Join our growing Slack community

Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!

Trending

The person charged in the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting had a ton of tech connections

From rejection to innovation: How I built a tool to beat AI hiring algorithms at their own game

Where are the country’s most vibrant tech and startup communities?

The looming TikTok ban doesn’t strike financial fear into the hearts of creators — it’s community they’re worried about

Technically Media