TechShop St. Louis Celebrates Grand Opening in Cortex Innovation Community

ST. LOUIS and SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 20, 2016 -- TechShop, Inc., the world’s first and largest network of open access, do-it-yourself workshops and fabrication studios, will celebrate the official grand opening of its St. Louis location in the Cortex Innovation Community on Saturday, October 22nd.

Kicking off the celebration in true maker style, TechShop CEO Dan Woods, Cortex President and CEO Dennis Lower, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon will cut a special steel ribbon with a plasma torch at 2:00PM. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, TechShop will host immersive facility tours, equipment demos, and hands-on activities. Several TechShop St. Louis members will be joining the Saturday event, including local businesses and entrepreneurs.

"We are thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of TechShop St. Louis, our ninth U.S. location," said Dan Woods. "St. Louis is a community steeped in exploration, manufacturing, science, medicine, education, and the arts. We are proud to partner with Cortex to help St. Louis grow as a center for innovation in the region for years to come."

"Home to one of the largest tech hubs in the Midwest, St. Louis' Cortex District is the perfect location for TechShop to expand and create jobs," said Governor Nixon. "With the opening of this makerspace, students, small business owners, and those wanting to turn their dreams into tangible products can access virtually any tool or piece of equipment to start building the products of the future from right here in Missouri."

World-Class Creative Workspace and Prototyping Studio
TechShop members have access to a world-class workshop with machines, tools, training, and the inspiration and support they need to pursue their passions, develop new skills, and launch new businesses. TechShop St. Louis features:

• More than $1 million worth of professional equipment and design software
• Hundreds of classes, workshops, and meet-ups each month for members and non-members
• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly trained staff
• Conference and group event space
• Spacious work and project areas
• Retail area
• Seasonal makers markets
• A community of innovative makers, artists, and entrepreneurs

Empower the St. Louis Community
"I signed up six months before TechShop's St. Louis opening knowing it would be an excellent resource for my company," said Craig Caesar, founder of MakerMakers. "I have been able to successfully use TechShop to create prototypes by leveraging the CNC router, laser cutter, and the comprehensive list of other equipment. I have been able to collaborate with TechShop Dream Consultants and shop members to fill my knowledge gap resulting in enhanced design."

"When we hear of a great project, we get involved," said Tim McFadden, shareholder and attorney lead the Startup Ventures practice at Polsinelli in St. Louis. "As a longtime, continuous supporter of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, Polsinelli was contacted by TechShop earl as a founding sponsor. We saw the opportunity that TechShop could bring to the community and potentially to Polsinelli clients, a few of which are already utilizing TechShop's vast resources to develop and refine their products."

About Cortex Innovation Community
Founded in 2002, Cortex is mid-America’s premier hub for bioscience and technology research, development, and commercialization, anchoring St. Louis’ growing ecosystem of innovative startups and established companies. Providing state-of-the-art facilities to support the nation’s most promising technological advances, Cortex offers custom lab and office space, proximity to world-class research institutions, a highly-trained tech workforce, and access to venture capital—all surrounded by amenity-rich urban neighborhoods. Follow Cortex on Twitter (@CortexSTL) and visit us on Facebook (Cortex Innovation Community).

About TechShop, Inc.
Founded in October 2006, TechShop is a membership-based, do-it-yourself (DIY) workshop and fabrication studio that provides access to a vibrant community of creative makers and millions of dollars' worth of facilities, equipment, tools, and software in each location. Based in San Jose, Calif., with locations nationwide, TechShop offers classes, workshops, instruction, and training for people of all ages and skill levels to build whatever they can dream. For information on memberships and course listings, visit www.techshop.com, email [email protected] or https://twitter.com/techshopcall 855-TECHSHOP. You can follow TechShop on Twitter at @TechShop, and on Facebook as TechShop Incorporated.

TechShop currently offers a number of investment opportunities. For more information, or to RSVP for one of our upcoming live webinars, visit invest.techshop.com.

Michael Catterlin
TechShop, Inc.
[email protected]
(408) 673-8026