KITCHENER, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The first tenants of the new Catalyst137 technology hub will be hardware manufacturers and companies that provide services needed for those manufacturers to get their products to market.
Scheduled to open in the summer of 2017, Catalyst137’s early confirmed tenants include Miovision, Alert Labs, FoxNet Solutions, MyShop Makerspace, Sigmapoint Technologies, Snap Pea Design, SPIN , and Swift Labs.
“We couldn’t be more excited about how the project is coming together,” said Frank Voisin, president of the real estate investment firm Voisin Capital and one of the Catalyst137 founders. “We always envisioned it as an all-inclusive place for visionary hardware companies to make their homes and get everything they need under one roof.”
As the first wave of tenants shows, Catalyst137 will establish an ecosystem of supporting services for hardware companies. Snap Pea provides industrial design. Swift Labs provides RF testing and hardware design services. My Shop Makerspace provides shop equipment for tenant use. Sigmapoint, which is expanding its business to Kitchener from Cornwall, will provide prototyping services.
Catalyst137 also is featuring its tenants’ technology in the infrastructure of the 475,000-square-foot remodeled tire warehouse. FoxNet is installing the IT backbone into the building. Alert Labs’ real-time data software and sensor networks will monitor and meter energy use throughout the building. SPIN will provide integration and the visual interface that will provide visibility to the building technology.
“The goal is to make Catalyst137 a one-stop shop for hardware companies to build their products, access the support services they need, and then showcase the new technology right here in the building,” said Kurtis McBride, CEO of Miovision and co-founder of Catalyst137.
The finished space will feature hundreds of sensors to make the building and streetscape hackable so that Catalyst137 can act as both a showcase of the region’s technical ingenuity and a sandbox for new innovation. By allowing Catalyst137 members to experiment with and add to the building’s IoT network, the hub will help foster new ideas and support emerging technology.
The idea for Catalyst137 came from frustration. Each year, more than two dozen hardware companies graduate from the incubator programs at the University of Waterloo and Communitech. Until now, requirements for manufacturing space and loading docks relegated hardware companies to the outskirts of Kitchener-Waterloo while software companies needing less space swarmed to the city center. Startups from all over the world are invited to benefit from centralized investment, consulting, manufacturing, engineering, government relations and other services, to be consolidated under one 12-acre roof.
Catalyst137 is offering area businesses options to join a community of startup peers and will lease office spaces ranging from 3,000 to 50,000 square feet. Companies will have access to loading bays and a shared manufacturing space featuring 3D printers, laser cutters, metalworking equipment and more.
Tenant Quotes
George Tsintzouras, CEO of Alert Labs:
“As a growing IoT hardware organization, Catalyst137 meets the needs of Alert Labs' business on many levels - access to hardware-focused service providers, a network of like-minded peers, and the opportunity to scale our business within walking distance of the city centres. Catalyst's environment is an attractive incentive for recruitment, retention, and team building. We're counting the days until we call Catalyst ‘home.’”
Bill Fox, President of FoxNet Solutions:
“Catalyst137 offers an exciting opportunity for FoxNet to play a significant role in the IoT movement here in Kitchener-Waterloo. We are excited to bring Digital City powered by FoxNet to this innovative space and enable a massive private network that will move data at fast speeds with higher security and increased data sharing capabilities.
“The challenge is to create an open network that can be used across numerous different industries. Catalyst137 will be a major piece of the technological backbone we use to accomplish this.”
Josh Kubassek, President of My Shop Makerspace:
“There are so many exciting things happening in hardware and advanced manufacturing right now in Waterloo Region. We’re eager to be a part of Catalyst137, empowering companies to design and prototype amazing new technologies.”
Dan Bergeron, CEO of Sigmapoint Technologies
“Kitchener-Waterloo is quickly becoming an innovation hub for hardware technology companies. We’re pleased to be expanding our business to the region and becoming part of the Catalyst137 community. Sigmapoint will provide tenants with prototyping services that will accelerate time-to-market, making the community more globally competitive.”
Collin McIntyre, CEO of SPIN:
“Catalyst 137 was an obvious choice for SPIN's new place of business. As a company focused on engaging digital experiences, it's a core value of ours to integrate with other technologies. We are very excited to continue building our business under the same roof as many other innovative companies, and we're confident that the relationships we build there will be long lasting.
“Aside from our physical presence at Catalyst 137, SPIN will be powering the digital experience throughout the facility. Many displays will be used to give tenants and visitors access to important information, social media, wayfinding, IoT devices, company directories, and more. Our platform will also help connect multiple establishments to help share content and really promote the 'smart city' vibes.”
Anthony Middleton, CEO and co-founder of Swift Labs:
“We’re delighted to be moving to the building to help bring the Catalyst137 vision to life. Our hardware services and test lab will help tenants speed time to market, deliver quality hardware, and globalize offerings.”
Steven Fike, Creative Director of SnapPea Design:
“SnapPea Design is excited to be a part of the Catalyst137 community. We love the challenge of crafting compelling IoT products and experiences. We're looking forward to helping companies design and develop their concepts through to production.”
