Northwestern's New Campus Accelerator Will Rev Up Student Ventures (In An Actual Garage)

When Northwestern was looking for a space to house its new accelerator program, the only space on campus available was an empty 11,000 square foot area in a new parking garage under construction. So they said, why not? "Of course can start companies in their dorm too, but this way more students can get together," said Alicia Loffler, associate provost for innovation and new ventures at Northwestern. "We want to create a space where innovation just happens." On June 16 Northwestern is set to open the Garage, an accelerator for student startups housed in a parking garage at 2311 Campus Drive in Evanston. The space will act as a cross disciplinary meeting space for student ideas to transform into businesses over the course of a quarter. The aim, according to Loffler, is to bring together the grassroots innovation efforts happening across the university to one place to solidify the university's status as an anchor entrepreneurial institution in the city. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it is in a garage. In the startup world, garages have near-mythical connotation. Apple, Hewlett Packard, and Google all launched out of Silicon Valley garages, creating the next big thing next to dusty shelves and discarded power tools. Gather your fellow student entrepreneurs and get ready to make big changes! #NUstartups #northwestern pic.twitter.com/gxu24ftKJh — The Garage (@TheGarageNU) May 24, 2015   Design-wise Northwestern's Garage is a bit more purposeful that those early offices. The open floor plan will have several offices, work areas for anchor tenants, flex space for events or workshops, a kitchen, booths to make private calls, a conference room, and a full “maker” space with 3D printers for small prototypes (there is a larger prototype space across the street). Garage doors within the office can be lifted up or down to change the size of rooms. Construction was largely funded by private donors. It will be open 24/7 so students can work on their venture whenever the creative energy hits. The Garage not only has big spaces for workshops, but offices for your private meetings & planning time. #NUstartups pic.twitter.com/1d7U4bog6M — The Garage (@TheGarageNU) May 29, 2015 "We want to create a community of like-minded student that have a space go," said Loffler. "A place where they can see what is happening...We want them to feel bonded to something." Loffler said there was a spike in entrepreneurial energy around 2010, but it came from all across the university-- different departments, alums, student groups, and faculty. Administration took notice. While the university had one incubator space in Evanston and later added a workspace at 1871, they wanted to create a space where ideas could take form, grow, and take hold in a free flowing way. "Although we had all this grassroots movement we also wanted to have a top down commitment," she said. "The general thought was that we don't want to control, because once you control, innovation is gone." The Garage will run more like an accelerator than an incubator. Though the final details of the program are still being worked out, Loffler said there will be two tracks: non-resident and resident programs.The non-resident options include workshops and courses to get those ideas forming, while the resident-program focuses on honing ventures. There will be a cohort of projects that undergo an accelerator bootcamp that lasts three to four months (or about the length of a quarter). From there, she said they'll have the opportunity to graduate to one of the incubator spaces, potentially 1871.  Progress Pic! Fuel your #NUStartups in The Garage dining room! #wearethegarage pic.twitter.com/pjrHuY3eVu — The Garage (@TheGarageNU) June 1, 2015   That being said, the programming, like the space itself, is still under construction. This summer the university is doing a pilot program with a small group of student ventures. They have yet to hire a director for the space, though Loffler said they will have one in the fall. But chances are these students won't be fazed by limited resources."Garages are raw spaces where ideas are born from little means but great spirit," the Garage's website reads.