HackerspaceSG

HackerspaceSG was initially founded by four people in late 2009. The four people came up with the idea after reading about similar centres that have opened up around the world, specifically in the United States, China and Japan. Wong Meng Weng envisioned HackerspaceSG as a spot where hackers and other geeks can congregate, exchange ideas and come up with cool applications, and where the clubhouse is a "combination of living room, science lab, and shared office space for the geek community".{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Weizhen |title=Hackers set up 24-hour clubhouse |work=The Straits Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=14 November 2009}}

Though the plan was initially to just have a place for geeks to gather and network, this soon evolved into a co-working space catering mainly to tech startups.{{cite news |last1=Chng |first1=Grace |title=Rent a start-up space for as little as $15 a day |work=The Straits Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=28 March 2013}}

The institution has often been recognised as Singapore's first co-working space.{{cite news |last1=Yong |first1=Debbie |title=Co-work Operations |work=The Business Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=19 July 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Khoo |first1=Lynette |title=Co-working space seen as boon for office landlords and tenants |work=The Business Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=18 March 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Jing |title=租金低廉租约灵活 共用工作空间渐成趋势 |work=Lianhe Zaobao |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=17 July 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Sim |first1=Melissa |title=Share out the work space |work=The Straits Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=23 June 2013}}{{cite news |last1=Tang |first1=See Kit |title=Upsized, stylish and going niche: Co-working spaces bloom in Singapore |work=Channel NewsAsia |publisher=MediaCorp |date=24 August 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Yap |first1=Jacky |title=JFDI Asia launches innovation campus, invites entrepreneurs to join as members and residents |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/jfdi-asia-launches-innovation-campus-invites-entrepreneurs-join-034406179.html |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=e27 |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=22 March 2013 |language=en-SG}} During the Singapore start-up 2.0 boom, it was also touted in the mainstream media as a meeting space for the start-up and entrepreneurship communities,{{cite news |last1=Chng |first1=Grace |title=A bubbling cauldron of Start-Up 2.0 firms |work=The Straits Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=14 August 2011}}{{cite news |last1=Goh |first1=Daniel |title=5 tips for start-ups |work=The Straits Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=11 May 2011}}{{cite news |last1=Chng |first1=Grace |title=Singapore can become the next Silicon Valley |work=The Straits Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=25 August 2012}} even hosting Facebook's co-founder Eduardo Saverin when he was in Singapore.{{cite news |last1=Chng |first1=Grace |title=Tech start-up ready to flex its apps |work=The Straits Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=2 February 2012}}

The first iteration of HackerspaceSG was located at 70A Bussorah Street in Singapore.{{cite web |title=Announcement: Hackerspace.SG will be at 70A Bussorah Street |url=https://groups.google.com/g/hackerspacesg/c/z7xbRIFTOYM/ |website=Google Groups |access-date=22 November 2022}} The 2-year lease was extended once, but in October 2013, the landlord expressed a desire to develop the Bussorah Street unit into two distinct units. This meant that members would have had to endure dust and noise, and it was unlikely that the units would be leased back to HackerspaceSG at existing rates when the lease was renewed.{{cite web|author=Luther Goh Lu Feng |url=https://groups.google.com/d/msg/hackerspacesg/YYS3s-RNSPM/oA53sB_gQnsJ |title=HackerspaceSG: The next steps |publisher=|date=October 24, 2013 |accessdate=July 19, 2014}}

In October and November 2013, a search for a new location commenced, with the membership finally settling on 344B King George's Avenue.{{cite web |title=Visit to King George's Building |url=https://groups.google.com/g/hackerspacesg/c/EzayAbWbNWM/ |website=Google Groups |access-date=22 November 2022}} A lease was signed on November 11, 2013, and move-in occurred on the next day.{{cite web |title=Tomorrow is moving day |url=https://groups.google.com/g/hackerspacesg/c/LPuDAk9cR70/ |website=Google Groups |access-date=22 November 2022}}

In November 2021, due to increasing rents and the COVID-19 pandemic, HackerspaceSG moved to a different unit within King George's Building, to 336D King George's Avenue.{{cite web |title=HSG is moving! — reboot, money, old stuff and hardware |url=https://groups.google.com/g/hackerspacesg/c/IIFuYbAWcH4 |website=Google Groups |access-date=22 November 2022}}

In December 2024, HackerspaceSG moved for the third time to its current address in Textile Centre.

HackerspaceSG is a not-for-profit membership organisation,{{cite web |title=About HackerspaceSG |url=https://docs.hackerspace.sg/handbook/about |website=docs.hackerspace.sg |access-date=22 November 2022 |language=en}} with many chores and activities performed by self-directed member volunteers. Organisational decisions are proposed and discussed at monthly plenums, and decided mostly by consensus.{{cite web |title=Plenums |url=https://docs.hackerspace.sg/plenum/ |website=docs.hackerspace.sg |access-date=22 November 2022 |language=en}} A board handles administration and government-mandated filings.

The organisation has open membership: anybody can become a member.{{cite web |title=Membership |url=https://docs.hackerspace.sg/handbook/membership |website=docs.hackerspace.sg |access-date=22 November 2022 |language=en}} It is primarily financed through membership dues, but is open to accepting 3rd party sponsorships to fund expansions and renovations.

HackerspaceSG is entirely communal space, from the tools in the electronics lab, to the desks, to the food in the refrigerator. Anything left in the space is considered fair game for anybody to play with. Very few restrictions are placed upon people, as long as they do not detract from the experience of members or consume resources they do not replace.{{cite news |last1=Yong |first1=Debbie |title=Shared offices for little — and ideas for free |work=The Business Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=5 September 2011}} Any member may host an event in the space.{{cite web |title=Hosting Events |url=https://docs.hackerspace.sg/handbook/hosting-events |website=docs.hackerspace.sg |access-date=22 November 2022 |language=en}}

Some partnerships formed in HackerspaceSG have been the subject of controversy and media coverage, like the organisation of a nyotaimori event as a part of a series of themed dinners.{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Amelia |title=Eating in the raw in S'pore |work=The Straits Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=19 June 2011}}{{cite news |last1=Lim |first1=Joyce |title=Some guests were worried at the start |work=The New Paper |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=19 June 2011}}

• Viki{{cite web|author=Meng Weng Wong|url=http://jfdi.asia/2013/09/03/what-the-viki-acquisition-means-for-singapore/ |title=What the Viki acquisition means for Singapore |publisher=JFDI.Asia|date=September 3, 2013 |accessdate=July 19, 2014}}
• JFDI.Asia{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Terence |title=Cynical investors balked at accelerators in Asia. Here's how JFDI got started anyway |url=https://www.techinasia.com/cynical-investors-balked-accelerators-asia-jfdi-started |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=Tech in Asia |date=24 June 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Mantha |first1=Ravi |title=Build, and They Will Come – New Entrepreneurship in Singapore |url=https://www.fairobserver.com/region/central_south_asia/build-and-they-will-come-new-entrepreneurship-singapore/ |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=Fair Observer |date=17 June 2012}}
• Islamicevents.sg{{cite news |title="Kongsi-kongsi" pejabat |work=Berita Harian |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=20 January 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Hashim |first1=Norhaiza |title=Permintaan bagi ruang pejabat bersama di S'pura meningkat |work=Berita Harian |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=20 January 2019}}{{cite news |title=Suntik semangat apabila bersama usahatekwan lain |work=Berita Harian |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |date=20 January 2019}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://hackerspace.sg Hackerspace.SG]
• [https://groups.google.com/group/hackerspacesg "The official HackerspaceSG Google Group"]
• [http://e27.co/what-do-seattle-silicon-valley-berlin-and-cambridge-both-cambridges-have-in-common/ "What do Seattle, Silicon Valley, Berlin and Cambridge (both Cambridges) Have In Common?"]. e27. October 14, 2009
• [http://www.techinasia.com/co-workers-of-the-world-unite-at-hackerspace-sg/ "Co-Workers of the World, Unite at Hackerspace.SG"]. Tech in Asia. October 16, 2009
• [https://www.zdnet.com/article/developing-a-hacker-culture-of-ideas-innovation/ "Developing a 'hacker' culture of ideas, innovation"]. ZDNet. November 9, 2010.
• [http://gracechua.com/2011/05/05/high-tech-tinkerers-on-the-rise/ "High-tech tinkerers on the rise"] The Straits Times. May 5, 2011.

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Category:2009 establishments in Singapore

Category:Computer clubs

Category:Hacker groups

Category:Hackerspaces

Category:Internet in Singapore

Category:Culture of Singapore

Category:Education in Singapore

Category:DIY culture