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Mainframe Studios is a hub for creatives

As a glassblower in a rural Northwest Iowa town Jesse Bogenrief wanted to tap into a bigger market with new customers.

He just needed to find a space that was affordable enough to do it.

So three months ago he moved from Spencer to Des Moines and now rents a studio in the basement of Mainframe Studios in downtown Des Moines.

He says rent is nearly $2,500 a month for his studio space that also serves as a gallery.

“This space has been so tantalizing because it’s been in the works for a while,” he says. “And one of the things I love about this building, compared to some of the places I looked at, was the quality. It really feels like I’m part of something really nice here.”

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A coworking space for artists

Mainframe Studios is a nonprofit organization that provides artists with affordable workspace. An open house and ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon to introduce the public to the space. So far, 65 artists representing 24 mediums have 60 studios on three floors.

Four art-related nonprofit organizations will have offices on the ground floor along with a 4,700 square foot event space.

Mainframe Studios Director Siobhan Spain said they prioritize offering permanent, affordable workspace for artists. Artists pay $7 per square foot for rent.

Spain said they received ownership of the 160,000 square foot building at 900 Keosauqua Way in 2014. The building was purchased from Century Link and used to be a call center that also housed Mainframe Computers.

“What we wanted to do was get the first phase done, so people can at least see the vision in person,” Spain says. “And then continue with the next two phases.”

Spain says eventually Mainframe Studios will get up to 180 studios. A wait list has formed for the second phase.

“It’s certainly a hub,” Spain says.

Artists who have space in the studio have access 24 hours a day and can host their own workshops or educational classes in their studio space.

Spain said 20 percent of the artists are from out-of-town.

“We’re really relying on the artists to be part of this building and what makes this hum,” Spain said. “We’re taking the artists seriously enough that they take themselves serious enough. They have the opportunity to see themselves as entrepreneurs as much as they want to.”

Bogenrief. 41, says being around so many other artists, will help his business.

Just last year he hosted 280 classes.

“One of the things I’ve always had is someone comes to visit someone else and mine is such a visually exciting art form to watch,” Bogenrief explains. “That’s why I have bleachers. People will come to this building for one thing and get to see a whole bunch of different things.”

Matt Corones is a painter will travel from Ames to use the space inside Mainframes Studios.

His studio is on the fourth floor.

“The community is great because there are a lot of people interested in art around, it’s a hub for creativity and production,” Corones, 38, said. ”

Spain says it’s similar to the Gravitate coworking space, but for artists.

“I see the tech community having similar traits to the art community,” Spain says. “Both are innovators, they need affordable space to innovate and experiment, they’re open, thirsty for information and want community.”

Spain hopes the construction can be completed by 2019, but it depends on the amount of funding Mainframes Studios receives.

“I have people, it’s just a matter of getting funding,” Spain says.

 

Mainframe Studios is a hub for creatives | Clay & Milk
A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.
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