Everyone knows about the Hacker Dojo. I was on the phone Saturday with someone in New York and I mentioned the Hacker Dojo and he knew all about it. Based in Mountain View CA, the Dojo is like a startup orphanage for founders and entrepreneurs trying to get their ideas, products, and companies off the ground. Memberships are $100 per month giving founders access to hardware, office space, mentoring, wifi, a kitchen, events, and other amenities. I can't tell you how many times over the past year someone has talked to me about working at the Hacker Dojo. Perhaps the most notable startup to work out of there in recent memory was Pinterest founder Ben Silbermann who worked there before the site was completed. The Dojo had plans to expand with two additional warehouses on the back of the Dojo.
Now the city of Mountain View is threatening to shut down the buildings unless Dojo management can get the building back up to code.
They need to install a fire alarm and fire sprinklers, conduct a parking survey, build walls around the dumpsters, plus fees and other permits costing roughly $250,000. Needless to say that's a lot of $100 monthly memberships.
I caught up with HD Director Katy Levinson last week and we talked about what they're doing to raise money and awareness for their cause before the city steps in and closes the whole project down. Also got a couple of videos of the unused warehouses that will be available to the group if the city ever approves them.
Hacker Dojo Director Katy Levinson
Video of the new buildings they've leased but aren't allowed to move into until the permitting is fixed.
What the Hacker Dojo needs your help with.