Berlin’s Startup Factory Takes Shape [TCTV]

Mike Butcher

Mike Butcher is the European Editor for TechCrunch. A former grunge rock drummer, he became a long time journalist, and has since written for UK national newspapers and magazines including The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The New Statesman. Mike is also a co-founder and shareholder of TechHub, a co-working space/service/community with several locations... → Learn More

Monday, June 4th, 2012

We originally reported on the project to create a new kind of startup space in Berlin back in April, provisionally titled “The Factory”.

I recently visited the project which has been put together by JMES Investments (a Berlin based Angel and Seed Investor), s+p Real Estate, and other private investors.

They plan to develop the buildings into a hub for startups, where some will be investments and others added just to add to the cultural mix of the place. Close to Berlin’s central Mitte district, the project his being led by Simon Schaefer with input from major Berlin startups like Soundcloud.

With a total of 5 stories and 8,500 square-meters of space, The Factory will consist of two multi-story buildings which are already over-subscribed for potential startup tenants who will be treated to bars, restaurants a pool and a basketball court.

Schaefer took me for a tour around the buildings that are slowly coming together.