Purdue Railyard Shrinks ‘Capital Barrier’ For Startups
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe director of the Purdue Research Parks says the recently-launched Purdue Railyard coworking space will benefit the entrepreneurial ecosystem at the university and the region. The facility is billed as one of the largest of its kind in the country. Greg Napier says at $40 per month, the space reduces the "capital barrier" to finding a home for early-stage businesses.
He says the space also offers a foothold into potentially locating to Purdue Research Park after scaling up.
In an interview on Inside INdiana Business Television, Napier also described the connection the Purdue Railyard could have to commercialization. "With the things that are happening at the Purdue Foundry — the idea that we are taking the intellectual property from Purdue and commercializing that — this is a place where that could actually happen physically and take the manifestation of a business," Napier said.
The Railyard offers more than 26,000 square-feet of space and amenities including more than a dozen conference rooms, shared lab facilities, a green room for video production and a restaurant. Napier says demand is "great" for this type of facility, adding potential locators could range from 1-2 person startups to retirees looking to stay close to the entrepreneurial world. He says the space offers opportunities for potential partnerships.