[June 18, 2014]

TechShop Celebrates Nationwide Maker Movement With the White House

White House Maker Faire--TechShop, a membership-based, do-it-yourself workshop and fabrication studio with locations nationwide, is participating in the first-ever White House Maker Faire on Wednesday, June 18, which has been designated a National Day of Making.

The debut event celebrates American makers, students and entrepreneurs of all ages who are inventing the future.

"TechShop is excited to join forces with the White House in celebration of makers to showcase some of the amazing results of our platform used for STEAM, education and innovation," said Mark Hatch, CEO and co-founder of TechShop. "TechShop already serves more than 6,000 members nationwide. We aim to democratize access to tools and empower makers from all walks of life. From startups and students to grandmothers and veterans, we want to inspire everyone to invent, create jobs and launch successful and world-changing businesses."

Hatch and TechShop founder Jim Newton will attend the White House Maker Faire, which will feature several TechShop-member projects, including the following:

• Embrace: Prototyped at a Bay Area TechShop, the award-winning Embrace Warmer is designed to rapidly stabilize the body temperature of hypothermic infants in developing countries. At less than 1% of the cost of a standard incubator, the warmer does not require constant electricity and is portable, hygienic and reusable. Embrace is on track to help over 150,000 infants by the end of 2014.
• Solepower: Created by a team at TechShop Pittsburgh, this unique design captures, generates and stores power within a shoe insole. Users charge smartphones by harnessing their walking power.
• <>John Lawton: John became a member of TechShop Austin-Round Rock through the Veterans Training Program, which is sponsored by GE and the VACI and gives veterans a year of free membership and classes. John was a pilot for Marine One and uses his skills to create custom, high end, industrial furniture as well as various other inventions and creations.
• Joe Ryan: Joe commuted from Iowa to Detroit and joined TechShop Detroit via the Veterans Training Program. He took more than 20 classes, eventually becoming an instructor at the shop as well as an entrepreneur. He was recently able to quit his job that required long commutes and start his own local business.
• Marc Roth: Using the first $50 he received from San Francisco's General Assistance while homeless, Marc joined TechShop San Francisco. In the shop, he engaged with members and learned advanced manufacturing skills that allowed him to start his own business. He has since launched a non-profit to help others build their skills.

Expanding across America

With eight locations and growing, TechShop is in discussions with over a dozen other cities who want to bring TechShop's open access model to their communities.

TechShop is working with St. Louis and Los Angeles to partner with universities, academic institutions, companies, corporations, local government and individuals to bring TechShop St. Louis and TechShop Los Angeles to those cities next year. TechShop is also entering into separate agreements to begin developing concepts for a TechShop Louisville in the Kentuckiana region.

More Maker Celebrations

In celebration of National Day of Making, all TechShop locations across the U.S. will host open houses for makers and aspiring makers in those cities. Come into any location from 9AM-midnight and discover how you can learn how to use new tools to create and make something. Special promotions will also be available for visitors. Tag your visit/check-in with #NationofMakers.

On Tuesday, leading up to the White House Maker Faire, President Obama toured TechShop Pittsburgh, where he met with the local maker community and delivered remarks on the economy. That same day, TechShop DC-Arlington held its official ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, June 17, and hosted Maker Summit, bringing together leaders to discuss global maker expansion efforts.

The weeklong festivities will culminate in a grand opening celebration of the TechShop DC-Arlington location, which will be open to visitors on Saturday, June 21, from 11AM - 4PM ET.

About TechShop, Inc.

Founded in October 2006, TechShop is a membership-based, do-it-yourself (DIY) workshop and fabrication studio providing access to a vibrant community of creative people and more than $1 million worth of high quality machines, tools and software. TechShop offers classes, workshops, instruction and meet-ups for people of all ages and skill levels. TechShop is based in San Jose, Calif., with locations nationwide.

For information and course listings, visit www.techshop.com, email [email protected] or call 855-TECHSHOP. You can follow TechShop on Twitter (News - Alert) at "@TechShop." TechShop is also on Facebook as "TechShop Incorporated."

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