Collaborative workplace Hacker Lab shutting its doors in Sacramento after 10 years

Hacker Lab — a nonprofit that provides collaborative spaces for techies and entrepreneurs — has announced it will be closing its doors after a 10-year run.

The company said in a news release that it is unsustainable, and it plans to close to most members by the end of the day on Aug. 5.

“Our revenue streams over the years have been a mix of membership, ticket sales, and office rentals, but heavily reliant on grants and partnerships,” the release read. “At present, without a significant investor, major partnership, or direct injection of funds, our runway is not long enough to make the changes necessary for building long-term self-reliance.”

Hacker Lab has helped entrepreneurs get off the ground through its classes and programs, including a woman business accelerator program that provided 60-day internships and a six-week boot camp for startups in partnership with Sierra College.

Hacker Lab will no longer be taking new members and any longer-term memberships will be refunded. It will continue holding classes until July 30.

Self-service for members will end July 30, and from Aug. 1 to 5, the space will be open only when staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The organization plans to sell off its equipment with garage sales on Aug. 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Aug. 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone interested in the purchase of specific equipment can also email contact@hackerlab.org.

“Regardless of the immediate future, we are proud of Hacker Lab’s run thus far,” the nonprofit wrote in its announcement. “The last few years have been hard on many (to understate), and we feel privileged to have weathered them as well as we have.”

“We’re genuinely thankful for the amazing community of folks who have invested themselves into this space, and consistently humbled by the talented & hard working creatives who’ve been a part of it.”

This story was originally published July 21, 2022 at 6:00 AM.