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When it opens next month at Green Sun Hotel on Pasong Tamo Extension, Impact Hub Manila will join the 66-city, 11,000-member strong Impact Hub global community that started in London 10 years ago.
At its most basic level, IHM is a co-working space. LizAn Kuster, one of the three founders of IHM, likens it more to a clubhouse. “It’s a place where entrepreneurs can meet and scale their enterprise,” the half-Filipina, half-Swiss tells Coconuts Manila. Mathias Jaeggi and Ces Rondario complete the IHM triumverate.
Think of it as a lab where you can jump-test an idea, and where failure is celebrated more than condemned. It fosters innovation and collaboration and it offers access to a kickass workspace, a vibrant learning community, and events and programs that are unlike what’s being offered by most co-working spaces we have now.
It all sounds super — there’s a big bang in our brains!
Below are five reasons we’re stoked for Impact Hub to finally open in Manila:
1. The physical structure of the office is pretty fucking cool.
Balancing the cool murals made by some of Metro Manila’s best muralists are the chic and super comfortable furniture from Dedon and Haworth. It’s on the fifth floor of Green Sun, which is a pretty cool building to be in: at the ground floor are the Soma Stores where local and independent fashion brands are. Right next to Soma is The Canteen, where good grub and decent cocktails could be had. And it’s on Pasong Tamo, which is a pretty cool neighborhood, if you ask us.
2. You’ll be around your people.
Fuck people who think you can’t sit with them — that’s just uncool. At IHM, you’ll be surrounded by people who are actually doing something with their lives and who’d love to help you do something with yours! IHM is a membership type thing (starts at PHP3,280/25 hours) that you sign up for after which IHM will screen you. Collaboration is a big keyword in IHM. If you’re good at marketing and you notice the person next to you needs help in that area, you’ll feel the urge to help him — that’s the kind of community that IHM fosters. “IHM is not for people who don’t like to share or to give. We are a global family. Each member will have to help another,” says LizAn.
3. IHM will help you scale your enterprise
Well, as long as it’s innovative, and you use it for the greater good. Unlike other co-working communities, IHM has things like incubation programs where they award companies that have innovative products and/or projects. “We’ll search communities all over the Philippines for companies with good projects, and we award them with seed money, give them free space for 9 months in the lab, where they can scale their enterprise. They’ll have access to mentors, there are business help desks,” says LizAn.
4. They’re not afraid of failure
IHM has its Fuckup Nights, held every last Thursday of the month, where failure is celebrated. “You know, everywhere, it’s the same story. Success, success, success. But in a life of an entrepreneur, we go through so much failure,” shares LizAn. During Fuckup Nights, speakers — “anybody brave enough to share their fuckup stories are welcome to speak” — are given 5 minutes to share their fuckups. A Q&A follows, after which alcohol. “The goal is for people to leave the room not being afraid of failing.”
5. There are membership options
If you think membership is a tad too steep — which really shouldn’t be because an hour costs less than a frap — IHM offers several other types of membership like Connect. It’s PHP1,999/month where you’ll be connected to the global network of 65 Impact Hubs comprised of 11,000 members. “You’ll also get invites to members-only events, and access to services.”
Impact Hub Manila opens on June 1. 5/F Green Sun Hotel, 2285 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati. 8am-8pm. Impacthub.ph. Email: welcome [at] impacthub [dot] ph. Facebook
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