Manufacturers

Tinker Bristol will be a unique incubator/makerspace hybrid, organized as a nonprofit (501(c) 3) with a full-time shop manager and director, a board of directors and an advisory council representing diverse disciplines and expertise. Initial capitalization is being funded through grants, sponsorships and philanthropy. The operation will be self-sustaining long term with tenant leases, membership income, event fees, and business service and licensing charges. The facility is projected to become cash-flow positive in 24-36 months.

Research has shown that Business Incubators are diversifying their functionality to broaden their impact, while Makerspaces are harnessing their commercial potential to become self-sustaining. By imbedding a Manufacturing Incubator in the collaborative culture of a Makerspace from day one, Tinker|Bristol provides cross-functional capabilities, which enhance offerings for members and tenants and increases its income potential for long term sustainability. This hybrid business model distinguishes Tinker|Bristol from innovation centers that are either exclusively business incubators or members-only workshops.

Although trends have focused on technological innovations, there has been little innovation in how to facilitate the transfer of inventions from the garage or classroom to commercial success. Unlike traditional business incubation, Tinker|Bristol is pioneering a new approach by tapping into the makerspace culture of collaboration.

Key differentiators include:

• Access equipment to facilitate prototyping, the acquisition of new skills and the development of new applications and technologies;
• Open access for the community (instead of exclusively serving start-up companies and entrepreneurs) through an equipment timeshare and service bureau;
• Leveraging Rhode Island’s native assets and homegrown talent pool of manufacturers, master trades people and inventors;
• Access to expertise of specialists and experts in a collaborative relationship, allowing founders to focus on developing their invention instead of trying to master business skills that may not be their strengths;
• Open to established businesses with corporate makerspace memberships, providing affordable access to equipment to help accelerate R+D and product development;
• Room for incubated companies to grow in flexible manufacturing space immediately adjacent to Tinker|Bristol as well as in surplus space available throughout the Bristol Industrial Park.
• Located in the heart of downtown Bristol, not isolated in a technology park or university campus.

With 12,400 sf of commercial grade Manufacturing Equipment, Rapid Prototyping, and R&D tools at your disposal and Monthly Business membership ‘seats’ starting at $150/month you can make your R&D and Development funds go further and your process go faster. Access to much more equipment than most small businesses can normally afford and the ability to be part of a community of businesses, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, artists and the like will help your company grow and prosper. Each ‘seat’ rented gets anyone (once trained on Tinker|Bristol safety procedures!) in your company, at any given time – amount of persons based on number of seats, access to all that Tinker|Bristol offers. If your business is looking to really grow and take your operations to the next level then you should look at joining our Incubator program as well!

Tinker|Bristol enables manufacturers, start-ups and small businesses to access:

• More efficient use of their R+D budgets
• Commercial grade manufacturing equipment and rapid proto-typing facilities, otherwise unaffordable to small enterprises
• Faster development processes and technologies
• Shared expertise of professional and creative makers
• Makerspace benefits for employees
• Incubator services to take operations to the next level
• Networking in a community of manufacturers, inventors and makers

The collaborative environment is intended to accelerate innovation and product development, not undermine it. Tinker|Bristol will adhere to policies and practices tailored to the privacy needs of each user.

For example:

• Intellectual property, patents and concepts remain the property of the inventor/originator at all times.
• Both makerspace members and incubator tenants will agree to an NDNC-type agreement not to steal, misuse, sell or disclose the designs, concepts or engineering of others.
• Members will have the ability to book private time in specific work areas or sections of the facility at variable peak and off-peak rates.