Island GreenTech - Incubating Green Technology

The Vashon-Maury Island Manufacturing and Technology Incubator

Please click here for the Google Group / working group email list.  If you request membership, please include your name and connection with Vashon.

Email inc@islandgreentech.org for more information

Eklectic Incubator Round Table

The overlapping GreenTech and EV groups meet every Tuesday at noon at the Roasterie/Minglemint, in the room with the glass doors and large ... round table. 

Why create a manufacturing incubator on Vashon Island?

1. Create new local business and employment opportunities on Vashon.
2. Increase the resiliency, self-sufficiency and economic health of our community.
3. Foster sustainable-values businesses and business practices.
4. Support Vashon College by utililzing the Sheffield building.

Why create this particular model of incubator?

The common theme is the "long tail", i.e. direct sales of low volume, low tech, manufactured goods to underserved niche markets, made by Vashon-scale family businesses.

This is emphatically NOT the usual incubator objective of super high tech, well capitalized, cutting edge applied research, considered a failure if it isn't on the IPO track.

Instead, we have a "sea change" opportunity in efficient manufacture and direct sales of low volume goods made possible by the ability of the Internet to connect niche buyers with niche products.

Efficient low-volume manufacturing is enabled in part by Meadow Creature LLC's abrasive waterjet machine and fabrication shop, with the intent of adding additional resources as needed, whether as part of Meadow Creature or by associating with other businesses.

Two books, The Long Tail by Chris Anderson, and Race to the Bottom by Alan Tonelson, may offer helpful background and perspective.

Links:

GreenTech handout

Vashon Electric Vehicle Association - web site
Vashon Electric Vehicle Association - google group
Island GreenTech - Google Group
Meadow Creature LLC - Vashon waterjet shop and manufacturer of tools for sustainable farming
Seattle Metalheads machining & metalworking community - Yahoo group
Bob FAQ - Seattle area shop resource list

Wikipedia Business Incubator page

National Business Incubator Association
NY Times Auto Greentech index

This site is maintained by Bob Powell, bobp@dogpatch.com