By Sam Elliott
Launch Fishers, the small business incubator and co-working space, has seen its membership reach approximately 550 entrepreneurs since first opening its doors in November of 2012.
Now those doors have relocated as Launch Fishers has more than tripled in size by moving into its new location at 12175 Visionary Way.
Launch’s previous location since its inception was in 16,000 square feet of space in the basement of the Fishers Public Library. Just a few minutes’ drive from there, the new location offers 52,000 square feet of space across its main co-working area, 13 rentable office suites rentable single desks, 18 meeting and conference rooms, coffee shop, bistro and theater.
“I had always had the idea of looking for something and just thinking about being ready for expansion,” Launch Fishers founder and CEO John Wechsler said. “The business that was in this building apparently went bankrupt and the building went back to the bank. We ended up buying it from a hedge fund after they bought it from the bank around June or July of last year. We started a renovation plan, the City of Fishers actually bought the building, it went to the Redevelopment Commission and then they lease it to Launch Fishers, the non-profit that operates everything you see here. It took us about eight months to renovate and get to this point and it’s always going to be a work in progress.”
Companies that rent their own business suites with Launch Fishers began moving into the new location March 4, with general members coming into the new space the following week.
Members have already taken advantage of the additional space and meeting rooms, and the new Launch Fishers has a collection of other amenities available and in the works, including an expanded coffee shop, bathrooms with showers for those who bike to work or workout during the day and a “zen room” set up with a massage table for stress relief and holistic medicines.
“Next on deck we have a bistro we’re putting in. We’re going to do paninis, wraps, salads and just have a nice alternative for members to grab lunch,” Wechsler said. “There’s going to be seating for 66 and multiple televisions hanging in there and we’re putting in a light commercial kitchen.
“The other thing is the 150-seat theater we’re going to be opening,” he added. “It’s got a stage and multipurpose floor so we’ll be able to have large live events and we’ll be able to produce content there that’s live to tape productions, corporate videos and that kind of stuff as well as live events.”
Launch Fishers’ new bistro and theater will be completed within a few months, Wechsler said, as renovation priorities first focused on the necessities of the co-working space.
“There were plenty of challenges,” Wechsler said of moving into the new location. “The biggest challenge really out of the gates was the sheer size of it. When you take a building that’s 52,000 square feet, and trying to convey a vision for what you want to maintain as an intimate experience and a functional experience — it’s really hard to do it at scale.
“At the end of the day this is a place, but it really thrives because of the people that are here,” he added. “The culture and the people that are members, our staff, all the supporters of entrepreneurs and innovators — having that culture, that’s what makes this special.”
Launch Fishers
Members: Approximately 550
New address: 12175 Visionary Way
Previous location size: 16,000 square feet
New location size: 52,000 square feet
New location features: 13 rentable office suites, rentable single desks and 18 meeting and conference rooms; larger coffee shop; “zen room” with massage table; bathrooms with showers
Still in the works: Bistro with commercial kitchen to serve paninis, wraps, salads, etc., and seating for 66; 150-seat theater with stage for live presentations, video content production and floor space for live events and expos
