The Ormeau Baths innovation space is celebrating its second successful year of operation in Belfast this week, boosting the local tech and startup scene.
The Ormeau Baths building has been many things throughout its life, from an old Victorian bathhouse to a modern swimmers and even an art gallery. Two years ago it was re-launched as an ambitious co-working space for digital innovation and disruptive tech companies, with partners including Barlays Eagle Labs and others restoring the building to use after several years of abandonment.
The space offers Belfast's digitally disruptive tech startups affordable desk space in a modern working environment, event and meeting spaces, a prime Belfast address in the city centre, and a number of private offices. Since launching two years ago, the project has expanded to now service over 80 startups and businesses across the tech sector.
The past year has been good for Ormeau Baths, with the space seeing hundreds of events and now housing Invest NI's Ignite NI start-up accelerator, NI Screen's Pixel Mill game development lab, the Digital Catapult Immersive Lab, and others. This week it's also welcoming major London-based tech firms Chargifi and Smartzer and local sports tech business Kairos.
Ormeau Baths co-founder Steve Pette explained the value of the space: "When we opened Ormeau Baths the vision was to create a genuine startup community and a hub that could become the beating heart for the creative, tech and digital sector in Belfast. Today, we are delighted that both wings of the building and our event space continue to be buzzing with activity."
Gareth Quinn, co-founder of Kairos said: "Ormeau baths a great place for the Kairos team to work in. In our early stages of development, we were able to meet people from different backgrounds and collaborate network with them, share our knowledge and learn from their experience. The infrastructures is great, the atmosphere is very dynamic and friendly. It is the best place to work!"
Source: Written based on press release
About the author
Brendan is a Sync NI writer with a special interest in the gaming sector, programming, emerging technology, and physics. To connect with Brendan, feel free to send him an email or follow him on Twitter.
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