SGV Linux Users Group Monthly Meeting - Building Droplabs

Christefano Reyes and Lee Vodra will present: Building Droplabs: a Business Model for the Open Source Community

Founded in 2011, Droplabs is a coworking space, classroom and makerspace in Downtown Los Angeles. Our community is made up of members who support each other personally and professionally in a positive environment.

The coworking services and developer programs we offer, like Free Coworking Days, Coders with a Cause, Mobile Device Lab and Developer Boot Camps, were made possible because of our love of open source and a passion for learning.

We'd love to see more places like Droplabs, and we're happy to talk at SGVLUG about how others can replicate our success — and avoid or overcome the challenges we've had over the years:

• Identifying a space to build a location-based community
• Traffic and parking in Downtown Los Angeles
• Making decisions in a consensus-based organization
• Empowering members to become leaders
• Disrupting the coworking business model
• Paying the bills (rent, insurance, staff, etc.)
• … and still having fun!

SGVLUG is one of the oldest and most active Linux User Groups in the Greater Los Angeles area. In addition to Linux, the group also shares interests in other free and open source software, all forms of technology, and the discussion of issues that arise with the these new tools, such as privacy rights. SGVLUG attracts members from throughout LA County including Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, and eastward throughout the San Gabriel Valley. Our members include software developers, system administrators, hardware engineers, and software users of all levels of experience. Many work in the technology field as employees, contractors or consultants, and enjoy the learning and networking opportunities available from the group. We also have many members that serve as volunteers of their time and skills at various local events, including the annual Southern California Linux Expo (SCaLE).

Join us for dinner and presentations. Dinner begins and 7 pm and any presentations will start after most people have recieved their food or 8 pm, whichever comes first.