The Hive at 55 co-working facility is transforming the Lower Manhattan small business scene.
ShopKeep.com and Aurnhammer LLC, two member businesses, are expanding and have signed leases at 55 Broad Street, while Hive member Roadify, which created a mobile application providing real-time transit updates, won the grand prize in NYC Big Apps 2.0’s software challenge.
The Downtown Alliance runs the Hive at 55 at 55 Broad Street with support from the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the New York Information and Technology Center, the Rudin family, and other Lower Manhattan businesses.
“ShopKeep.com, Aurnhammer and Roadify are famous for the kind of ahead-of-the-curve work that happens at the Hive every day,” said Elizabeth H. Berger, president of the Downtown Alliance.
Bill Rudin, CEO and co-chairman of Rudin Management Company, said, “We are excited that the Hive has proven to be a successful incubator for New York’s emerging technology companies, and delighted to celebrate the success of ShopKeep.com and Aurnhammer, and so many other start-ups that have called the Hive their home.”
Roadify, which won the prestigious app award, makes commuting easy by combining current updates from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York City Department of Transportation with user-submitted information on everything from slow-running trains to open parking spots to gas prices.
“The Hive has been a great space for us to concentrate and accomplish our work more efficiently,” said Daniel Robinson, Roadify’s head of product.
Aurnhammer LLC and ShopKeep.com — which have made the Hive their business locale since early 2010 — are both expanding and have leased spaces adjacent to their former Hive offices at 55 Broad Street.
Aurnhammer LLC is a creative media, design and development firm specializing in branded smart device applications for the mobile space. CEO Bill Aurnhammer said, “We plan on continuing our relationship with the Hive, as our new location is right next door. This should allow us to continue our expansion, as well as taking advantage of their conference rooms and other facilities. So we are leaving the Hive, but not going far from home.”
ShopKeep.com has gone from idea and incubation at the Hive to a revenue-generating product in use at more than 100 locations nationwide.
ShopKeep.com is a web-based platform for retailers to manage their point-of-sale and more, an alternative to cash registers and more expensive point of sale systems. The office move coincides with their iPad POS App debut in the Apple App Store in May.
“The value of locating our offices at the Hive initially can’t be underestimated and is one reason we chose to keep our offices at 55 Broad — so we still have access to the bright minds and forward thinkers who are associated with this start-up incubator,” said ShopKeep.com founder Jason Richelson.
The 4,000 s/f, fully outfitted Hive at 55 includes a shared workspace for more than 30 people, three private offices and meeting space, as well as Wi-Fi, fax, printer and copier machines, conference rooms and bike storage. Additionally, workshops, classes and other networking opportunities are held there.
The Hive offers various membership options and private offices are also available for rent.
For more information call 212-835-2744, or log onto www.hiveat55.com
