Miami’s Wynwood tech hub to launch custom bike share program with three-part, celebratory event sponsored by TigerDirect on behalf of MIAMade
MIAMI, FL (Thursday, June 5, 2014) – Bike on over, hack out a bike share program, make bike accessories with a 3D printer and then finish it all off with a drink! Sound like an obscure itinerary for a Saturday? Not to the folks at The LAB Miami and Republic Bike. On Saturday, June 14, Wynwood tech hub, The LAB Miami, will host BIKE / HACK / MAKE / DRANK, a three-part launch event for its new, shared Republic Bike fleet. The custom bikes, branded for program sponsors TigerDirect and MIAMade, will be made available as an added amenity to the entrepreneurial members of The LAB Miami.
As Miami’s most talked about breeding place for innovation and progressive startups, The LAB Miami is centrally-located in Miami’s budding Wynwood neighborhood, an up-and-coming area that still lacks a sense of pedestrian permeability. The area’s hot spots are still significantly spread out; therefore, Miami-based tech retail giant TigerDirect and local maker organization MIAMade came together to provide a sustainable transportation solution for the members of The LAB, the burgeoning creative campus that continues to propel Miami into the international tech spotlight. Republic Bike lent their expertise in developing innovative bike sharing solutions to put together a unique program for The Lab.
To launch The Labs bike program, Republic Bike decided to host the event BIKE / HACK / MAKE / DRANK, at The LAB Miami in an effort to raise awareness for the new program and to spread the word about the importance, convenience and joy of transportation alternatives.
Guests and participants are invited to bike on over at 12pm in time for the festivities to begin! The first part of the event will consist of a Hackathon where teams of two will compete to create a modified mechanism for the functionality of The LAB’s bike sharing system. The team with the most logical, innovative and easy-to-use modification will win a prize provided by TigerDirect and Republic Bike.
The MAKE part of the event will consist of a two-hour Make-a-thon with a bicycle twist, led by MIAMade. This special maker event will bring Miami’s maker community together to create and showcase a plethora of eclectic bicycle accessories with electronics, robotics, 3D printers and other popular maker apparatuses.
To wrap up the three-part launch, the DRANK portion will coincide with Second Saturday’s Art Walk. Stolen Spiced Rum cocktails and Duvel beer will be served to the public, as the official Republic Bike fleet of The LAB Miami will be revealed. All locals are invited to stop by and test out the new LAB bikes!
To RSVP for the HACK portion of the launch, visit BikeHackMakeDrank.EventBrite.
EVENT TIMES:
HACK: A Bike Sharing System Hackathon
The LAB Miami main hall
9am-5pm
MAKE: A Bike Accessory Make-a-thon
The LAB Miami main hall
3-6pm
DRANK: A Celebration & Bike Fleet Reveal
The LAB Miami garden
6-9pm
About Republic Bike
Through its custom programs, Republic Bike works closely with corporate partners to design bikes that are intimately aligned with each brand’s aesthetics and values – however practical or wild. Republic Bike creates and deploys an affordable bike sharing system perfect for small companies and trusted communities. Republic invites a wide variety of organizations to create a pool of bicycles for their offices, buildings, residential complexes, colleges or their communities. For more on Republic Bike, please visit http://www.republicbike.com.
About TigerDirect
For over 20 years, TigerDirect (http://www.tigerdirect.com) has served the needs of both personal and business computer users, selling consumer electronics, computers, digital media technology and peripherals via catalog, business to business, and Internet channels. TigerDirect is a subsidiary of Systemax Inc. (NYSE: SYX).
About MIAMade
MIAMade is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a sustainable maker culture in the Greater Miami area. Based out of The LAB Miami, an innovation campus in the heart of Miami’s cultural, artisanal, and technological core, MIAMade has established a diverse network of talent, capital and thought leaders to catapult the maker movement into a force for creative entrepreneurship and innovation in the community.
About The LAB Miami
The LAB Miami is a 10,000 sqft+ work-learn campus for social and tech innovation. With over 100 companies already taking space, the LAB Miami’s members range from freelancers, early-stage startups and nonprofits to companies with multiple funding rounds, international VCs, and traditional SMBs. The LAB Miami also develops cutting-edge educational content to equip innovators with the necessary skills to build sustainable ventures and the knowledge to disrupt social systems. The LAB Miami believes that supporting creative, tech, and social enterprises will transform Miami into a premier startup hub. The LAB was conceived by a successful group of entrepreneurs and young community leaders in association with The Knight Foundation, today’s thought leader in American entrepreneurship. www.thelabmiami.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
The Workshop
Wes Pearce | wes@workshopcollective.com | 305.790.3331
