MAY 2012
The very beginning
The LAB Miami is officially founded by Wifredo Fernandez, Danny Lafuente and Elisa Rodriguez-Vila in a 700 sqft space in The Wynwood Building, with desks created out of $300 worth of wood and shipping pallets. LAB originally stood for Love, Art & Business. Among its first members were local Wynwood celebrities: photographer Catalina Ayubi, Shaun Abrahamson – Founder of Urban.Us, Ernie Hsiung of Code for Miami and Willie Avendano, Founder of Zero1.
SEP 2012
Knight Foundation
The LAB teams up with The Knight Foundation and a group of local angel investors to expand to a 10,000 sq ft warehouse where it lives today.
DEC 2012
Miami 1st Art Hackathon
The LAB hosts the first ever Telefonica/Wayra Accelerator Global Demo Day. The LAB receives a Knight Arts Challenge Award to organize Miami’s first Art Hackathon.
FEB 2013
Cirque du CoWork
The LAB opens its new doors to members with its event Cirque du CoWork
* Picture by CVOX Group
APRIL 2013
Coding Bootcamp
The LAB produces Miami’s first Ruby on Rails 10-week bootcamp, taught by local trainers Bryce Kerley, Josef Diago & Willie Avendano.
JUNE 2013
National Day of Civic Hacking
On June 6, 2013, thousands of people from across the United States gathered for National Day of Civic Hacking. The event brought together urbanists, civic hackers, government staff, developers, designers, community organizers and anyone with the passion to make their city better. They collaboratively build new solutions using publicly-released data, technology, and design processes to improve our communities and the governments that serve them. Anyone can participate; you don’t have to be an expert in technology, you just have to care about your neighborhood and community.
NOVEMBER 2013
Miami Mini Maker Faire
The LAB & MIA Made produce the first ever Miami Mini Maker Faire, now an annual event celebrating makerism and DIY culture.
Maker Faire is the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth—a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker Movement. It’s a place where people show what they are making, and share what they are learning.
Makers range from tech enthusiasts to crafters to homesteaders to scientists to garage tinkerers. They are of all ages and backgrounds. The aim of Maker Faire is to entertain, inform, connect and grow this community.
SPRING 2014
1st Licensed coding academy in Florida
Wyncode launches first licensed coding academy in the State of Florida
A bootcamp based at the LAB Miami that aims to teach practical and relevant skills to motivated individuals, whether your goal is to get a job or to start your own company. Students will spend 9 weeks writing 10,000 lines of code in their quest to be Ruby on Rails developers. Upon completion of the program, graduates will have received intensive training in Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3, in addition to acquiring soft skills like business and leadership skills. Students also work with local businesses and schools to strengthen the Miami tech community and Wyncode is serious about incorporating relaxation and fun into the curriculum- expect weekly activities like yoga, cross fit, sailing and go-karting. Currently, Wyncode is the only coding bootcamp in Miami, Florida, and also offers courses in Spanish.
SUMMER 2014
Wynwood Maker Camp launches
Wynwood Maker Camp launches, providing a new type of techie summer camp for kids age 7-14.
The first summer camp in South Florida focused on teaching STEAM to our students.
