With one master stroke, it seems that Paris has suddenly become a “player” in the blockchain industry in Europe. A group of like-minded startups have pooled resources and set up the largest blockchain incubator of its kind in Europe. Known as “The Garage”, this new incubator setup, per a report from NewsBTC, “aims to enhance Europe’s position in the global blockchain industry”. It’s home base will be in Paris.
This new support and “think tank” will be located in one building in the Paris city centre. It will occupy three floors, comprised of roughly 5,000 square feet, with an interesting twist on how it operates. The first of its three floors will be open to all comers, so to speak, that wish to drop in, share ideas, and network. Incubators typically serve “members only” by providing much needed basic support services, such as strategy, PR, accounting and legal services, and product advice.
The unique idea for this endeavor is that it encourages “walk-ins” from all blockchain related projects, as well as developers in the cryptocurrency arena. If the effort becomes a recognized startup and welcomed into the fold, then it will avail itself of the basic support services. For the larger companies, consultancy and educational services will also be in the mix.
The Paris incubator is a concerted effort of three entities. Cyril Pagliano is one of the “brains” behind this project. He is the founder of Starchain Capital, a venture investment company focused on startups experimenting with blockchain technology. He had been working on a decentralized app project, Tribe, which had difficulty finding a supporting app store venue. The Apple Store had rejected his proposal.
Pagliano’s other partners include the Dune Networks, a fork of the Tezos blockchain aimed at enterprise and large business applications, and The Family, a startup focusing on advisory and educational services. Each of these firms will have offices in the Paris complex and be readily available for other startups.
The Garage hopes to be more than just a typical startup incubator by welcoming more than just its inaugural members. The goal is to provide a centralized source of blockchain knowledge that would benefit the whole of Europe. As NewsBTC relates:
This should include developers working on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies. With many issues overlapping both parts of the industry, there will no doubt be plenty of opportunity for mutually-beneficial idea sharing thanks to the new facility.
For all intents and purposes, Paris is now in the blockchain “arms race”.
Paglino concluded by reiterating the mission of The Garage:
The idea is to have a place where people can hang and learn… Blockchain is pretty abstract for most people. To have it in the center of Paris will be key to letting people know things are really happening. It’s like an anchor.
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