Geekspace: The Technically Philly HQ

Lask week we had the chance to visit our good friends, Technically Philly, at their hip new abode in West Philly. The technology news behemoths are all settled in at their new HQ in the First Round Capital building (40th and Locust). Historically, the space was home to an original Urban Outfitters location and more commonly remembered as Strikes Bowling Alley.

The 10,000 square feet now houses several other tech organizations, including Technically Philly and First Round Capital, like Curalate and a small startup group of UPenn students. Though First Round are considered the official leasee of the building, it is important to note that not every organization inhabiting the space are part of First Round’s portfolio.

“The interesting part is that in the past–in traditional news ethics–you would want to be far away from the people you covered. And, increasingly because you can be so transparent on the web, it makes more sense to be right around the people that you’re covering,” says Christopher Wink, co-founder at Technically Philly.

While the location change isn’t much to discuss, the more defining change has been the physical accessibility the new space affords the Technically Philly team.

“We have a lot of events here so everything is happening right in our backyard. It’s super easy for me to snap a photo and do a post about what’s happening. People stop in and say ‘hi’ and it’s nice to have that visibility,” says Technically Philly reporter, Juliana Reyes.

“It just makes sense to be around people that you cover and this is not the only hub of technology startups in Philly. It just happens to be one. So I think the change is more so about being open to serendipity,” says Wink.

It doesn’t hurt, either, that the numerous lifestyle bells and whistles of Technically Philly’s new digg inspire office envy in even the most sensible of desk workers. The new location also boasts a cafe and lounge, a skeeball machine and a business plan shoute. Startup hopefuls can submit their business plans to First Round Capital via a retro-syfy-esque mail shoute that whizzes from one end of the building to another.

So the next time you find yourself in West Philly on a sunny afternoon, go ahead and give into serendipity and pay the fine folks over at Technically Philly a visit–just don’t mention Geekadelphia sent you. They might not let you in

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