Groover Labs
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersWichita, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Groover Labs does
Groover Labs, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit collaborative technology hub founded in 2019 by Curt Gridley and Tracy Hoover and located at 334 N. St. Francis Ave in Wichita's Old Town district, within a federally designated Opportunity Zone. The organization operates a single 42,000-square-foot facility combining three integrated service lines: coworking space, a 14,000-square-foot makerspace (Maker Labs), and a 275-person event venue. Groover Labs serves early-stage startup founders, remote workers, freelancers, product developers, and event organizers through flexible monthly memberships (hotseats from $75, dedicated desks from $210, workstations at $285, studios at $360, private offices from $515) plus $20 day passes, with usage-based event and conference room rentals available to non-members at nonprofit-below-market pricing.
The underlying technology is primarily physical infrastructure rather than software. The Maker Labs facility is equipped with $200,000+ of digital fabrication hardware including a Tormach 3-axis CNC mill, CNC plasma table, PCB assembly and electronics shop, multiple 3D printers, and a wood shop with CNC router table, supported by gigabit fiber internet throughout the building. Complementary offerings include a podcast studio (four Rode microphones, RodeCaster Pro soundboard), seven conference rooms, two 24-seat classrooms, and an event hall with A/V equipment. Beyond the facility, Groover Labs runs two flagship programs: CAMPFIRE, a 12-week startup education program built on Stanford University's curriculum in partnership with Y Combinator, and ACCEL-KS, a Kansas Department of Commerce proof-of-concept grant program offering up to $25,000 per founder. Strategic partners include the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (1 Million Cups), NXTUS, Wichita State University, and the Defense Innovation OnRump Hub: Kansas.
The revenue model is multi-stream and hybrid: recurring subscription revenue from coworking and Maker Labs memberships, usage-based event and conference room rental, one-time fees for the CAMPFIRE program and podcast studio access, plus grant administration and donor contributions as a 501(c)(3). Distribution is primarily direct sales via the website with event-driven top-of-funnel activity (1 Million Cups, Toastmasters, devICT meetups). The organization is private, has 1-10 employees, and was bootstrapped with approximately $5 million of founder capital invested in facility construction. Following co-founder Curt Gridley's death in 2024, the organization completed a Kansas BASE 2.0 grant-funded expansion in 2025 adding 8 private offices, 12 workstations, 2 conference rooms, and 2 call booths.
Groover Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Groover Labs
- Legal name
- Groover Labs, Inc.
- Website
- https://grooverlabs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Groover Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Coworking and Makerspace Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Virtual, Hybrid & Livestream Event Coordination (HSACAAAO), Certification & Credentialed Creator Programs (MPACALAI)
Keywords
Where Groover Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wichita
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Groover Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Coworking Memberships: Flexible workspace memberships including day passes, hotseats, dedicated desks, private offices, and studios with monthly billing
- Maker Labs Memberships: Access to prototyping equipment and makerspace facilities
- Event Venue Rental: Conference rooms, classrooms, and event venue rental to members and non-members for meetings and events. Non-profit pricing below market rate.
- CAMPFIRE Startup Program: 12-week startup course based on Stanford/Y Combinator curriculum, $250 per participant with limited scholarships available
- Podcast Studio Rental: Podcast studio membership with two-hour blocks, includes hotseat membership
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Day Pass - One-day drop-in access |
| Subscription | Monthly | Hotseat - First-come first-served workspace |
| Subscription | Monthly | Dedicated Desk - On-demand reserved workspace |
| Subscription | Monthly | Workstation - Individual partitioned workspace |
| Subscription | Monthly | Studio - Customizable workspace |
| Subscription | Monthly | Private Office - For teams of 1-5 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Podcast Studio Membership |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Boardroom Rental (non-members) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Large Conference Room Rental (non-members) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Small Conference Room Rental (non-members) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CAMPFIRE Startup Program |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Event Venue |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coffee Service |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Groover Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Groover Labs operates a 42,000-square-foot nonprofit collaborative hub in Wichita, Kansas that combines tiered coworking memberships (hotseats, dedicated desks, private offices), a 14,000-square-foot makerspace equipped with CNC mills, plasma cutters, 3D printers and PCB assembly tools, a 275-person event venue with conference rooms and classrooms, and educational programming including the CAMPFIRE 12-week startup curriculum and the ACCEL-KS grant program administered in partnership with the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Product overview
Groover Labs is a nonprofit 42,000-square-foot collaborative technology hub in Wichita, Kansas combining coworking space, makerspace, and event venue services. The product portfolio includes: Coworking Spaces (hotseats, dedicated desks, private offices, studios, workstations, day passes), Maker Labs (14,000 sq ft product development facility with CNC equipment, 3D printers, electronics and metal/wood shops), Podcast Studio (recording facility with professional audio equipment), Event Spaces (275-person venue, conference rooms, classrooms), CAMPFIRE (12-week Y Combinator/Stanford startup education program), and ACCEL-KS grant program (up to $25,000 proof-of-concept funding for Kansas entrepreneurs). These offerings work together to support entrepreneurs from concept to market.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CAMPFIRE: A 12-week startup education program built on Stanford University's 'How to Start a Startup' course in partnership with Y Combinator, available to Kansas founders through Groover Labs.
- ACCEL-KS
Products and services
- Coworking Spaces Flexible workspace solutions including hotseats, dedicated desks, workstations, studios, and private offices for up to five people, available on monthly memberships ($75-$515+) plus $20/day passes; targets startup founders, remote workers, freelancers, and small teams needing a professional workspace with gigabit fiber and free coffee.
- Maker Labs 14,000 sq ft makerspace with PCB assembly and electronics shop, Tormach 3-axis CNC mill, CNC plasma table, 3D printers, wood shop with CNC router table, and metal shop providing affordable access to prototyping equipment for product developers, hardware startups, and makers.
- Event Spaces Rentable event venue seating up to 275 people, seven conference rooms (boardroom seats 20, four large rooms seat 8, two small rooms seat 4-6), and two classrooms seating 24 each with A/V equipment (projectors, screens, microphones, stage); available to members and non-members at nonprofit below-market hourly rates.
- CAMPFIRE Startup Program 12-week paid startup education program ($250 per participant, limited scholarships) based on Stanford University's 'How to Start a Startup' course in partnership with Y Combinator, with local mentors who have built and exited tech companies; includes AI integration curriculum for 2026 cohorts.
- ACCEL-KS Grant Program Proof-of-concept funding program awarding up to $25,000 to Kansas founders, with educational programming, expert technical support, and mentorship community to help transform concepts into market-ready products; administered by Groover Labs in partnership with the Kansas Department of Commerce.
- Podcast Studio Membership Professional podcast recording facility with two-hour studio blocks seating up to 8 people, equipped with four Rode microphones and a RodeCaster Pro soundboard; bundled with hotseat coworking membership for monthly podcasters and content creators.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90+ founders have graduated from CAMPFIRE startup program since 2019
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Groover Labs
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Groover Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Groover Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kansas Department of CommercecorePartnership to support entrepreneurs in securing federal innovation grants. Kansas Department of Commerce leads initiative to foster innovation and entrepreneurship statewide, with Groover Labs serving as central hub for programs like ACCEL-KS.
- NXTUScoreKansas startup ecosystem partner. NXTUS helps launch and grow businesses; Accelerate Venture Partners dispersed nearly $1 million to early startups in 2025.
- Wichita State University College of Engineering Project Innovation HubcoreEcosystem partner providing technical support and connections to university engineering resources for ACCEL-KS program participants.
- Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: KansasminorEcosystem partner supporting defense innovation and dual-use technology commercialization for Kansas founders.
- WSU Tech and Greater Wichita PartnershipminorPartnered to host Andrew Crowe's New American Renaissance Manufacturing Tour in 2022.
- Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationcoreDeveloped 1 Million Cups program in 2012; program now in 160+ communities nationwide. Groover Labs hosts weekly 1 Million Cups events.
- KnowmadicsminorInstitutional member with dedicated office space; hosts CyberLabs events and tours at Groover Labs.
- FlagshipKansas.TechcoreKansas tech organization co-located at Groover Labs; shares passion for technology, Wichita and Kansas entrepreneurship.
- United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)minorUSPTO Southwest Region Office Director Hope Shimabuku spoke at 1 Million Cups at Groover Labs.
- Foreman LawminorProvides free office hours at Groover Labs on 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, advising startups on legal and practical considerations for formation, operation, and liquidity events.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Groover Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Artisan's Asylum: Nonprofit industrial makerspace in Somerville, MA offering shared studios, fabrication equipment (CNC, woodworking, electronics), coworking, and event programming. Closest analog to Groover Labs' makerspace-plus-coworking nonprofit model at a larger scale.
Broad incumbents
- WeWork: Global coworking and flexible-office operator offering hotseats, dedicated desks, private offices, and event spaces. Compares as the broadest benchmark for coworking membership tiers (day passes through private offices) that Groover Labs also offers.
- Industrious: Premium flexible-office and coworking provider with enterprise-grade offices, meeting rooms, and event spaces across major US metros. Comparable as a higher-end coworking/event offering competing for some of Groover Labs' event and office demand.
- Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Large-scale operator of coworking, private offices, event venues, and innovation programming across multiple US cities and international locations. Comparable as a coworking-plus-event-venue service provider serving startups and tech tenants.
Regional players
- MakeICT: Wichita-based nonprofit makerspace where Groover Labs' Jeremiah Burian serves on the board. Directly comparable mission (community makerspace) and explicitly local; useful as a Wichita ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor.
Emerging players
- Techstars: Global startup accelerator running 13-week programs with mentorship and demo days. Comparable through Groover Labs' CAMPFIRE 12-week curriculum built on Stanford/Y Combinator content — overlapping in startup education and mentor-driven program delivery.
- Fab Foundation / Fab Lab Network: MIT-originated global network of community fabrication labs sharing digital manufacturing tools (3D printers, laser cutters, CNC). Compares through the lab-making-and-prototyping community model and curriculum-aligned equipment access that Groover Labs' 14,000 sq ft makerspace reflects.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Groover Labs social profiles
Digital presenceGroover Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Groover Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Groover Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Groover Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Groover Labs
What does Groover Labs do?
Groover Labs operates a 42,000-square-foot nonprofit collaborative hub in Wichita, Kansas that combines tiered coworking memberships (hotseats, dedicated desks, private offices), a 14,000-square-foot makerspace equipped with CNC mills, plasma cutters, 3D printers and PCB assembly tools, a 275-person event venue with conference rooms and classrooms, and educational programming including the CAMPFIRE 12-week startup curriculum and the ACCEL-KS grant program administered in partnership with the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Is Groover Labs a public or private company?
Groover Labs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Groover Labs founded?
Groover Labs was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Groover Labs based?
Groover Labs is headquartered in Wichita, United States, in the North America region.
How does Groover Labs make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Coworking Memberships are the primary driver. The others are maker Labs Memberships, event Venue Rental, CAMPFIRE Startup Program and podcast Studio Rental.
Who are Groover Labs's main competitors?
Artisan's Asylum is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are WeWork, Industrious and Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC). MakeICT is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Techstars and Fab Foundation / Fab Lab Network.
Does Groover Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Groover Labs.
What industry is Groover Labs in?
Groover Labs's product category is Coworking and Makerspace Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAC, Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios), with a secondary code of HSACAAAO, Virtual, Hybrid & Livestream Event Coordination. Its NAICS code is 61171.