Distillery Labs
Distillery Labs is a Peoria, Illinois-based nonprofit innovation hub providing coworking, MakerSpace prototyping, and digital platforms (Proximity, RamenLife) to support startup founders, healthcare/MedTech and AgTech entrepreneurs, young women in STEM, and smart city pilots across Central Illinois.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersPeoria, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Distillery Labs does
Distillery Labs, founded in 2021 and headquartered at 201 SW Adams Street in Peoria, Illinois, is a community-connected nonprofit innovation hub serving the Greater Peoria and Central Illinois region. The organization's stated mission is to connect people, ideas, and resources to launch and grow new businesses, with a positioning that emphasizes removing ego and friction from the founder journey. It serves a broad set of customer segments including early- and growth-stage startup founders, healthcare and MedTech entrepreneurs, AgTech founders, smart city technology companies, young women in grades 6-12 (through MakeHerSpace), and remote workers/small businesses seeking coworking space.
The core product surface consists of three layers: (1) physical infrastructure, including coworking space (starting at $100/month for individuals with badge access up to 9pm) and a MakerSpace rapid prototyping center equipped with a textile studio, breadboarding and soldering stations, a full electronics test bench, 3D printers, a laser cutter and engraver, and dedicated robotics, agtech, and medtech workstations; (2) digital platforms, comprising Proximity (a third-party coworking and membership management system with iOS/Android mobile apps used for room booking, member directory, and event management) and RamenLife/NICE (a regional digital startup ecosystem portal connecting founders with mentors, resources, potential customers, and hires); and (3) municipal-grade smart city infrastructure, namely the Central Illinois Living Laboratory (CILL) and Heart of Peoria (HOP) Loop, which provide sensor-equipped test zones in downtown Peoria public rights-of-way with Peoria City Council backing, currently hosting pilots with GridMatrix, On It Solutions, Deep Walk, and Mach 9 Robotics.
Distillery Labs operates on a hybrid revenue model in which the primary direct monetization is coworking subscriptions, supplemented by grants and philanthropic funding from community partners such as the Peoria Women's Fund and the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. Most programs — including the gener8tor galpha pre-accelerator and gbeta accelerator, MakeHerSpace, Catalyst, Crucible, AgTech Connect, Illinois Angels Flight School, Fail Club, Slices + Startups, and Winning Wednesday Workshops — are delivered free to participants with no fees or equity requirements. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on recurring programming, digital platforms, and an extensive partnership network (Greater Peoria EDC, Illinois Central College, OSF Healthcare, University of Illinois System, Illinois Innovation Network, Morton EDC, gener8tor, Illinois Ventures, Girls Who Code) to drive founder acquisition and engagement, supported by a lean team of four named staff and a broad volunteer base.
Distillery Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Distillery Labs
- Legal name
- Distillery Labs
- Website
- https://distillerylabs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Distillery Labs is a Peoria, Illinois-based nonprofit innovation hub providing coworking, MakerSpace prototyping, and digital platforms (Proximity, RamenLife) to support startup founders, healthcare/MedTech and AgTech entrepreneurs, young women in STEM, and smart city pilots across Central Illinois.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Distillery Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Incubation Services
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)
Keywords
Where Distillery Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Peoria
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Distillery 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: Physical coworking space access starting at $100 monthly for individuals, with various membership tiers available through the Proximity platform. Members receive badge access for entry outside normal business hours.
- Virtual Membership: Free virtual membership providing access to the ecosystem, updates, newsletters, and special access to events through the Proximity platform and RamenLife portal.
- Accelerator Programs: Free programs including gener8tor galpha (4-week pre-accelerator) and gener8tor gbeta (7-week accelerator) that provide intensive mentorship and investor introductions with no fees and no equity requirements.
- MakeHerSpace Program: Fully funded 6-month mentoring and makerspace program for young women in grades 6-12, funded through community partnerships and donations rather than participant fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Core Access - $100/month individual coworking |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Membership - Free |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Distillery Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Distillery Labs operates a community-connected innovation hub in Peoria, Illinois, offering coworking memberships starting at $100/month, a MakerSpace rapid prototyping center, and a portfolio of entrepreneurial programs including MakeHerSpace, Catalyst, Crucible, and AgTech Connect. The organization supports startup founders through physical infrastructure, digital platforms (Proximity and RamenLife/NICE), and smart city testing infrastructure (Central Illinois Living Laboratory and Heart of Peoria Loop).
Product overview
Distillery Labs is Central Illinois' first innovation hub offering a multi-component ecosystem comprising physical infrastructure (coworking at 201 SW Adams St, Peoria), a MakerSpace rapid prototyping center, and a portfolio of entrepreneurial programs. The core offering includes coworking memberships and maker facilities, supported by digital platforms: Proximity (virtual membership and room booking) and RamenLife (startup ecosystem portal). Programming spans five focus areas: Smart Cities + Connected Communities, Agriculture/Food + Farming Systems, Health + Wellness Innovation, Digital Manufacturing + Industry 4.0, and Entrepreneurial + Innovation Training. Key named programs include MakeHerSpace (women-focused STEM mentoring), Illinois Angels Flight School (investor training), AgTech Connect, Catalyst/Crucible (MedTech accelerators), and the Central Illinois Living Laboratory smart city initiative, plus partner programs through Girls Who Code and gener8tor (galpha, gbeta).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MakeHerSpace: A fully funded six-month mentoring and makerspace program for young women in grades 6-12, featuring hands-on STEAM workshops and 1:1 mentoring relationships.
- NICE | RamenLife
- FAIL CLUB
- Slices + Startups
- Catalyst Program
- Crucible Program
- AgTech Connect
- Central Illinois Living Laboratory (CILL)
- Heart of Peoria (HOP) Loop
- SteamKids
- Girls Who Code
- Illinois Angels Flight School
Products and services
- Coworking Membership
- MakerSpace Rapid Prototyping Center
- Proximity Virtual Membership Platform
- RamenLife Startup Ecosystem Portal
- MakeHerSpace Program
- Catalyst Program
- Crucible Program
- AgTech Connect
- Central Illinois Living Laboratory (CILL)
- Heart of Peoria (HOP) Loop
- Illinois Angels Flight School
- gener8tor galpha Pre-Accelerator
- gener8tor gbeta Accelerator
- Winning Wednesday Workshops
Quantifiable outcome
- 40 young women receiving 6 months of sustained 1:1 mentoring plus hands-on STEAM workshops
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Distillery Labs
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Distillery Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
Distillery Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Greater Peoria EDCcoreEconomic development partner supporting regional innovation ecosystem and AgTech Connect programming. GPEDC logo appears on partner section of website indicating ongoing strategic relationship.
- Illinois Central College (ICC)coreEducational institution partner supporting workforce development and entrepreneurial training programs in the Greater Peoria region.
- Illinois Innovation Network (IIN)coreStatewide innovation network connecting Illinois innovation hubs to accelerate entrepreneurship across the state.
- OSF HealthcarecoreHealthcare system partner collaborating on health and wellness innovation initiatives, including the Catalyst and Crucible MedTech bootcamp programs.
- University of Illinois SystemcoreUniversity system partner supporting startup ecosystem development and connecting founders to research and talent resources.
- University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP)coreMedical school partner in healthcare innovation ecosystem development, supporting the Equity Innovation Medicine program and addressing social determinants of health through innovation.
- Morton EDCcoreEconomic development partner for AgTech Connect quarterly sessions uniting farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to drive sustainable agriculture innovation.
- gener8torcoreNational accelerator network partner providing galpha pre-accelerator and gbeta accelerator programs. Free programs with no fees and no equity, providing intensive mentorship and investor introductions to Distillery Labs ecosystem.
- Illinois VenturescoreStatewide investment partner running Illinois Angels Flight School in partnership with Distillery Labs, Innovate Springfield, and UIUC to help accredited investors evaluate and support high-growth startups.
- Girls Who CodeminorNational nonprofit partner providing after-school clubs and summer programs to close the gender gap in technology. Distillery Labs serves as host organization for local chapters.
- 4-H Illinois ExtensionminorExtension partner collaborating on Peoria Fashion Week Academy and other youth programming.
- Arts PartnersminorArts education partner for Peoria Fashion Week Academy providing creative education in fashion and arts.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Distillery Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MassChallenge: Global zero-equity startup accelerator and innovation hub with U.S. locations. Directly comparable equity-free accelerator model targeting early-stage founders across multiple verticals, competing for the same founder mindshare as Distillery Labs.
- 1871: Chicago-based innovation hub and coworking space that supports early-stage tech startups through mentorship, programming, and corporate partnerships. Highly comparable as a Midwest innovation hub model, though larger and more established, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit similar to Distillery Labs' community-supported structure.
- CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center): Operator of large-scale coworking and innovation campuses with programming for early-stage startups. Comparable in combining physical coworking, MakerSpace-adjacent facilities, and accelerator-style programming, though at substantially greater scale.
- Techstars: Global accelerator operating equity-based cohort programs across multiple verticals and geographies. Comparable as a competing pathway for early-stage founders evaluating Distillery Labs' free programs against a more established but equity-taking alternative.
Direct peers
- gener8tor: National accelerator network running free equity-free galpha and gbeta programs. Directly comparable because Distillery Labs actually hosts gener8tor's programs; same founder-friendly no-equity model, same accelerator methodology, and overlapping target founders in the upper Midwest.
Emerging players
- Camelback Ventures: Equity-free accelerator and fellowship focused on underestimated founders in underserved geographies. Comparable mission and equity-free accelerator model, though its focus is on individual founders rather than a regional hub.
- Venture For America: Fellowship and entrepreneurship-support program placing emerging founders in lower-cost U.S. cities, with a mission aligned to building regional ecosystems outside coastal hubs. Comparable regional-economy-building thesis and founder-development orientation.
Regional players
- TechPlace: Makerspace and small-business incubator offering prototyping equipment, coworking, and business mentorship in a Midwest market. Closely comparable in combining a MakerSpace with coworking and small-business support, though at smaller scale than Distillery Labs.
- BioEnterprise (BioGenerator): Midwest life-sciences and MedTech accelerator and seed investor running health-focused programming. Highly comparable as the regional MedTech-focused counterpart whose Catalyst/Crucible programs overlap with Distillery Labs' healthcare vertical.
Others
- Make Magazine (Maker Media): Publisher and ecosystem convener for the maker movement, including Maker Faire and maker-education programming. Comparable as an ecosystem-builder for the Maker/MakerSpace category that Distillery Labs' MakerSpace prototyping center serves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Distillery Labs social profiles
Digital presenceDistillery Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Distillery Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Distillery Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Distillery 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 Distillery Labs
What does Distillery Labs do?
Distillery Labs operates a community-connected innovation hub in Peoria, Illinois, offering coworking memberships starting at $100/month, a MakerSpace rapid prototyping center, and a portfolio of entrepreneurial programs including MakeHerSpace, Catalyst, Crucible, and AgTech Connect. The organization supports startup founders through physical infrastructure, digital platforms (Proximity and RamenLife/NICE), and smart city testing infrastructure (Central Illinois Living Laboratory and Heart of Peoria Loop).
Is Distillery Labs a public or private company?
Distillery Labs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Distillery Labs founded?
Distillery Labs was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Distillery Labs based?
Distillery Labs is headquartered in Peoria, United States, in the North America region.
How does Distillery Labs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Coworking Memberships are the primary driver. The others are virtual Membership, accelerator Programs and makeHerSpace Program.
Who are Distillery Labs's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MassChallenge, 1871, CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) and Techstars. gener8tor is listed as a direct peer. Emerging players are Camelback Ventures and Venture For America. Regional players are TechPlace and BioEnterprise (BioGenerator). Make Magazine (Maker Media) is listed as an others.
Does Distillery Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Distillery Labs.
What industry is Distillery Labs in?
Distillery Labs's product category is Startup Incubation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAI, Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming), with a secondary code of EDAMADAC, Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios). Its SIC code is 8742.