Hula
Hula is a privately held coworking campus and innovation hub on a 14-acre, 150,000+ sq ft site in Burlington, Vermont, serving entrepreneurs, startups, remote workers, students, corporate teams, and event organizers through memberships, day passes, private offices, event venues, and a $10M venture capital fund.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersBurlington, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Hula does
Hula is a privately held coworking campus and innovation hub located on a 14-acre site with 150,000+ sq ft of interior space on the shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont's South End Innovation District. Founded in 2014 by Russ and Roxanne Scully on the site of the former Blodgett oven factory and opened in 2020, the campus functions as Vermont's largest coworking space, serving entrepreneurs, startups, remote workers, students, corporate teams, and event organizers through a tiered product set that includes day passes ($35), multi-tier memberships (Young Professionals $125/month, Air Desk $200/month, Designated Desk $465/month), scalable private offices for 2-70 people on multi-year leases, and four event/conference venues with capacities ranging from 5 to 250 guests.
Revenue is generated through six primary streams: subscription coworking memberships, one-time day passes, hourly and daily event venue and conference room rentals, corporate team pass packages, on-campus food and beverage operations (Preppi Eatery and Brio Coffeeworks operate as tenants with revenue-sharing arrangements), and management fees and carried interest from the $10M Hula Community Partners Fund — a venture investment vehicle established in 2024 in partnership with the Vermont Economic Development Authority through the US Treasury's SSBCI Program. Go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer, with self-serve online booking complemented by an on-site front desk, a dedicated events sales team, and a Venture Roundtable ecosystem of 11+ regional VC funds.
The technology stack is operational rather than productized: Nexudus for member management, Kisi for physical access control, and Google Analytics for web tracking. Differentiators are physical and ecosystem-based rather than software-based — a 100% renewable energy campus (geothermal HVAC, 1 MW solar, 12 EV chargers), 33 privacy pods, an on-site fitness center, sister businesses Burlington Surf Club and Savu Sauna, the LaunchVT accelerator, and a curated network of VC, university, and government partners. The company is independently owned by the Scullys with no institutional venture capital backing of the operating company itself.
Hula firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hula
- Legal name
- Hula
- Website
- https://hulalakeside.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Hula is a privately held coworking campus and innovation hub on a 14-acre, 150,000+ sq ft site in Burlington, Vermont, serving entrepreneurs, startups, remote workers, students, corporate teams, and event organizers through memberships, day passes, private offices, event venues, and a $10M venture capital fund.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hula industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Coworking and Flexible Workspace
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student-Focused Co-Living (Flexible, Community-Led) (THAMAGAI)
Keywords
Where Hula is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Hula business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Coworking Memberships: Monthly recurring revenue from flexible workspace memberships including Air Desks (hot desking), Designated Desks (permanent assigned desks), Private Offices (2-70 person scalable offices), and Young Professionals memberships. All memberships include amenities such as fitness center access, parking, conference room hours, and community events.
- Day Passes: One-time day pass sales for visitors needing temporary workspace access. Options include single full-day passes ($35), 10-day passes ($315 valid for 6 months), and corporate team pass packages with volume discounts.
- Event Venue Rental: Revenue from renting event spaces including The Reef (up to 200/250 capacity), Isthmus (20-56 capacity), Sunset (10-25 capacity), and Sunrise (5-12 capacity) rooms. Catering services are incremental to venue rental fees. Non-profit pricing available.
- Conference Room Rental: Hourly and daily rental of meeting spaces for members and external clients. Pricing varies by room size and rental duration (2-hour minimums, full-day rates available).
- Food & Beverage: On-campus food and beverage operations including Preppi Market & Eatery (farm-to-table cafe open M-F 11am-3:30pm) and Brio Coffeeworks (specialty coffee bar). Revenue shared with tenant operators.
- Venture Capital Management: The Hula Community Partners Fund is a $10M venture investment fund investing in early-stage Vermont companies. Management fees and carried interest from fund operations represent revenue, though primary purpose is ecosystem development rather than profit.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Single day access to coworking space with full amenities |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | 10 full days of access usable within 6 months |
| Subscription | Monthly | Flexible hot-desking with 24/7 access |
| Subscription | Monthly | Permanent assigned desk with storage and premium amenities |
| Subscription | Monthly | Budget membership for students and young professionals age 25 and under |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Scalable private office space for teams of 2-70 people |
| Freemium | Monthly | Free day passes for BIPOC community members |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Small to large meeting spaces with A/V technology |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Corporate day pass packages for teams with volume discounts |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Hula product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hula operates a 14-acre lakeside coworking campus in Burlington, Vermont, providing flexible workspace (day passes, hot desks, designated desks, private offices for 2-70 people, and a discounted young professionals tier), conference and event venues seating up to 250 guests, on-site food and beverage, a fitness center, and a venture capital ecosystem anchored by the $10M Hula Community Partners Fund and The Fund at Hula. The campus is designed for 100% renewable energy with geothermal HVAC, 1 MW rooftop solar, and EV charging, and supports programming such as the LaunchVT accelerator and peer leadership circles.
Product overview
Hula is a 14-acre coworking campus, innovation hub, and venture ecosystem located on the shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington's South End Innovation District. The offering is a unified campus with multiple workspace and service products: flexible coworking passes (Full Day Pass, BIPOC Day Pass Program, 10 Day Pass), membership tiers (Air Desk, Designated Desk, Young Professionals Membership, Private Offices), event venues (The Reef event space, Conference Rooms including Isthmus, Sunset, Sunrise), and campus amenities (Fitness Center, Preppi Market & Eatery, Brio Coffeeworks, The Patio). The ecosystem is supported by capital resources including the Hula Community Partners Fund ($10M venture fund) and Venture Roundtable investor network. Hula serves entrepreneurs, remote workers, teams, and hosts events ranging from intimate meetings to 200+ person conferences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hula Community Partners Fund: A $10M venture investment fund that invests in early-stage Vermont companies, established in partnership with Vermont Economic Development Authority through US Treasury's SSBCI Program.
- The Fund at Hula
Products and services
- Full Day Pass Day pass offering access to Hula's coworking space weekdays 8AM-5PM. Includes high-speed Wi-Fi, free coffee, communal kitchens, showers, privacy pods, bike storage, and access to Brio Coffeeworks and Preppi Eatery. Priced at $35/day for individual visitors and temporary workspace users.
- 10 Day Pass Ten full-day passes usable within 6 months, weekdays only 8AM-5PM. Designed as a trial option for individuals testing Hula before committing to a monthly membership. Priced at $315 for 10 days with the same amenities as the Full Day Pass.
- BIPOC Day Pass Program Free day pass program offering members of the BIPOC community two complimentary day passes per month with access to Wi-Fi, communal spaces, coffee, tea, and bike storage. Valid Monday through Friday 8AM-5PM.
- Air Desk Membership Flexible hot-desk membership with 24/7 access to Hula's coworking space. Includes complimentary parking, 10 hours of conference room bookings per month, and 24/7 fitness center access. Priced at $200/month with prorated first month, targeting freelancers and remote workers who need a flexible daily workspace.
Quantifiable outcome
- 6 entrepreneurs selected for 2026 LaunchVT Accelerator cohort
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Hula
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Hula technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Hula partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LaunchVT AcceleratorcoreAnnual accelerator program hosted at Hula selecting 6 entrepreneurs per cohort. Features rigorous curriculum for investor engagement, mentorship, peer collaboration. Culminates in Demo Night with $15,000 prize. Noragh Devlin serves as executive director.
- UVM (University of Vermont)minorResearch partnership with UVM Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships. Four UVM students conducted summer research on rural coworking and innovation hubs, interviewing 26 community members across 4 Vermont hubs including Hula. Professor Erik Monsen leads research.
- Champlain CollegecoreEducational partner and member of Hula community. Co-developer of South End Innovation District. Grand opening of NuHarbor Security Operations Center and Leahy Center for Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity at Miller Center on Lakeside Ave. Goal to graduate 1,000 students into Vermont workforce annually.
- NuHarbor SecurityminorVermont-based cybersecurity company opening Security Operations Center at Champlain College Miller Center. CEO Justin Fimlaid leads company defending over 40% of country's data infrastructure.
- Burlington Surf ClubcoreSister business located on Hula campus offering lakefront recreation including private beach, SUP, e-foils, kite surfing, locker rooms. Hula members have easy access to the surf club property, creating unique work-life blend. Both operated by shared founder Russ Scully.
- Savu SaunacoreNordic-style lakeside retreat located steps from Hula campus offering wood-fired sauna experience. Many Hula members use Savu as part of weekly routine - starting the day with clarity, breaking up the day, or winding down after work.
- Preppi Market & EaterycoreOn-campus farm-to-table eatery founded by chef Clarina Cravins, launched out of Hula as a grab-and-go concept and grew into full-service cafe. Open M-F 11am-3:30pm with locally sourced food, hot bar, daily specials, and grab-and-go options.
- Brio CoffeeworkscoreLocal specialty coffee bar and roastery founded by Magda Van Dusen, part of South End Innovation District since 2014. Located at Hula entrance serving espresso drinks and breakfast baked goods. Complimentary drip coffee provided at some networking events.
- Jonathan Rose CompaniescoreDevelopment partner for Ride Your Bike project - a $100M+ housing development in Burlington's South End Innovation District. Hula's role is strategic partner and advocate, aligning housing with innovation and economic development goals.
- Champlain Housing TrustminorDevelopment partner for Ride Your Bike/SECORD project.
- Aplomb ConsultingminorBrings Aplomb Circle program to Hula - monthly peer circle for values-driven CEOs and executive leaders. Facilitated by Jason Lorber, President. Supported by Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR). $1,250/program (Hula/VBSR member discount: $1,000).
- Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR)minorNonprofit supporting Aplomb Circle program at Hula. Co-sponsor providing member discounts for peer leadership development program.
- Network of WomenminorCo-hosts monthly networking events at Hula including Coffee for Women and Networking Lunches. Co-led by Sarah O'Brien Hammond and Beth Kruger.
- Black River Innovation CampusminorVermont innovation hub partner in UVM research project studying rural coworking and innovation hubs.
- Hub CoWorksminorVermont innovation hub partner in UVM research project studying rural coworking and innovation hubs.
- Do North CoworkingminorVermont innovation hub partner in UVM research project studying rural coworking and innovation hubs.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hula competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit technology innovation hub combining coworking, events, programming, and a venture network for early-stage startups. Operates a similar innovation-hub-plus-coworking model to Hula but serves the Chicago metro rather than Vermont.
- The Yard: New York City-based coworking and private office operator with a community-focused brand across multiple Manhattan and Brooklyn locations. Comparable product offering and community-led positioning to Hula, but serves NYC rather than Burlington.
- Workbar: Massachusetts-based coworking operator with multiple locations offering hot desks, dedicated desks, private offices, and event space. Comparable product set to Hula but concentrated in the Boston metro rather than Vermont.
Direct peers
- WeWork: Global coworking and flexible office operator serving entrepreneurs, freelancers, and enterprise teams with memberships, private offices, and event space. Directly competes in the same product category as Hula though at vastly greater scale and capital intensity.
- Convene: Workplace and meeting/event venue operator combining flexible offices with premium meeting and event spaces. Directly comparable to Hula's hybrid model of coworking plus premium event venues (The Reef, Isthmus, Sunset, Sunrise) with A/V and catering.
- Industrious: Premium flexible office and coworking operator offering private offices, suites, and enterprise workplace solutions. Comparable to Hula's premium positioning, private office tier, and enterprise team pass offerings.
- Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): CIC operates innovation hubs that combine coworking, event venues, and venture programming across multiple US cities. Most directly comparable to Hula given its integrated startup ecosystem focus, scale (millions of sq ft), and venture-adjacent services.
- Galvanize: Tech-focused coworking and learning campus offering workspace, event venues, and programming for technology entrepreneurs. Comparable to Hula in combining coworking with structured programming (events, accelerator-style content) targeting tech founders.
Broad incumbents
- Spaces (IWG): Global flexible workspace brand owned by IWG, offering coworking, private offices, and meeting rooms across hundreds of locations. A broader incumbent in the same space; not community-led or venture-integrated like Hula, but directly comparable on workspace products.
- Techstars: Global accelerator network with physical programming spaces and a venture fund. Comparable to Hula's LaunchVT accelerator and Community Partners Fund as part of an integrated startup support offering, though at vastly greater scale and as a broader incumbent.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hula social profiles
Digital presenceHula financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hula leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Hula subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Hula funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hula 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 Hula
What does Hula do?
Hula operates a 14-acre lakeside coworking campus in Burlington, Vermont, providing flexible workspace (day passes, hot desks, designated desks, private offices for 2-70 people, and a discounted young professionals tier), conference and event venues seating up to 250 guests, on-site food and beverage, a fitness center, and a venture capital ecosystem anchored by the $10M Hula Community Partners Fund and The Fund at Hula. The campus is designed for 100% renewable energy with geothermal HVAC, 1 MW rooftop solar, and EV charging, and supports programming such as the LaunchVT accelerator and peer leadership circles.
Is Hula a public or private company?
Hula is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hula founded?
Hula was founded in 2014.
Where is Hula based?
Hula is headquartered in Burlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hula make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Coworking Memberships are the primary driver. The others are day Passes, event Venue Rental, conference Room Rental, food & Beverage and venture Capital Management.
Who are Hula's main competitors?
Regional players on record are 1871, The Yard and Workbar. Direct peers are WeWork, Convene, Industrious, Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) and Galvanize. Broad incumbents are Spaces (IWG) and Techstars.
Does Hula have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hula.
What industry is Hula in?
Hula's product category is Coworking and Flexible Workspace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAMAGAI, Student-Focused Co-Living (Flexible, Community-Led).