Startup Tucson and Gangplank merge to create CoLab Workspace

Two of Tucson’s leading innovation organizations, Startup Tucson and Gangplank Collective, have decided to merge operations effective January 2014. The merger sees Gangplank becoming an initiative of Startup Tucson and will adopt the name CoLab Workspace.

As part of the agreement, Startup Tucson will serve as the organizational home for CoLab, work with Holualoa Companies to take over the leased space at the Pioneer office building, and provide for necessary operational support. The move provides for an increased focus on local collaboration while maintaining a strong regional connection with Gangplank.

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“Tucson is a strong and growing community, and having our operations rooted here will enable us to actively respond to the growing needs of the local economy”, said Ryan Flannagan, a CoLab Leader and CEO of Nuanced Media.
With CoLab and Gangplank both sharing a common mission to create community through collaboration, the organizations will continue to work together statewide. “We recognize that growing local community is essential to the success of growing Arizona’s economy,” said Jade Meskill, Gangplank’s co-founder. “We are excited to work with CoLab and groups throughout the Arizona to make our home a world class community of innovators.” Both Startup Tucson and Gangplank Tucson launched during Tucson’s inaugural Startup Weekend in 2011.
“Startup Tucson will continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs of Tucson’s thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem,” said Curtis Gunn, a Startup Tucson board member and Chairman of Desert Angels.
Read more of our coverage of Gangplank Tucson.