Spark Labs is adding a location and quadrupling in size by Bryant Park.
The company currently has 5,000 square feet on the second floor of 833 Broadway near Union Square.
Founded by Christophe Garnier, a Frenchman with 17 years of startup and tech experience both abroad and in San Francisco, the member workspace focuses on mostly non-US tech firms that want collaborative support within a more familiar culture.
The new 20,000-square-foot space that will open later this fall comprises the entire 14th floor of Thor Equities’ 25 W. 39 St. Dan Harroch of Thor Retail Advisors represented Spark Labs in the 15-year deal with an asking rent of $62 per foot.
The new space is being made possible by a strategic investment from Malaysia-based investor UMW.
Not only does Spark Labs provide workspaces, but it also attracts funding for its own members from venture capitalists including White Star Capital, Rubicon Venture Capital and FirstMark Capital.
These are not just startups, says Garnier about his members, explaining that typically, the companies are already successful in their home countries and cities. Along with Los Angeles and San Francisco, “They are coming from Europe, they are coming from Asia and they are coming from Israel,” Garnier said.
While space runs from $550 per month for two desks to $15,000 for a more private spot for 22 employees, Spark Labs’ partnerships with IBM, Amazon Web Services and Salesforce for Startups are also providing tech perks worth thousands of dollars. “We are the ‘Star Trek’ for startups,” Garnier quipped.