The Frankfurt Collective aims to create a collaborative learning environment by integrating initiatives like TEDxRheinMain, OpenTechSchool, and FablabFFM to foster innovation and community engagement. Since 2011, it has built a vibrant digital and creative community, hosting numerous events and attracting over 5,000 community members. The project seeks to establish a sustainable, non-commercial hub for local artists and entrepreneurs, promoting creativity and collaboration through shared resources and partnerships.

1. Frankfurt Collective
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
FRANKFURT - 2014-04-13
WOLFGANG WEICHT - BASISLAGER@KZWEI.ORG

2. The Problem
Thanks to the Internet the access to knowledge has been simplified, but still
works best on a personal level. Traditional learning systems don't offer the
opportunity to meet like-minded people on a local basis, learn new things
and develop new ideas in a collaborative way.
The Solution
Frankfurt Collective is a set of different learning environments.
TEDxRheinMain offers inspirational short talks from outstanding personalities
via an annual conference. OpenTechSchool adds an intense ideation and
learning experience within small project groups. FabLabFFM provides the
necessary production facilities to realize new ideas arising from that.
Rocketminds is an online magazine and serves as content and news
distribution platform to support the assets of Frankfurt Collective and
strengthen the community.
TEDxRheinMain
http://bit.ly/1kKOA0e
http://on.fb.me/1kKOF3U
OpenTechSchool
http://bit.ly/1kKOJ3H
http://bit.ly/FBOTSRM
Rocketminds
http://bit.ly/1kKOQfD
http://on.fb.me/1fMzT6r
FablabFFM
http://bit.ly/1kKP0DQ
Frankfurt Collective
http://on.fb.me/1goY6yK

3. Example
Young Peter gets invited to a local TEDx conference. A scientist talks about
the impact of drone technology on the future of mobility. He gets interested
in the possibilities and reads referring articles on the Rocketminds blog to get
more insights. Joining the drone group at the OpenTechSchool he learns the
basics of programming by hacking an existing drone. As things develop he
realizes that he could improve the hardware.
At the FabLabFFM he builds his first prototype for a Kickstarter campaign
and gets promoted at the Rocketminds blog. After becoming a successful
entrepreneur he presents his story from zero to hero at a next
TEDxRheinMain conference.
Impact
Since 2011 the team members are involved in the small but vivid digital and
creative scene of the Frankfurt. We are the driving force behind many user
groups, barcamps and other initiatives. TEDxRheinMain is a well known
conference series with 8 events during the last 3 years visited by over 3.000
attendees and attracting a community of over 5.000 fans. Rocketminds was
launched in 2014 as a blog to support the event at the ESA Darmstadt and is
already followed by over 1.500 visitors each month.
OpenTechSchool was launched this year as a local branch of the global
initiative and already hosts an international community of over 100 people
interested in learning, collaborating, networking and socializing. FabLab is
still in the planning stage but the global growth of maker movement and
supportive statements by US government have proven that it will have an
impact on the local community.

4. Full Impact Potential
The idea behind Frankfurt Collective is to set up a blueprint for starting and
maintaining a local network of collaborators creating a positive impact in the
community. We strongly believe that change evolves through the combined
accomplishments of creative, committed and compassionate individuals
focused on a common purpose - Curiosity. We offer a unique ecosystem of
resources, inspiration and collaboration opportunities. Joining our diverse
community of members and collaborators will inspire, connect and enable
every citizen to enjoy and benefit from learning in a new contemporary way.
Sustainability Plan
Frankfurt Collective has already access to a local community of over 5.000
people. We are connected to the local start-up and creative scene as well as
other European hubs already looking for synergies. We´re searching for
partners to financial support the needed infrastructure of the different content
assets. We don’t want to generate direct profit from our activities as we want
to ensure that everyone gets the possibility to participate.
Marketplace
There are no creative hubs in Frankfurt like Betahaus in Berlin, Campus in
London or Citizen Space in San Fransisco. Existing initiatives like co-
working- or hacker-spaces only reach a niche audience and are not
conceptual linked together. We aim for a public funded and non-commercial
status for Frankfurt Collective which i.e makes partnerships with local public
schools a promising option supporting them on a project driven base with
work-shops and infrastructure necessary.

5. Founding Story
Frankfurt Collective was founded in the late nineties by LAB75 to give local
artists and entrepreneurs a platform to exchange and develop ideas and
products. The studio is running three design and innovation hubs in
Frankfurt, Berlin and Zürich by today. The workforce around Marco Bahn and
Wolfgang Weicht consists of an international multidisciplinary team covering
all aspects of an integrated industrial design process. During the last 3 years
this turned into a vital design, technology and education centric community
running on a local non-commercial base. Now we want to open our sandbox
to a broader local audience.
Team Explanation
Team members come from the area of business, marketing, design and
technology covering all ages. We are working on this project at the moment
interdisciplinary and collaboratively in a small team to ensure the project
development speed. Once the infrastructure and the framework of Frankfurt
Collective have been established we will expand the team to cover the sub
projects.