Lift Innovations has found an encouraging community around their business, every step of the way.

The team behind Lift used the Fabrication Lab to build an innovative grinder for naturopathic and aromatic herbs. It improves on the design of a standard grinder by using cutting blades versus the regular teeth found in traditional grinders.

For Jesse Marr, Lift Innovation’s cofounder and marketing director, the supportive culture at the

“It’s a very creative and cooperative culture. There’s always something to learn about equipment or the process. Getting started for us as a business, having people there, having that knowledge, made it a lot easier.”

Access to the lab’s 3D printer was a significant time-saver.

“If we didn’t have 3D printing, we would have had to create a product out of other products. We couldn’t have hit ‘modify’, hit ‘print’ – having it for such an affordable price, instead of having to buy something like that it was definitely time- and cost-saving,” he said.

“It’s easy to show up and feel accepted,” he said of the lab environment. “Your ideas won’t be torn apart. People want to help and get as many successful businesses through the door and graduated through the community… That’s the environment you want,” he said.
“If you’re developing a product, it’s the place you want to start.”

Entrepreneurs should know that it’s okay to share ideas, says Marr.

“People are there to help, not there to steal ideas. They have their own ideas. It’s a safe space. People want to help you, want to see you complete your idea. Be free with your concepts and take criticism and advice.”

Once their first set of preorders go out and Lift has reached a sustainable demand with their first grinders, it’s back to the Lab for more prototyping.

“We’re definitely not just a one-off product and the Fabrication Lab is where we’ll be going to prototype!”