How It All Started

As Steven humorously recalls, "it all started because the TechnologyWise office was too big!" Steven and co-founder Michael Doerner, who ran TechnologyWise, found themselves in a 12-person boardroom, a meeting room, and a reception area – with only seven staff. Initially envisioning expansion, they soon realized they had more space than needed, and a spontaneous idea took root.

A local ad from a programmer needing temporary office space became the spark. As the team hosted more tenants, a small community began to form. Soon enough, the team found themselves with a full house, the boardroom turned into offices, and every inch of space occupied, including by future co-founders Pascale Hyboud-Peron and Jo Allum, both of whom had their own ventures. This makeshift coworking space quickly evolved beyond an experiment, showing a clear appetite in Tauranga for shared workspaces that could foster collaboration.

Building a Vision

Seeing the growing demand, Steven, Michael, Pascale, and Jo sought a permanent home for their collaborative vision. Their search led to a unique site with character: Tauranga’s former police record station on Durham Street. The move wasn’t only practical; it inspired Basestation’s name. Basestation would be both a base for this emerging community and a playful nod to the building’s past.

The founders undertook the interior design themselves, bringing their passion and resourcefulness to the space. They championed a DIY plywood look, adding a rustic, hands-on feel that would later perfectly suit the makerspace that came to be part of Basestation’s identity.

For furniture, they supported a Kickstarter that provided downloadable designs, giving the meeting rooms an innovative, cost-effective setup. And for the first three months, as the new site was under construction, the team camped out of the basement – an improvised, lively space filled with old carpet, partitions, and even the odd unwelcome small rodent!

As opening day approached, Basestation was going to launch with a bang – by hosting Tauranga Startup Weekend, the first event the team organised together.  This coincided perfectly with the building’s completion, setting Basestation on the map as a place for innovative minds to connect, build, and grow.

From the Early Days

In the early days, Basestation quickly established itself as a catalyst for connection in Tauranga’s startup and small business scene, with the impetus of sister company Venture Centre. It became more than just a workspace, hosting events, workshops, and meetups that drew in creatives, innovators, and entrepreneurs from across the region. Right from the start, Basestation’s mission was clear: to foster relationships, build a collaborative community, and support professional growth in Tauranga.

Coming Up Next: Basestation's Growth and Community Impact 

In part two, we’ll dive into how Basestation expanded, took on challenges, and became a fixture in Tauranga’s CBD, a hub that has seen startups, creatives mix with a range of business and industries, and the community grow alongside it. This fabulous journey has been fueled by its founders’ dedication, the support of Tauranga’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the resilient community that Basestation calls home.

Stay tuned for the rest of the story – and a heartfelt look at the people and spirit behind Basestation’s success over the past decade.