I asked a friend of mine who built a thriving Hackerspace in Europe for some advice. Note that Bitcoin is not the core focus there, but I think there are some transferrable items of value, along with some of my own ideas:
Location: Find a good location that is accessible by public transportation. Make sure the space is flexible for meetings, workshops, and events.
Incorporate: Limit your personal liability. My friend made their Hackspace a non-profit. There are legal and accounting items that need to be factored.
Infrastructure: High speed Internet is of course a must. Set up a full verification node within the space. Possibly some mining rigs as well (noise dampening is important). Consider a Lightning node. Secure storage for hardware wallets.
Security: Strong physical and digital security measures. Educate members on best practices for securing their Bitcoin and personal info.
Community: Organize meetups, hackathons, and workshops to engage the community. Make it inclusive and welcoming.
Education: Provide resources on Bitcoin, blockchain, cybersecurity. Maybe put a small library in there and fill it with relevant books. Invite and host guest speakers and experts to give talks and seminars.
Engage a lawyer to understand and mitigate risks.
Funding: Explore funding options like membership fees, sponsorships, and grants. Plan for long-term sustainability, budgeting, and financial management.
Partnerships: Establish collaboration with Bitcoin related organizations. Make your space a hub for gathering like minded people. Network with leading voices in the Bitcoin community to provide mentorship and support for members.
Marketing: Promote the hackerspace on social media. Consider a territory right here on @sn. Highlight success stories and projects to attract new members and sponsors.
Feedback: Gather feedback from members and guests after every event in order to continuously improve performance. Stay current with Bitcoin developments and news to keep the hackerspace relevant and innovative.
I asked a friend of mine who built a thriving Hackerspace in Europe for some advice. Note that Bitcoin is not the core focus there, but I think there are some transferrable items of value, along with some of my own ideas:
Good luck with your endeavor.