Flux to double capacity in Hawaiian deal

About 1,400 square metres of capacity will be added at the Flux co-working hub run by Spacecubed, with the organisation planning to broaden its offerings in agtech innovation and virtual reality, while taking on an investment from property developer Hawaiian.

The new long-term lease at Parmelia House, which is owned by Hawaiian, will double the footprint of the Flux co-working space, using floors six and seven of the building.

The value of the lease was undisclosed.

Flux currently operates under a joint venture arrangement, between Hawaiian and another coworking hub, Spacecubed

Spacecubed founder and managing director Brodie McCulloch told Business News part of the space would be used for a new agribusiness technology and innovation hub, similar to the existing Core mining industry hub at Flux.

Mr McCulloch said the move was intended to increase the focus on one of Western Australia’s economic strengths.

He said a number of current Flux members were focused on the agritech sector, and the hub would become a place to connect entrepreneurs in that space.

A virtual and augmented reality lab would also be included in the new floor space, Mr McCulloch said, prompted by the success of the solder 3D printing facility at Flux.

A growing number of Flux members was working on projects in virtual reality, he said, and feedback from overseas suggested it would be the next big tech trend.

Flux’s organisational structure will also be changing, splitting into a not for profit and a proprietary limited company in the new model.

Hawaiian will be making an investment into the new entity, with the amount not public, while the NFP will be the majority shareholder of the company.