AKASHA Around The World #1

AKASHA Around The World is a monthly dispatch covering our growing network of innovation hubs. While each hub charts its own course, all share core values of community empowerment and decentralized growth.

What's a Hub, anyway? 👀

AKASHA Hubs are physical spaces where people come together to build solutions.

While each hub focuses on different challenges, they all share two core beliefs: communities should have power, and power should be spread out.

Think of them as nodes in a global network, each with its own specialty, and together connected by a shared vision of positive change.

Happy 7 Years to the Barcelona Hub! 🎂

The AKASHA Barcelona Hub was the very first hub of the network, founded by Lorenzo Patuzzo as a non-profit and self-funded project (no government strings attached).

Today, the OG hub is celebrating its 7th birthday! 🎉🎉

What started as a meetup spot for curious minds has evolved into a thriving ecosystem focused on sustainable innovation, with:

• 55+ resident innovators
• 1,000+ global members
• 2 warehouse spaces in the Clot district
• 13 distinct communities
• 5 local networks spanning blockchain to human rights (e.g. Green City Lab with the mission of improving the models of urban gardens)

By the Numbers (2017-2024):

• 250+ events hosted
• 10.4K participants engaged
• 100+ students from 8 schools (IT, PT, BR) in their new Cultural Program
• €5: Annual membership fee (yes, that's all it takes to join)

What's cooking? 🔥

The hub's resident projects are tackling everything from digital rights (Citizen Lab) to sustainable tech (Low Tech Magazine). Recent collaborations include:

• Ethereum BCN Community - Barcelona's largest blockchain community brought together developers and enthusiasts for monthly tech talks and workshops
• Barcelona Free Software - The open-source advocates hosted sessions promoting digital freedom and accessible technology
• Survival International - The global indigenous rights organization used the hub to amplify voices of native communities and plan direct actions
• ReFi Unconference - Leaders in regenerative finance gathered at the hub to explore how blockchain can fund climate solutions and ecological restoration

Latest highlight: They just hosted the world premiere of "Vitalik: An Ethereum Story" in September.

The Urbe Hub in Rome 🇮🇹

A new hub will open its doors in Rome this February. It’s laser-focused on blockchain technology and web3 innovation, leveraging the urbe.eth community in Rome.

The Urbe Hub aims to be the beating heart of Italy’s web3 scene, a dynamic space where developers transform ideas into products, students master blockchain technology, startups connect with early users, and web3 communities build lasting connections.

The hub will feature a coworking and event space able to host:

• Builders Garden, for web3 project development
• Tech residents, like BrianKnowsAI and Drift
• Urbe Campuses, with comprehensive web3 education programs
• Regular hackathons & coding events

Opening Dates:

• February 15-16, 2025 📅
• The AKASHA team will be present at the opening–drop by to chat and score some cool swag! 👋

Each AKASHA Hub may have its own focus—from Barcelona's sustainable innovation to Rome's web3 collective—but they're all part of a bigger picture: a global network of spaces empowering local communities to drive change in their own unique ways.

Want to get involved? Reach out to [email protected] ✉️