Millennial couple Ariane and Christele Parham have officially opened Crate X, a co-working space in the heart of downtown Macon, Georgia.

The innovative hub is designed to bring together creatives, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs to work, connect, and thrive. It’s a community for individuals united by a shared passion for innovation and collaboration.

“Macon has always held a special place in my heart as the power of serendipity thrives here, and I truly believe in the serendipitous energy that comes from curating a safe and inspiring space for like-minded individuals, said Crate X, co-founder Christele Parham.

“Whether you’re a digital nomad seeking a tranquil environment to focus and create, or an entrepreneur searching for a supportive community to grow your business, Crate X welcomes you with open arms,” she adds.

Christele grew up in Haiti before moving to South Florida and eventually, Georgia, drawn to Macon by its neighborly feel. Her husband Ariane worked in IT security for many years in medical institutions, before founding his own start-up, HamTECH Solutions, in 2021.

Their latest venture, Crate X Labs focuses on promoting collaboration and innovation through a serene and inspiring work environment. Taking its name from the idea of “solving for x” and developing ideas and bringing them to fruition, at the heart of the space is a vision to foster community and encourage positive change.

The duo acquired the spacious property with the vision to transform it into a vibrant workspace. The new space seeks to respond to the explosion of digital nomadism since the coronavirus pandemic, as well as people’s need for office and community space without paying huge rents.

A series of curated events kicked off the grand opening, including a Digital Nomad Campaign. Encouraging people to become a digital nomad for a day by working from co-working spaces in five different cities, including Atlanta, Crate X Labs officially opened as the final location in the campaign.

Ariane Parlam cites his own experience as a founder, he started HamTECH Solutions in December 2021, looking for co-working spaces, as one of the reasons he decided to create a space in Macon that inspires innovation and creates a supportive community with quality resources for other entrepreneurs.

“We’re here to collaborate. We’re here to build each other up, and it’s a space where we curate safety,” he said. “We believe by nurturing a space like that. We can build on each other’s curiosity. We can help each other with our gaps, and also when you work alone or are isolated, being in a space like that, you’re able to still be motivated while you do your thing.”

The couple have collaborated before, on their project Macon Black Tech, which they started in August 2019. Giving Black entrepreneurs in Macon free resources, they addressed the lack of Black representation in the startup ecosystem in Macon.

Macon is 54% African American, but Christele didn’t feel this reflected in the social impact, technology, and start-up community. The couple set out to create their own inclusive space, listening to the voices of those they were building Macon Black Tech for.

They plan to keep providing resources through Macon Black Tech and even use Crate X Labs to host events and programming. The goal is for Crate X Labs to branch out to different cities to create a wide network of entrepreneurs to receive support and resources, as well as serving people around the world with their digital memberships, which they plan to include courses, materials and streaming-related events.

Apply for membership discover more about Crate X Labs and stay up to date with the project’s updates here.

COMMENTS.

comments