Weird Wednesday: Successful Startups Born in California Basement and Garage

As a college student, I’ve found I get my homework and studying done most efficiently at the library, my kitchen table, or a coffee shop—somewhere quiet where I can focus while writing a 16-page literature review. For many professionals, however, they complete work day-in and day-out at a cubicle, or small office. But for those who work for a startup? Several Palo Alto, CA entrepreneurs find their best ideas and work are generated out of a basement or a garage.

For the past 15 years, Genie Laborde has been renting out the basement and garage of her Silicon Valley property to startups. After purchasing the property in the 90’s as an office for her own consulting business, Larborde thought the whimsical charm of the home would be an office space that others would enjoy, too. She posted a listing on Craigslist in 2010, and since then, nearly 12 successful startups have been born in the home. Many which started small, have sinceexpanded or cashed out. Nyansa, an analytic company that started in her basement, recently partnered with Uber, Tesla, and Walmart, and received $9 million in funding. Google purchased Nest, a startup born in her garage, for $3.2 billion.

Employees of the startups enjoy renting thebasement and office space for both its price and atmosphere. At $3,000-7,000 per month, space at Laborde’s is about half of what rental space costs in downtown Palo Alto. Although, it’s the charming clubhouse feel of the basement and garage that causes techies to flock to this Redwood-lined property.

Laborde, grandmother of 16, doesn’t invest in any of the companies that rent from her, but readily offers advice and input on projects when asked. She confesses that she truly enjoys housing the tenants, and has little interest in the money. While Laborde’s property she originally purchased for $1 million is worth much more than that today, she doesn’t plan on selling it anytime soon.