Maple Studios and Grace Technologies, a global provider of electrical safety products based in Davenport, announced last week a partnership to launch a Maple Studios location in the Quad Cities.

Maple Studios launched in 2018 on the campus of factory automation distributor Ramco Innovations in West Des Moines providing space and administrative assistance to new startups. Maple Studios refers to itself as a startup studio, a model where early-stage businesses and established companies share space and expertise.

Member companies at Maple Studios rent workspaces that fit the size of their team and can access Ramco’s teams for services like accounting and marketing.

Ramco recently completed a renovation of one of its buildings to provide a larger space for Maple Studios, including workbenches, private tinker labs and warehouse space. Six early-stage companies are currently members of Maple Studios.

“We are inspired by the successful model Maple Studios and Ramco Innovations have created, and we’re excited to offer a similar platform to help emerging entrepreneurs fast-track their development,” Drew Allen, Grace Technologies president and CEO, said in a prepared statement. “Our strategic partnership with Maple Studios aligns perfectly with our dedication to fostering innovation and driving progress.”

Grace will create a space within its existing infrastructure for the new location of Maple Studios, a news release said. Grace’s startup studio will open in September and be open to startups across the spectrum of technology and industrial sectors.

Grace was started in 1991 by founder and board chairman Phil Allen. The company now has more than 60 employees and four product lines.

“Phil and Drew Allen are proven, successful leaders in a great location to help entrepreneurs,” Norem and Maple Studios Director Megan Brandt said in a prepared statement. “The convergence of our proven startup studio model with their visionary leadership will ignite a new era of collaboration that will help the continued growth of advanced technology in eastern Iowa.”

The new location was announced at Maple Studios’ public ribbon-cutting event on Thursday. The event also served as a one-night revival of Des Moines Startup Drinks, a monthly gathering of entrepreneurs that was established in 2010 and suspended when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Look for more coverage in an upcoming innovationIOWA e-newsletter.

Past coverage: Maple Ventures changes name to Maple Studios