Improve practices
in harmony with
nature
Adapted to the biological principles of the bee and inspired by architectural techniques, the Bee Space Slipcover™ standardizes outdoor wintering methods while providing a solution to a technical problem such as humidity and conditions weather can create in a bee colony.
UNIQUE WINTERING TECHNIQUE
Inspired by the most efficient architectural envelopes, Bee Space™ has developed a new wintering method, standardized and adapted to bee biology.
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASE
The Bee Space Slipcover™ is designed to maximize the beekeeper’s time to its full potential in order to allow him to focus his energies elsewhere, such as on the care and preparation of his colonies before wintering.
PROTECTION OF EQUIPMENT
By prioritizing the use of the Bee Space Slipcover™, beekeeper make sure to increase the lifespan of his equipment and reduce his annual expenses.
MATERIAL UPGRADING
To reduce the environmental footprint, Bee Space™ advocates the use of multi-usage materials to the detriment of single-use consumables.
DESIGNED AND MADE IN CANADA
The Bee Space Slipcover™ was designed and tested in the province of Quebec, Canada, renowned for its harsh winters and great weather variations.
A team dedicated to
the improvement of
beekeeping techniques
Here at Bee Space ™, our skills revolve around five lines of knowledge: ethnography, creativity, design culture, technique and entrepreneurship. Because progress needs to be shared, Olivier Lebrun and Jimmy Riopel-Thibault, both product designers and founders of Bee Space ™, wish to create a strong community and integrate collective intelligence around beekeeping products.
Sustainable development
In a world where planned obsolecence abounds, Bee Space™ promote sustainability in favor of premiditated recurrence.
We rely on the use of durable and recycled materials with a superior lifespan.
The journey of
Bee Space ™
Bee Space ™ has for mission to offer products that are reliable, efficient and inexpensive in order to improve beekeeping methods and procedures. These products are made to better the way humans, bees and nature coexist. Determined to idealize, help and especially bring together, the business model created in part on collective intelligence (Open Source) proves how much the company wants to create a strong bond with the beekeeping community.
- The idea
- Research
- Recognition
- Development
- Crowdfunding
- Marketing
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The idea
/ THE IDEA
2017-2018
The idea behind Bee Space came up during the final project of the two entrepreneurs’ bachelor’s degree in design. The chosen topic was the integration of beekeeping in an urban and Nordic environment. This practice has to overcome many obstacles such as technical, social and political issues. The analysis surrounding the integration of bees in an urban environment, the availability of small spaces, the wintering in a Nordic context and especially the use of the beekeeping practice guided their project towards resolving this issue:
How can we facilitate and optimize the practice and integration of beekeeping in an urban and Nordic environment? -
Research
/ RESEARCH
2017-(CONTINUES)
To ensure the effectiveness of the Bee Space™ slipcover, the company carried out, in partnership with CRSAD, a comparative study based on a scientific sampling of 50 colonies during the winter of 2020-2021.
This research aimed to collect relevant data for outdoor wintering such as ambient humidity level in the hives, food consumption, deterioration of beekeeping equipment, impact of different material on hive survival and the impact of the Bee Space slipcover™ versus popular methods.
In addition, a total of 36 ambassadors scattered across the province of Quebec tested more than 120 prototypes in different regions where winter weather conditions vary considerably.
Testing will continue in the winter of 2021-2022
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Recognition
/ RECOGNITION
2018-2019
Following several honorary mentions for the quality of its design project and the business opportunity linking the field of beekeeping to product design, Bee Space inc. was born. After a long research and development process and following the obtaining of several prizes, the company was awarded the Première Ovation Grant from the Government of Quebec and the City of Quebec for the production of prototypes as well as a subsidy from CRIBIQ and the Ministry of Economy and Innovation (MEI), to carry out their product development activities.
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Development
/ DEVELOPMENT
2019-(CONTINUES)
Product development in a complex task that requires a wide range of resources in order to turn an idea into a tangible product. This structured development stage mixing design and engineering is taking form through a certain amount of iteration loops in which the main activities are generating creative ideas, visualizing, prototyping an evaluating. To create a product in line with the company’s values, such as collaborating, sharing and sustainable growth, Bee Space teamed up with partners who specialize in sustainable and eco-friendly development. At the moment, the company is in the advanced prototyping stage of its wintering slipcover and is preparing a pilot research project on the impact of the slipcover on bee colonies wintering outside in partnership with the Centre de Recherches en Science Animale de Deschambault (CRSAD) and other beekeepers enthused to try this new products.
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Crowdfunding
/ CROWDFUNDING
2020
Bee Space will soon start a crowdfunfing campaign, intended to be held in the fall 2020, in which beekeepers will have the opportunity to pre-order their wintering slipcover for the 2021 season. This campaign will serve as financial leverage for the start-up company in order to begin the first commercial manufacturing if this product. You are not a beekeeper? No worries! Adapted flat fees will be offered to introduce you to beekeeping and to assist you in your beehive acquisition process. Related products will also be available for those who simply wish to support the pollinating insects cause and also encourage the launching of a new local company.
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Marketing
/ MARKETING
2021
The company is proud to present you the new generation of Bee Space Slipcover™. Thanks to the active participation of our ambassadors and their many constructive comments, we present to you a product designed FOR and BY beekeepers in order to contribute to the improvement of contemporary beekeeping techniques.
The commercial product will be available on our website and at various distributors from August 5, 2021. Stay tuned!
Support Bee Space ™
Bee SpaceTM exceeded its objective of crowdfunding by raising more than $ 40,000
to start their commercial production. If you believe in the undeniable contribution of bee colonies to beekeeping and our food sovereignty, contribute to our project by subscribing to the Bee SpaceTM newsletter or by pre-ordering one of our products!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
