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?

In order to conceive products relevant to beekeeping, it is important to have a knowledge of who will use the products and in what type of environment. Research is mandatory to create a full picture of the users’ problematics and needs associated to this practice. Gathering information and analyzing data is essential to create a strong basis to guide decision making and product development. To reach its goals, Bee Space referred to many experts on the subject, such as researchers specialized in beekeeping and also apprentice and professional beekeepers. Still in progress, the research continues to try to determine in what ways the products of Bee Space are beneficial to the health bee colonies.

After receiving several honourable mentions for the quality of their research project and the business opportunity combining beekeeping and product design, Bee Space Inc. was officially launched. Bee Space was granted many honours and awards such as Best project with a big social impact awarded by Desjardins, Koen De Winter Best sustainable design project awarded by Université Laval, the Première Ovation grant offered by the Government of Quebec and the City of Quebec for the creation of prototypes, a grant offered by the Quebec consortium for industrial bioprocess research and innovation (CRIBIQ) and the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation (MEI) and Most original project in industrial design awarded by the Association des Designer Industriel du Québec (ADIQ).

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.

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.

Once the product is fully developed, a commercial processing is planned for 2021 in order to allow beekeepers to equip their colonies for the next wintering. Through a collaborating approach and in an optimization perspective, Bee Space stays in touch with its clientele to respond to evolving needs and resolve new issues.