The 13,000-square-foot Venture X facility in Bethlehem is a flexible workspace and community for employees, startups, and small businesses. (photo courtesy Venture X)

John De Marco is a successful entrepreneur with a proven history of launching such companies as Cigars International and Brandshopper, but in recent years wanted to get back to his technology roots. He is currently in the process of launching two high-tech startups, and is working with both overseas developers and a small team here in the Lehigh Valley.

De Marco didn’t want a traditional office space, or the costs and maintenance that comes with it, but he needed a place to meet semi-regularly with his staff, hold client presentations, and work virtually with his overseas colleagues. He found that, and a whole lot more, in Venture X.

“It’s just a fantastic environment,” De Marco said. “We can collaborate easily, and I’ve made some great contacts with people who are in a similar space but different industries. Especially in a post-COVID world where we need to collaborate across zones, it’s perfect.”

Located in Southside Bethlehem, Venture X is a flexible workspace and community for employees, startups, and small businesses. It provides modern office spaces, conference rooms, and world-class amenities and services designed to help companies grow and thrive.

"We offer the finest 5th Avenue space, amenities, and services to individuals and businesses, right here at home in the Lehigh Valley," said Terry Wallace, CEO of Alynus Inc. and owner of Venture X Lehigh Valley. "Of all the value we offer, the most impactful is direct engagement with an exceptional and growing community of entrepreneurs and professionals. And we're just getting started."

The 13,000-square-foot facility at 306 South New St. currently hosts about 105 members and 45 companies. But beyond simply providing space, Venture X is a hub for people seeking to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and grow businesses for the Lehigh Valley community.

“It’s a hive for thought leaders in the area,” said Ryan Walsh, founder of Zeptepi Creative, which is located at Venture X. The company provides photo, video, graphic design and motion graphics for marketing campaigns and other initiatives.

“It’s a place where you can develop bigger ideas and find people from different perspectives and walks of life and bounce ideas off them,” Walsh said. “When you’re in a space like that, it helps you develop a certain mindset and allows you to think bigger. It brings that energy to you, and it’s invigorating.”

The variety of office sizes and types at Venture X also allows clients to scale up as their company grows. Walsh started in a one-person office, which he upgraded as he added more employees, and today works in a 2,000 square-foot office.

Jose Conil operates his software development company Prorytech out of Venture X. He has three employees in the United States and a developer in the Dominican Republic. While his U.S. employees often work from home, Venture X allows them to meet several times a week to bounce ideas off each other, as well as network with others from the Venture X community.

“It gives you a perfect environment,” Conil said. “It’s a nice place for people who want to turn their idea into a business, and a great space to show our customers.”

Walsh added, “It’s a beautiful space that gives you that Silicon Valley vibe. It’s not just that you’re comfortable; it’s an empowering feeling. The space kind of embodies how big things can be.”

Venture X is a growing brand with one location in Bethlehem and additional locations planned in the Lehigh Valley.

"One of my objectives is to say that if you live in the Lehigh Valley, you are less than 15 minutes from a location that is part of a network of world-class office space, amenities, and services."

The Venture X in Bethlehem currently has space available, including private  suites, dedicated desks, shared desks, and virtual offices. The space is meticulously designed for productivity, privacy, and collaboration and includes enterprise-level technology platforms, all utilities, staffed reception, stocked cafe, daily cleaning, 24/7 member access, conference rooms, event space, and professional staff to support growing businesses.

For more information about Venture X, visit its website or contact Wallace at terry.wallace@venturex.com.