“Hoarders” meets “Silicon Valley”. That’s one way to describe Langton Labs. Let’s dive into the story of this unique San Francisco landmark.
Langton Labs wasn’t always a venture capital firm. It started as an “arts-driven warehouse community”. This happened back in 2007. The building itself? A former sign factory located at 7-9 Langton Street.
Imagine a millennial commune. But instead of hippies, it was full of engineers. Langton Labs housed scientists, artists, engineers, and world travelers.
Fast forward to August 2016. The 6000-square-foot building sold for $2.35 million. It remained an “eclectic” live/work space. It had nine bedrooms, two and a half baths, and a full kitchen. Multi-purpose rooms and a main garage/event space completed the picture.
But there’s more to the Langton Labs story. A New York Times piece described it as less than luxurious. If Embassy SF was the Four Seasons of commune living, Langton Labs was a hostel. This hostel apparently took decorating cues from “Hoarders”.
One Thursday before Halloween, an overflowing blue Dumpster stood outside. Inside, the kitchen had potted plants, spice bottles, Vegemite, and a pumpkin. Adding to the scene, the residents had just received a half-dozen boxes of dead animals.
These weren’t for a science project. They were for making chimeras. Chimeras are creatures made of parts from different species. The occasion? An upcoming Halloween party. One could even spot a fetal pig with owl’s wings hovering over the garage.
Today, Langton Labs has transformed. It’s now a venture capital firm founded in 2014. The firm invests in US-based startups across various sectors. These include retail, enterprise applications, and consumer goods.
Langton Labs’ portfolio includes one IPO: Beta Bionics. The firm has a small team of two partners. They are based right here in San Francisco.
The Langton Labs building itself is on a 4000-square-foot parcel. It’s zoned for residential development up to 40 feet in height. It was recently back on the market with a $2.5 million price tag. It was advertised as an exciting opportunity for investors. Creative real estate developers were also welcome.
So, from sign factory to millennial commune to venture capital firm, Langton Labs has seen it all. It stands as a testament to San Francisco’s ever-evolving spirit of innovation and community.