The History
Innovation Embedded in Our Legacy.
From the lush forests of Escanaba to the gentle rhythm of Lake Michigan’s waves, The Upper Peninsula has always inspired its residents to live with purpose and see their community flourish. But this region has never kept its gifts to itself.
History reveals the region’s remarkable tradition of global innovation. Gladstone’s Webster L. Marble revolutionized exploration in the late 1800s, amassing over 60 patents that reshaped how adventurers discovered both the Upper Peninsula and destinations worldwide. His contemporary, Austrian-born researcher Gabriel Janka, tackled the dangerous inconsistency of lumber quality. By creating the framework for wood density measurement, Janka gave builders everywhere a reliable method to gauge durability.
The Janka Hardness Test still ensures stronger, safer structures generations later.
In late 2024, technology executive Keith Murley visited Escanaba and The Upper Peninsula for the first time. The breathtaking shores, welcoming local businesses, and remarkable kindness shown to this outsider left a profound impression. It reminded him of close-knit communities from his youth in Cuenca, Ecuador. Recognizing that same spirit, Murley relocated immediately.
What he discovered next changed everything. Local businesses were missing modern tools readily embraced elsewhere. Outside companies hesitated to invest, uncertain about finding tech-savvy talent or robust infrastructure. Most concerning were students passionate about technology but lacking clear paths to transform that passion into meaningful careers.
Murley knew fresh ideas would strengthen, not undermine, The Upper Peninsula’s character. Inspired by major rural tech developments like Microsoft’s multi-billion-dollar AI venture just hours away in Wisconsin, he partnered with local champions and visionaries from his professional network.
The result became gJANKA, the Upper Peninsula’s first coworking space and tech incubator.
The name honors our legacy. Just as the hardest woods on the Janka scale demonstrate how denser growth rings create the most resilient timber, each new ring of experience makes individuals more adaptable and capable of thriving while uplifting others.
gJANKA precisely blends coworking functionality with tech incubator potential. We support local businesses as they evolve digitally without losing their character. We offer larger companies a window into The Upper Peninsula possibilities. We help students flourish on their home turf.
Innovation isn’t new here. We’re just getting started.