Root Access was founded in June 2017 by Derek Payton and Andrew Runner. The goal was to fill a gap in Fresno's technology scene, and provide a place for folks to work on projects, learn, and share. Within three days, having told only a handful of people people, over $13,000 was donated to help get the space off the ground.

Root Access officially opened in August 2017 inside a 2,700ft² space in the Tower District, with nothing more than some plastic folding tables and a small assortment of tools. Today we have diverse tool set, including 3D printers, a laser cutter, electronics workstation, wood shop, textile arts and crafting studio, and more every day! We host tons of events, including workshops and several meetups, and we're now at 70+ members and growing!