Re: [Coworking] Re: I NEED YOU: ACADEMIC FINAL RESEARCH ON CO-WORKING AND HAPPINESS AT WORK
Thanks so much Sandra, I'm sure it will help me and my research :) Thanks, really Antonella Il giorno 18/ago/2013, alle ore 01:35, Sandra A sandra.ar...@gmail.com ha scritto: Hi Antonella, I came across a few sources when I was researching coworking. I've pasted links to their abstracts or Web pages below. I hope this is helpful. Good luck with your research! Best, Sandra http://www.academia.edu/3692644/Coworking_in_the_City http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/4581/ http://library2.smu.ca/handle/01/24826#.UhAEq5JBWSo http://www.hermanmiller.com/research/research-summaries/coworking-swarming-and-the-agile-workplace.html http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11614-012-0021-y http://jbt.sagepub.com/content/26/4/399.short On Tuesday, June 4, 2013 8:52:26 AM UTC-5, antonella ninni wrote: Good morning, I'm writing you because I'm pretty sure you could help me. I am a Master student (italian) of Locale Development and Innovation in Florence and I'm working on my final research. The argument is: RELATIONAL GOODS AND LOCAL INNOVATION: the case of co-working. I know I know, it seems too ambitous to proof and how that the crisis of loneliness of independent workers in the global era could be solved even with the cowo experiments but I truly believe that . The problem is that, because it is a recent phenomenon, it is incredibly hard to find scientific and academic works on it. This is the main reason of this appeal :) My questions are: do you have any works, author, data, theory about the success of the success of the coworking experience? Can you suggest me anything about sharing economy and its link with cowo? I would like to co-write it, sharing what I know with you and viceversa by improving my knowledge through yours. Excuse me for my English... Hope you understood everything :) -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/coworking/ICCT4SWpJto/unsubscribe. To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: [Coworking] Re: Passport for sharing coworking
Hi guys ! It's really interesting to read this discussion and to have some feedbacks on the different local initiatives that have been done here and there. We've been working a lot on the topic and are now close to releasing Copass. We wanted to tackle the issue of going from one space to another both locally and globally and to facilitate the connections between the different communities. So here is our take on this. Copass is a platform that will offer two types of memberships. The free membership is basically an enhanced version of the coworking visa. Spaces when they join can choose if they want to offer between 0 and 3 free trial days for Copass members. the explorer memberships will cost around 65$ . Explorers can then buy some credit on their account. Whenever they go to a space of the network, they just have to tell their card number. The space just has to type the code and check the guy in. The members credit is then actualized and the space will receive the amount corresponding to the daily price he entered. We ask spaces of the network to reduce their daily price from 20% to have something affordable for members. Explorers can even form teams and share some credit. So for instance , a startup or a creative company can buy some credits for its teammates and allow them to work from wherever they want . This is for the technical side . But we also build some social features. For instance , when you meet awesome folks in a space, you can add them to your friends and receive some notifications whenever they check in in the same city or in a space you recommended. This allow copassers to easily keep in touch and meet in real life. Finally we want to improve the experience of finding a space with a recommendation system. Copassers can recommend spaces and their friends an the community will then be able to identify spaces that match their expectations. Copass works both locally and globally. We already have more than 100 spaces that joined the network before we launched and we are very excited on the new lifestyle this kind of system could enable. Copass is not limited to coworking spaces. We also have some Fablabs , hacker spaces or bio hacker spaces in the network and we think this is extremely cool. You can find a little more Infos on Copass.org but the website is outdated as we are now focusing on coding and designing the platform to have a beta version by the end of September . Don't hesitate to ask me questions if you d like. You can also email me at e...@copass.org if you prefer. We can't wait to start and have your feedbacks. Eric from Mutinerie, coworking space in Paris and Copass -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[Coworking] Re: Passport for sharing coworking
Hi All, I didn't want to announce this yet because I'm not crazy about the wording on the home page and this is an Open Coworking project that I wanted to wait to announce until that was coordinated. Just haven't found the time to do those things and too much time has passed already. But as this conversation is active and our system is in place and works, it doesn't make sense not to announce it here. A small group of coworking spaces in Prague, Czech Republic came to an agreement to share our memberships that is simple and, like the Coworking Visa, requires no administration or intermediary (besides a list of participants and what they're agreeing to). It will clearly work best with international participation (like the Coworking Visa or the fax, strength is in the number of participants :). Here's our shared website for the project: www.coworkingwithoutborders.com. There are no fees or legal contracts or money handling between spaces (or with Coworking Without Borders!). That's it. It's more complicated than the Visa but it also facilitates essentially unlimited membership exchange across full-time members of participating spaces. It's not meant to replace the Visa (all of our spaces participate in both), but it allows for much more. We'd love to have more participating spaces, so have a look and add your space to the list (click the Regiter your space link and fill out the Google form). If you have any full-time members who want to use one of the participating spaces, add them using the Register a member link. This is a work in progress, so we'd love to have your feedback. Best, Will On Monday, August 19, 2013 12:47:14 PM UTC-7, Liz Tracy wrote: We are looking to link some of the local coworking spaces together under one passport. We are already a member of the Coworking Visa for national use, but wanted to start something locally as well for spaces that our members would use more frequently. Does anyone have suggestions of models that have worked? We are looking at the amount to charge, hours allowed in those spaces, how to verify membership, etc. -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[Coworking] I want to open the 1st coworking space in my
I want to open the 1st coworking space in my region The closest coworking space to where I live is a 4 hour drive away. I don't live in a technology or creative driven community but I feel that a place like this could bring these people together and help foster growth in my community and benefit all involved. I'm late to the wonderful concept of coworking so I have been using google to find as much information as possible. First and foremost, thank you Alex Hillman for all of your insight. I love stumbling onto your blogs, videos and in depth responses to questions posted by others. To all who have opened a coworking community - how do you walk the fine line between trying to start a community before you open your doors and having someone run off with your idea and beating you to the punch? -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[Coworking] Re: Hello from Wisconsin! (Also maybe please help?)
I appreciate the support, Craig! We're also trying to cozy up to the folks in the Makerspace and just have them work here from time to time (their space is downstairs from us). Great idea, though! On Monday, August 19, 2013 4:11:28 PM UTC-5, Craig Baute - Creative Density Coworking wrote: Matthew, It's hard right now because it's the summer and you don't have many members. You do have the benefit of being in close proximity to the marketing agency so I would help integrate them into the community space. You have the benefit of warm bodies at lease nearby so give them a reason and simply ask for them to also work in the coworking space and be part of the community. People join coworking space for people, not really amenities. Don't worry if the next month is a bit slow because people find a rhythm once summer is over. Integrate the people you have, keep building relationships, and be a great host and coworker. Craig Creative Density Denver -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: [Coworking] I want to open the 1st coworking space in my
@alex I live in south Tx known as the Rio Grande Valley. San Antonio is the closest city with a coworking environment which is a 4 hour drive from here. Thanks again for all your help. My goal now is to find my first 10. -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: [Coworking] Re: Passport for sharing coworking
Alex and Rachel, We haven't decided to go virtual or physical yet. The plan is start with a simple sign in sheet after they have been in the space the first time. A low tech way is sometimes the simplest way. They will have a physical to identify themselves as a member. I don't want the person to have to check in with a person because all of the spaces are staffed 100% of the time, like Creative Density. I am here 80% of the time but am out for a meeting or running an errand once or twice during the day. I am looking for a simple check in service similar to the reward programs like Spot On that are popping in retailers. Passport holders will simply swipe a card or type in a pin at an iPad or something up front. If we find something in the next two months then we will just launch with that. This will track everything and provide some data about time, how frequent someone uses a space, which space, etc. The purpose to make it easy for companies to buy multiple memberships and allow workers to find the best community for the individual. It makes things simple for everyone. $15 for each day pass to the space owner, $350 to $400 for a passport. This is not designed to be a project to scale to huge numbers, really over 150 passport holders or so, because we want it to the be local. Once we let it get too big then we have to worry about member distribution, passport holders taking over too many spaces, and the logistics and policies that came with a larger program. This is a local venture to support remote workers and help Denver coworking spaces meet their financial obligations. As for fundraising for Denver Coworks we seeked sponsors for Denver Coworking week and raised around $1500. This money went to t-shirts, bbqs, and left a bit in the pot for the group's future activities. We are debating whether new members should pay a joiners fee of $100 to $200 to contribute to the pot but we don't want to shut new spaces from joining the group knowing that money is an issue. We also are getting request from real estate groups and businesses that want to speak to the group and we will charge them a fee to do so. We are also debating an annual fee for being part of the group, sponsors for events and the entire group. We don't have many financial obligations but a small pot of money would give us the freedom to raise awareness together with a campaign. -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[Coworking] Investors
Hey team, I have been approached by three different investors in the last few weeks for new locations. Creative Density is looking at a second location and building up the new community for it in a simlar way to how we did it two years ago. It's very grass roots and will only happen if the community can be formed before the space opens. Once this process started to happen that's when investors started to show up. I know several others have had similar experience so I am hoping I can have guidance about important questions to ask and possible structures. What I'm thinking: Business structure: Creative Density's current location remains my own domain. They don't get a chunk of that but they are investing in future locations with the new location being a new business entity. We will share access to my intellectual property but in case of a split I will retain control in a reasonable time frame of transition. How much money: They are looking to purchase the building and renovating it. I'm working on how much money they need to put in beyound that and how to split revenue and profits. Do they have a good personality match and complimentary skill set? I'm laying out my principals of what I want coworking to be and that profit is not the sole driving force. Yes, we want to make money but we also want this a platform and community that supports freelancers and remote workers as well as small teams. Private offices sell fast but they can not dominate the space and must be around only a third of the space. They do have a good skill set that compliments my own as an experience coworking space owner. Any advice would helpful. Craig -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: [Coworking] Investors
Craig, This is a very interesting topic and I was thinking about introducing a similar question to the group. I was recently talking with someone involved with coliving down in SF and thoughts about real-estate came up again. I'd love to buy the building we are in but the hard assets Office Nomads has is mostly a bunch of Ikea desks and that's not exactly good collateral for a loan that size. Navigating the relationship with investors is tricky as you are highlighting. I don't know how to make someone millions, but I do know how to make a profitable business and a strong community of loyal members. Seems like a lot to work with if the right investors came along. Jacob --- Office Nomads - Individuality without Isolation http://www.officenomads.com - (206) 323-6500 On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 9:22 AM, Craig Baute - Creative Density Coworking baut...@gmail.com wrote: Hey team, I have been approached by three different investors in the last few weeks for new locations. Creative Density is looking at a second location and building up the new community for it in a simlar way to how we did it two years ago. It's very grass roots and will only happen if the community can be formed before the space opens. Once this process started to happen that's when investors started to show up. I know several others have had similar experience so I am hoping I can have guidance about important questions to ask and possible structures. What I'm thinking: Business structure: Creative Density's current location remains my own domain. They don't get a chunk of that but they are investing in future locations with the new location being a new business entity. We will share access to my intellectual property but in case of a split I will retain control in a reasonable time frame of transition. How much money: They are looking to purchase the building and renovating it. I'm working on how much money they need to put in beyound that and how to split revenue and profits. Do they have a good personality match and complimentary skill set? I'm laying out my principals of what I want coworking to be and that profit is not the sole driving force. Yes, we want to make money but we also want this a platform and community that supports freelancers and remote workers as well as small teams. Private offices sell fast but they can not dominate the space and must be around only a third of the space. They do have a good skill set that compliments my own as an experience coworking space owner. Any advice would helpful. Craig -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: [Coworking] Investors
In addition to how we've handled fundraising for Indy Hall (in which we haven't taken investment), I've raised a non-trivial amount of capital for our first steps towards a residential spin on Indy Hall. Both have taught me quite a few things. 1) We created an LP(limited partnership) to own/manage the equity generated by the new project. The LP is maintained by myself and our real estate development partners, and is structured similarly to a standard business partnership. The roles and responsibilities of our partners are clearly defined, and ours are as well. Our investors are non-controlling investors, trusting us based on our demonstration of traction and past history of success. That LP is also TOTALLY separate from Indy Hall's and our partners' LLC. This keeps Indy Hall's existing assets safe should something go haywire with the deal. 2) Be your own first investor. Since investors are essentially buying a piece of your traction, but there's no better way to keep your foothold than to invest yourself. In addition to the fact that I was a controlling partner of the LP, I contributed ~16% of the total capital raising goal. I would try to find a way to bring some % to the table yourself (friends and family). I had a personal goal of at least 10%, and thankfully was able to do that from savings. 3) Regardless of legal control, put yourself in a mindset where every investor becomes your business partner. This can be an advantage, especially when investors have more skin in the game than simply a financial investment, but it can also be a disadvantage. Money is a BAD reason to bring someone on as a business partner, even if you like everything else about them. Quick story: in Indy Hall's first growth/expansion, we had a member approach us about the finances. He was a great member, and believed in Indy Hall's future. He offered investment because he saw the opportunity, but we decided to take on the money as debt instead because money wasn't the right reason to bring on a new business partner. 4) Decide your terms ahead of time, and hold your ground. We had investors who we *really* thought was a good fit for the project, but he wanted all kinds of modifications to our terms. It ended up being a big waste of time and legal fees, and we ended up turning him away from the project. 5) Back to the first point about the LP, buying/building property is a completely different business than running a coworking space. We have an offer on the table from our landlord to buy the building we currently occupy in the next 2 years, which could be both lucrative and meaningful for our community, but I'm not in the business of being a building manager nor do I want to be. That's my choice - yours may be different. But in our case, among the MANY considerations is finding a partner who DOES want to be that building manager. 6) In this still-very-conceptual model for buying our current building, my goal would be to seed the investment pool (if not completely close it, though that may be too far of a reach) with funds from Indy Hall members and their connections. Basically, if we're going to take investment, my top priority is for it to be from people who already intimately understand the value we're creating and who want to help us share that value with others. In a far less conceptual reality of now, every penny we've ever BORROWED (and a significant portion of the money we've raised from investors) came from people who've already been impacted by Indy Hall - in most cases, in a financially positive way - and are looking to reinvest that in a way that will benefit themselves and others. Actual conversation I've had: being a member of Indy Hall helped me make $XX since joining. I want to put that towards the future of the thing that helped me get here, so that it can keep helping me advance. -Alex -Alex -- /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 12:22 PM, Craig Baute - Creative Density Coworking baut...@gmail.com wrote: Hey team, I have been approached by three different investors in the last few weeks for new locations. Creative Density is looking at a second location and building up the new community for it in a simlar way to how we did it two years ago. It's very grass roots and will only happen if the community can be formed before the space opens. Once this process started to happen that's when investors started to show up. I know several others have had similar experience so I am hoping I can have guidance about important questions to ask and possible structures. What I'm thinking: Business structure: Creative Density's current location remains my own domain. They don't get a chunk of that but they are investing in future locations with the new location being a new business entity. We will share access to my intellectual property but in case of a split I will retain control in a reasonable time frame of transition. How much money: They are looking
[Coworking] Re: Investors
Craig, when you talk about investor there´s a majority of options to look for. The first thing it is know yourself and what are your main goals with Creativity Density. I think you already know most part of these information, although know you need to know if these investor have the same goal as you, if they have the same values, if they complement you with something (like: empower you network, gain scale to implement new projects, or etc.) I think the model Alex said before it is very closed to the endowment funds ( Financial endowment Wikipedia)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_endowment, endeavor it is a organization that has something cool about companies that they helped and after the program these companies (they don't call startups other than scale ups´) give some equity to them and these is the fuel to continue to help new scale ups.(http://endeavor.org/) Hedge funds and others financial investors will invest in the space if they saw something unique and they will help you to create a scalable model, using their money, network, structure and etc. It is basic these. They will buy equity from you very cheap, invest in the company to transform in a big thing, with stability and continuous recurrence of money inflows and then sell these partition very high and you have the rights to follow on, and also make money. Looking more close to your case, I enter in the website to understand about it. So i will give you some advices imagine myself at your seat. You showed yourself opened to Investors looking to new branches and replication of creative density model. · Ok. Who are these people ? Do they have the necessary skills to be a space operator? Why they don´t open a new space, and want CD brand? I might be for several reasons, but it is important to know. It could be a strength they think you have ro other, but in the end you will have to fulfill or exceed their expectations. · Is your business ready to be escalated? Core process of the business are tested, secured, atomized? · What you going to offer ? Management software? Training? Branding? · What this will enable you to do that you can´t do today? Size for hold your own events (talks, training, networking, etc.) · Are going to charge for royalties or maintenance? How much? · How much they will need to invest to build a new brunch? What are the strategic locations? the boundaries (10 miles range)? the guidelines for architecture, furniture quality, network, internet, decoration, number of people, kinds of spaces, communication boards? Do you have partners for it? How much working capital someone needs in these king of business? · What are the things you don't want to lose?(very important) Now you going to need a law partner and a mentor with franchise or MA experience to help you in these moment. Finally i don't like the idea of buying the build you rent today, these is a asset that you already generate money, if you buy it you are going to generated the same money with more investment. And even if the build it is yours, you need to depreciated (reinvest the depreciation) and also put in the PL, inside costs the value of a market rent for that same building, and the business has to generate money to pay it. otherwise it is a not a good business. It is a very complex subject and i am more than glad to help you more, if you wanted. i recommend some short videos that also might help you. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/core-finance/investment-vehicles-tutorial PS: Sorry for the bad English. Att, Danilo Salgueiro Co-founder @ LAB 48 Coworking Em terça-feira, 20 de agosto de 2013 13h22min58s UTC-3, Craig Baute - Creative Density Coworking escreveu: Hey team, I have been approached by three different investors in the last few weeks for new locations. Creative Density is looking at a second location and building up the new community for it in a simlar way to how we did it two years ago. It's very grass roots and will only happen if the community can be formed before the space opens. Once this process started to happen that's when investors started to show up. I know several others have had similar experience so I am hoping I can have guidance about important questions to ask and possible structures. What I'm thinking: Business structure: Creative Density's current location remains my own domain. They don't get a chunk of that but they are investing in future locations with the new location being a new business entity. We will share access to my intellectual property but in case of a split I will retain control in a reasonable time frame of transition. How much money: They are looking to purchase the building and renovating it. I'm working on how much money they need to put in beyound that and how to split revenue and profits. Do they have a good personality match and
Re: [Coworking] Investors
Thanks Alex and Danilio. The model that was described by Alex basically outlined my thought process. The leading investor right now is already in the space and has been following the coworking movement for a while and been a friend for over a year. I believe he has a valuable skill set but I would just need to clearly lay out my goals because we might differ a bit. I don't want to be an office manager but create a work clubhouse that is a platform for mobile workers and freelancers. I would have the hands on role and marketing message so I would continue to guide the culture and create a message that continues to attract smart and friendly members. I'll continue to follow through with more questions as I go through this process. Craig -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
