Hey MN we are lagging not leading?

Contact:
Rossana Weitekamp, rossana@weitekamp.com

Barbara Pruitt, bpruitt@kauffman.org

Kauffman Foundation

African-Americans and older Americans experience greatest increases in business-creation rates from 2008 to 2009

(KANSAS CITY, Mo.), May 20, 2010 – Rather than making history for its deep recession and record unemployment, 2009 might instead be remembered as the year business startups reached their highest level in 14 years – even exceeding the number of startups during the peak 1999-2000 technology boom.

According to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, a leading indicator of new-business creation in the United States, the number of new businesses created during the 2007–2009 recession years increased steadily year to year. In 2009, the 340 out of 100,000 adults who started businesses each month represent a 4 percent increase over 2008, or 27,000 more starts per month than in 2008 and 60,000 more starts per month than in 2007.

For the full story go to:

http://www.kauffman.org/newsroom/despite-recession-us-entrepreneurial-activity-rate-rises-in-2009.aspx

Coworking Locations Directory

Here is a pretty comprehensive list of coworking locations in North America but our 2 in MN are not listed:

http://cocomsp.com/

http://the3rdplace.ning.com/

Coworking is a movement that brings people to a shared space to work together. If you’re unfamiliar with coworking, you can learn more about it here at coworking.com, check out the coworking wiki, or join the coworking google group.

Coworking spaces and communities are gaining popularity and popping up everywhere. Here at Workified, we’re keeping a comprehensive directory of all the major coworking spaces around the world. If you’re looking to join a coworking space, check out our coworking directory to locate a coworking space near you! If your coworking space is not on the list, please feel free to contact us at hello@workified.com and tell us about your space.

USA

03-18-2010 – USA Today – New trend: ‘Coworking,’ Where People Share Office Space

03-17-2010 – Inc. Magazine – 8 Reasons to Consider Coworking

03-24-2010 – Techvibes – Coworking – It’s about the people

03-18-2010 – Techvibes – Camaraderie in Coworking

Hey everybody, I am terrible at keeping up with the site but GREAT stuff is happening, major Fortune 500 companies are talking with us and we are on track for a July opening. In Mid-April we will again start our weekly Wednesday meetings. Also a University of Minnesota class in IT might accelerate our web functionality significantly.

Keep the faith.

Steve

Hey crew, I have been a bit in the wind but that is because there are some great things on the horizon. A larger relationship with a Fortune 500 company is progressing slowly but positively and we are making a bid on a space in Saint Paul. Look for a less cryptic note next week and get ready to take that next step with us soon.

Stephen Filing

651-336-6806

BringMeTheNews -

http://bring.mn/stack/3215-co-working-sites-aim-to-give-twin-cities-telecommuters-a-better-connection

Founded by long-time Twin Cities investigative journalist & television news anchor, Rick Kupchella, BringMeTheNews provides high-level filtration to the unending stream of local breaking stories and information

Hey Coworking Enthusiasts,

Just wanted to say thank you to all who have come to meetings, joined our social groups and have shown interest in coworking here in the Twin Cities. There are also some new spaces coming online in 2010 and we expect to launch April 1st, No Joke.

Anywho, thank you to all and look for coworking in the Twin Cities to be real in 2010.

Steve

Susan Evans, co-founder of Office Nomads in Seattle, was just featured in a nice, splashy piece on the merits of coworking in this month’s Entrepreneur Magazine.  The article focuses on coworking’s rapid growth both internationally (and in your backyard).

Susan was actually the first person I ever spoke with about coworking.  In fact, I interviewed her a little while ago for another Web site I was running some time ago. The concept and her energy & excitement so inspired me I decided to take a whack at launching a coworking facility right here in Akron, Ohio.

Now we’re working on our second facility – Office Space Coworking:  Cuyahoga Falls.  And let’s just say the concept not only works well in Seattle, San Francisco and New York — but even in our little neck of the woods.

Tony Bacigalupo, of New Work City got a nice mention but didn’t see any mention of Alex Hillman of IndyHall in Philly.  Another national leader in the coworking concept.

Anyway it’s a great article. Espousing the merits of being ‘Solo, But Not Alone’. And I’m always excited to see the coworking movement get some props in the national media.

Coworking Facility “The Factory” creates an atmosphere of “working together separately.”

When like gives you lemons make lemon aid, when economic times are tough and leasing space becomes more difficult looking at smaller tenants becomes more palatable and when those tenants are bunched together in a coworking space then everybody wins.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2009/11/coworking_creates_potential_fo.html

A few of us met at the Caribou Coffee in Roseville and had some good discussions around whether or not the Coffee Shop CoWorking model had legs enough to stand on its own or was only an add-on to the traditional coworking space, a satellite office if you will. The Coffee Shop CoWorking Model is interesting because it addresses the two biggest problems with coworking. 1. Price and 2. Proximity.

Price is significantly lower due to the small footprint of the space (120 sq. ft. to  216 sq. ft.) and the fact that the space only holds 1 large table 8+ chairs, a wipe board and a multifunctional copy machine. This allows cost to be $25-$50 a month as opposed to $175-$400 a month.

Proximity, with the proliferation of coffee shops in every neighborhood there is bound to be a coffee shop, restaurant, bar or office complex from which the neighborhood could glean space.

Anywho, would love to hear peoples thoughts on the viability of the Coffee Shop CoWorking Space.

Thanks, Stephen Filing