Dallas Shared Work Space

Dallas CEO Magazine claims that the entrepreneur and start-up scene in big D is on fire. While that is not up for debate, what is would be the claimed "helpers" of this improved scene: University incubators!

Right. For only $200 a month (give, mostly, or take a bunch), and 3% of your company, you can have your own office in a rundown building with an Internet connection and telephone. Or for nothing you can stay home (or go to Starbucks) and not have to put up with university politics, promised "assistance" that just doesn't materialize, and keep everything you build, since you did it all yourself anyway.

What Dallas needs is a shared work space like they have in San Francisco or New York. While I am sure there are shared work spaces in other cities, there are two specific examples that I want to cite, and those are the cities in which they are located.

The Shared Work Spaces I have referenced in my research are:

• Citizen Space
• Cafe Bricolage

By the way, I do not agree with everything they do, but I think they have some interesting points that could work in a Dallas Shared Work Space. They also have stuff that would never fly here.

Now, I am very familiar with Office Business Centers, or "Executive Suites" as they are commonly known. These are fine for people that just need an office to go to to complete paperwork or get away from the family. They are certainly not conducive to the kind of networking and brainstorming a new start-up so desperately needs. In fact, the times I've been to an Executive Suite, I felt like I needed to walk around on tippy toes so I didn't bother anyone.

So I've been sitting on the idea of a Shared Workspace in Dallas for the past couple of months, spurred on by Darren Herman's post at the beginning of this month. Last night, I found out I missed DallasDemoCamp2 and went to the wiki to sign up for DallasBarCamp4 in August so I can make sure I am in the loop. While there, I discovered that in fact, I am not the only one who would like a Shared Work Space in Dallas. In fact, it turns out there are some very energetic people looking for a solution right now. This needs to be explored further.

I will begin to contribute to the cause at the DallasCoworking wiki, but I wanted to post my own background on this topic, along with my vision here, first. I believe the space should be a loft space, very open with high ceilings. There should be private offices for use when privacy is required, such as for sales calls or confidential meetings. The majority of the space should be designed to be open, with areas for people to sit in small teams, and areas for people to work together at a white board. There should be at least one conference room for sales meetings or board meetings.

The logistics of managing private office and conference room requests will not be simple, but could be established via bylaws, agreements from coworkers, and a human being who is in charge of everything (like a landlord/administrative assistant). As for technology infrastructure, I believe there should be a huge, fat pipe to the Internet and a wireless network to connect to it internally. That is it. This is Web 2.0 after all, right?

But what are the qualifications for acceptance into the Shared Work Space? I think there needs to be something, but this cannot be a fraternity of the elite, only letting in those that they know. Rather, there are plenty of places like that; this should be for anyone who wants in. Perhaps the only qualifications would be some interviews by randomly selected coworkers to test personality. Since this is a shared workspace, we must be able to get along; more than that, we must thrive in each other's company. If you are not into that game, don't play. Simple as that.

The only other thing that might be applied to "screen" applicants would be the industry they are in; it would make sense to not have multiple companies competing in the same industry sharing office space. That could get messy and kill everyone's buzz. In fact, by having companies from all different verticals, and consultants in different areas, a fantastic synergy or network effect would take place.

Finally, I don't believe the company that controls the space should get any equity from the companies that "office" there. Now, if that means it is a for-profit venture, then so be it. I would rather pay a for-profit entity, knowing that they are making money off of me, and knowing it might be a bit more than if they weren't, than to give up equity in my venture so I can pay to use their space. That said, if it is a for-profit venture, the charge still cannot be on-par with dedicated office space. It is a fine-line to walk, and I am sure there is much more to it than meets the eye. I believe it is worthwhile to explore it further, at least.

- Lincoln