Comments on: What Would a VC Sponsored Coworking Location Look Like?

By: mike

mike — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’m hoping the guys at coobric can get a deal like this going.

By: mindlike

mindlike — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sounds like where I used to work over at Idealab.. or they called it an incubator.. similar concept though.

By: Tara Hunt

Tara Hunt — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Although this idea has popped up before, it doesn’t suit coworking at all. Our core values are:

1. Openness
2. Collaboration
3. Community
4. Sustainability

In the core of this is a grassroots, independence ideal.

VCs already have coworking, btw…it’s called incubators and they work much like you’ve mentioned above.

By: centernetworks

centernetworks — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hmm - but I don't mean a hackathon - sorry if I wasn't clearer. I meant typical coworking where people have to get things done.

By: Chris Messina

Chris Messina — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is the antitheses of what coworking is about. VCs can do incubators all they want, but the moment they descend on coffee shops as recruiting grounds is the moment that coffee shop ceases to exist!

The point of coworking is to create productive workspaces for independents as an *open* alternative to cafes that aren’t necessarily set up to support the modern web worker. While VCs can be part of the coworking ecosystem, more often then not their involvement changes the dynamics, freedom and purpose of a community getting together for the sake of community to getting together for the sake of money.

That’s what incubators are for, and that’s the model that works for them. VCs serve a purpose for sure, but their role in community development is primarily to stay out of the business of raising social capital.

Seriously Allen, the corporate-sponsored/VC-sponsored coworking idea seems to fly in the face of the values that Tara mentioned! I strongly encourage you to visit a coworking space that’s independent and run for the sake of community. I think you’d better understand what it’s all about if you had first-hand experience. ;)

By: Andrew Parker

Andrew Parker — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Union Square Ventures (where I work) has hosted two hackathons. The idea is to be like a nighttime facebook-oriented Jelly, but they always deteriorate into a straight social networking event.

So, in answer to your question: no one would get any work done and it would look like a meetup.