I’ve probably bent a few too many ears in the Twin Cities about the need for creative and technical types to get together and find ways to put their skills toward something greater than just serving advertising and marketing clients. While the ad/marketing biz is great (hey, it pays my bills), IMHO it’s not a game that builds long-term value for the creative practitioners themselves. What’s more (noble efforts like Minneadpolis.com aside), the ad biz doesn’t foster the kind of sharing and collaboration that is the hallmark of entrepreneurial epicenters like Silicon Valley, Seattle, Austin and Portland.
So, while we’re doing a great job getting recognition from Ad Age and NYT as an advertising town, we’ll need to lay some groundwork if we’re ever to get our fair cities on the entrepreneurial map. No doubt, we’re fortunate to have MinneDemo, MinneBar, Social Media Breakfast, UnSummit and Minnov8, but more needs to happen before MSP can become a breeding ground for startups.
So, yesterday I was delighted to have someone bending my ear about some projects that seem to be aimed at helping creatives and geeks collaborate, innovate and launch new ventures. Below is a rundown of just some of the efforts that Jeff Pesek (@JeffPesek) shared with me.
Co-working (possibly) coming to Minnesota
For whatever reason, and despite a fair amount of interest, co-working has never caught on here in the Twin Cities. But that might change in the coming months. Stephen Filing, of ClubTix fame, is closing in on a space in Minneapolis that will be converted into a co-working location, with multiple tiers of membership available. You can get more info at www.twincitiescoworking.org. A co-working interest group is meeting on Wednesdays in St. Paul to discuss. As I understand it, Stephen is pursuing this project as a for-profit venture (only noteworthy in light of the following item).
An incubator for social entrepreneurs
Meanwhile, Jacquie Berglund, co-founder and president of Finnegan’s (makers of Finnegan’s Irish Amber and arguably the tastiest non-profit in the state) is considering the potential of using unused space in her organization’s headquarters as a hub for social entrepreneurs. The space in question is a 5,000-square-foot mansion (map) at Portland and 10th in Minneapolis.
One of the ideas Jacquie and Jeff have discussed is whether part of the space could be turned into a co-working-location-slash-incubator that would be attractive to like-minded creatives, geeks and others. Interested? Contact Jeff, who says:
“We’re looking at filling this space with 7 to 10 technically oriented/creative people who would be interested in $100 month shared space (700 square feet) in a socially conscious environment.
Please note that Finnegan’s is only 6 blocks from the Metrodome light rail stop. No word yet on whether the watercoolers will be stocked with Irish Amber.
A new role for CentralStandardTech.com
Started in 2006 by Luke Francl, Central Standard Tech has been a hub for coders and technology entrepreneurs in Minnesota. The site’s stated purpose is:
“to get developers, designers, testers, recruiters, entrepreneurs, VCs, and other members of the tech community talking to each other.”
Luke is hanging in the Valley these days, but has agreed to let the community repurpose and re-energize the site in order to extend the site to non-geeks. Jeff Pesek and Toby Cryns (@TobyCryns) are heading up the effort and hope to redesign the site so that it becomes a one-stop repository for:
- Personal profiles (hmm, I wonder if a mashup with extendr.com would make sense here?)
- Project updates
- Gig postings
- Local events (with a calendar that aggregates events from tech and creative organizations)
- Blogs
Since the intention is for CST to be a community driven site, the list above is only speculative and may expand, contact or morph depending on who joins the project. Interested? Meet Jeff, Toby and me on Monday, July 20, 9 a.m. at Spyhouse Coffee.
MNtechstartups.org
Finally, Jeff told me about a site I’d never seen before: MNtechstartups.org. It’s a community hub that seems to be aiming to achieve much of what I described above. The site’s stated goal is to:
“…add value the Minnesota startup community by providing a comprehensive resource for local startups, one that serves the entrepreneurs who make it happen…”
But how is it different from CST? Are they competing sites? Should they be folded into one big mega community? Maybe Jeff can leave a comment and set us all straight.
July 15th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Solid post Don. I would encourage anyone interested in anything mentioned above to reach out and say “hello” – Contribute, critique, add value, improve, and connect!
Don asks: “But how is (mntechstartups.org) different from CST? Are they competing sites? Should they be folded into one big mega community?”
To answer the first question, mntechstartups.org is a localized startup resource/space/community that will offer more customized or tailored content offerings that appeal to unique audience, although there will undoubtedly be cross-pollination. Imagine CST being a much wider net with more diversity than mntechstarups.org yet sharing some of the structure and functionality from a design & architecture perspective.
Are they competing sites?
Perhaps overlapping in some elements, ideally they will be complimentary to one another (and to other parallel initiatives).
Should they be folded into one big mega community?”
Possibly, as there will be some integration from day one. We’re looking at partnering with a very fresh and effective local jobs board startup as well. In this sense I could see CST unfolding as more of a platform for other more creative niche resources to “plug into” so to speak…er type.
Overall, it’s great to ask these questions and think through some different scenarios, thank you Don!
ps- mntechstartups.org is looking for a facelift if a designer would be interested in helping the cause!
-Jeff Pesek
July 16th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Thanks, Jeff. Let’s see how this all shakes out. Will CST and MTS (oh, how we love the acronyms) be run on WordPress? I only ask because that will give potential designers a sense for the size of the task. Creating or customizing a theme in WP will might be less onerous than other approaches.
July 18th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Don, right? Hi, Don
First, I think you overlooked a major up and comer on the “want to be Silicon Valley” list – Boulder. Between Techstars and the other Brad Feld + co. groups and organizations, that city is poised to start producing some rad new businesses.
I think we’re close. Real close. We’ve got a place for technologists (MinneDemo, et al.). We’ve got a place for business geeks (MN Cup). What we don’t have, yet, is a place to bring those two together. I tried to forge this conversation at last year’s MinneBar, but there’s an understandable amount of attrition from both sides with this faux “they’re going to steal my idea” paranoia. A likemind (http://likemind.us/) for the startup community might be a step in that direction.
Additionally, an invite to the party was overlooked. What about VC’s, advisors, and mentors? Not every startup needs a VC, and not every VC should come to the party (same with advisors, mentors, etc.). However, their experience, insight, and impartial and objective critiques are invaluable — when they’re the right fit for the group. Maybe this calls for the Fight Club clause.
Hm.
-matt
October 5th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Thanks, Jeff. Let’s see how this all shakes out. Will CST and MTS (oh, how we love the acronyms) be run on WordPress? I only ask because that will give potential designers a sense for the size of the task. Creating or customizing a theme in WP will might be less onerous than other approaches.
May 19th, 2010 at 7:40 am
Solid post Don. I would encourage anyone interested in anything mentioned above to reach out and say “hello” – Contribute, critique, add value, improve, and connect!
Don asks: “But how is (mntechstartups.org) different from CST? Are they competing sites? Should they be folded into one big mega community?”
To answer the first question, mntechstartups.org is a localized startup resource/space/community that will offer more customized or tailored content offerings that appeal to unique audience, although there will undoubtedly be cross-pollination. Imagine CST being a much wider net with more diversity than mntechstarups.org yet sharing some of the structure and functionality from a design & architecture perspective.
Are they competing sites?
Perhaps overlapping in some elements, ideally they will be complimentary to one another (and to other parallel initiatives).
Should they be folded into one big mega community?”
Possibly, as there will be some integration from day one. We’re looking at partnering with a very fresh and effective local jobs board startup as well. In this sense I could see CST unfolding as more of a platform for other more creative niche resources to “plug into” so to speak…er type.
Overall, it’s great to ask these questions and think through some different scenarios, thank you Don!
ps- mntechstartups.org is looking for a facelift if a designer would be interested in helping the cause!
-Jeff Pesek