The Headquarters Coworking
Our Coworking space was a centralized community hub to help impact community development by giving access to community members, leaders, start up’s and small business teams to collaborate in existing and co- existing entrepreneurial work or community building projects.
So What is Coworking / shared workspace:
Coworking or Shared workspace is a space that acts to serve as a professional environment for those conducting business. This space provides business amenities that are quality, we like to say we are like the open free space at Starbucks where you see people working hard but not under the conditions of the traditional corporate workspace and we provide for business needs NOT coffee patrons. While coworking is about rubbing elbows with others who are being productive, we like to provide private space and are more than willing to support each member’s independent needs. We provide businesses with a professional level of services exclusive to independent working professionals in an environment where they can network and support others who are also creating new business or developing independently.
The HQ is 2,200 square feet of office workspace that will be outfitted to house:
• High-speed Wifi • Snack/food prep space
• Print service • Smart Board screens
• Many worktables • Private reservable offices
• Couch seating • A large conference room
• A TV monitor Wall • Rotating Art Exhibits
• Coffee
The Why:
After being heavily engaged in the community for the past years as students, community organizers and local residents, our team has seen many of the problems with the local Small Business support and also the economic struggle for all. As students we felt we should have a way to create in our city and gain support of others in San Bernardino, we told many students and entrepreneurs of the beauty found in this city, but when we got their feedback we realized while many had issues with the surface of the city, the basic infrastructure for these individuals does not exist to keep them here. There are few places in our city to even use wifi; meet clients or collaborators, meet community organizers; or even tell people what you are trying to accomplish in the community. At “The Headquarters” we want to become the space that your Team or business can call home!
What We’ve Seen:
As a startup company we have been interacting in the small business and new venture community of San Bernardino and Riverside county for approximately 2-3 years. During this time we saw entrepreneurs who had no place to go to get wifi and be productive; we saw independent contractors meeting over broken cafe tables with clients they could not afford to lose; we saw community organizers stuck meeting on the stairs of city hall with only masses of people for warmth as their only amenity and not even a restroom option; we saw students working hard with terrible wifi connections just needing a fast lane option external to their home.
After realizing so many others around us needed that same basic amenity of a space to be and work; we understood many needed a space to call their own Headquarters. After realizing this we began listening to the need of these displaced entrepreneurial thinkers or working professionals. It turns out many do not meet at famous cafes for the coffee but the wifi, restrooms, warmth (or cool), a seat and a desk. Actually we found cafes seemed to be the only decent option for meeting clients or collaborators because they let this displaced group just use the space. Data from our survey research showed that Entrepreneurs would gladly ditch the café smell, noise and limited space for the most basic amenity of space, silence and real wifi connection.
Our Vision
Our city needs a heart for entrepreneurship to rebuild the “All America City” status it once was in 1977. The Headquarters was a hub for entrepreneurship, small businesses creation and support working freelancers or professionals that will drive financial prosperity to our community. We felt people needed a place to come together for support and keep up on the local news or business happenings. Today people still seek a space to gather like we did at the HQ in the past hosting events from 30-350 people in the heart of Downtown San Bernardino.