Public/Private Collaborative Incubator

[orange2323]

Here in Lincoln there has been a recent startup of a place called The Turbine Flats Project which is a non-profit that renovated an old factory to have a bunch of spaces for start up and small businesses. The big idea is that the design encourages the tenants to get together and share their successes and solutions. Periodically they bring in marketing experts, lawyers, accountants, hr folks to help point the start ups in the right direction for more information (like licensing or market research).

Is anything like this going out there? It seems like a good way to build local economies through giving startups access to information and through having people in the office space next to you that may have gone through some of the investment hoops that you are trying to figure out. The guys behind it are Matthew Wegener and Colby Thomson who both have software companies. They had shared office space and found that having someone across the hall who was in the same boat helped both of their businesses.

Definitely a cool idea. Turbine Flats just opened up. I would love to see if this is going on elsewhere in the entrepreneurship world.

Thanks for any places you can point me where this is being done.

Best of luck in your endeavors!

B

[akula]

sure..
in sydney we have the australian tech park
it's a refitted railway yard housing over 300 high tech startups
great place

[akula]

btw: here's the global directory for business incubators
Links to Member Incubators - NBIA
and these are the registered incubators in nebraska:
OSBN - Omaha Small Business Network, Inc.
Southeast Community College - Entrepreneurship
University of Nebraska Technology Park™ | Incubator Purpose

[orange2323]

Thanks for the response. I am familiar with much of the local incubators/tech parks. The University here in Lincoln is trying to get legislative approval to invest in a larger R&D park (300+ acres) more like the research triangle in N. Carolina.

The local public schools also have focus programs for high school students in their own facilities. There is a science program at the zoo, an arts and humanities program in a repurposed old warehouse, a tech focus in the downtown area, most recently an entrepreneurship focus program located at the Southeast Community College Facility and works in conjunction with SCC entrepreneurship program.

[rogercbryan]

Interesting…. I do non-profit fundraising.. I wonder if I could get involved with something like this.

[akula]

rog, biz incubators aren't non for profits
if you talk to nbia memebers you'll find that hurdle rates of 20-30% are the key to sucess.
..umm..it's a bad example to run a business incubator and not be able to make a dollar in the process..

[akula]

Thanks for the response. I am familiar with much of the local incubators/tech parks.

orange, why did you ask for the links if you're already "familiar with much of the local incubators/tech parks"?

[usakos]

we have TechColumbus here in Columbus, Ohio, which houses many tech companies including the GoBigMedia.

[Cole Taylor]

There's a place down the road called TechSpace. Huge space, but I dont know if they take the role of an incubator. Essentially, it's executive suites for young companies.

[rogercbryan]

I’ve spent years making money for The Salvation Army, Red Cross, and Goodwill. I’ve been thinking about starting my own 501(c)3. I tried to do a program for the Cleveland City School District but navigating their bureaucracy was impossible. Before I put any more thought into this I’d like some advice (legal, logistical, and sustainability).

Could I start a 501(c)3 (non-profit) in the City of Cleveland (OH) that raised money for business incubation? If I was to raise money and then give it to start-ups (grants, loans, subsidies) could the 501(c)3 take any ownership in the companies? This almost sounds like a non-profit VC company. I know in some ethnic communities there are programs somewhat like this to help people start businesses……. Ok…. Any advice? Is this legal?

With all the projects I’m working on this may be too much for me right now… but its worth thinking about.

[rogercbryan]

Deleted by poster

[orange2323]

Sorry if I was unclear or seemingly rude (not my intention). I was wondering what other type of innovative approaches are going on in regards to helping new businesses off the ground and increase retention and development of local businesses are going on in other parts of the world.

I recently moved to Lincoln, NE from the Portland, OR area (I was down in wine country) and am interested in trying to create positive change and growth heres. If I am living here then I want it to be a dynamic and interesting place that is growing opportunities for people. If something is working well elsewhere then I would love to see if it can work well here.

Akula, my sister and her family live in the Blue Mountains where she is a very small scale local entrepreneur. She directs plays, performs some circus tricks (firedancing, scarf swinging, acrobatics and that kind of thing), sings Jazz torch songs, teaches music, and does Tarot Readings for parties. Her husband does the tech thing during the day (database and technical writing) in Sydney and writes about hiphop and dub (and performs) in the evenings. I have not yet visited but I here it is beautiful down under.

Roger: As I understand it Turbine Flats is a not for profit which is partnered with NeighborWorks which is a 501c3 that funds can be donated through. The area they built in is next to the University and adjacent to an area that is designated to be redeveloped for R&D. The Neighborhood they built out in is blighted. They are looking into creating a community angel investment fund (or they were at one time) that would invest small amounts of start up capital across a wide variety of new businesses (the idea that the variety would hedge against inevitable failures of some of the startups).

When I was living up in Portland rather than a community investment group the city took some money awarded after a telco or utility company was found to have shortchanged thousands of low income residents to form a community bank that gave out high risk loans. I think that there are number of reasons Portland, OR is kind of a hot spot right now but I think this type of reinvestment was one of the ideas that helped establish some anchor businesses in neighborhoods.

So Roger, I guess that I think that you can find a way if that is what you are interested in . The Kauffman Foundation out of Kansas City is heavily invested in entrepreneurship, generally through university programs. You might want to consult with an attorney who specializes in some of the SEC laws and regulations to make sure you are set up legally. If you can hire enough lawyers you can always make your own ways. Politics is the art of the possible. If the laws aren't what you might like then you can lobby and work with your senators to help change things to make it happen.s