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Question:

Ignite projects should be created by you! Step outside of the box and think of something unique that 18-40 year-olds would find both interesting and cool. Tell us why we should vote YES for your project and let us know how it will be a reflection on young people and the neighborhoods in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

Answer:

Coworking generally brings to mind young creatives tapping away at laptops in a cool office space. We want to create this and more. These solo-preneurs are hard at work building the next big agency, or building the next big startup, or simply enjoying the benefits of being your own boss. These people are already in Cincinnati. We just need to bring them together.

We envision Cincinnati Coworks as a platform for events with a civic-minded focus on making Cincinnati a better city. We want to do so by hosting user groups, SIG’s, GiveCamps, Barcamps, mini-conferences, community classes, Pecha Kucha nights, Ignite events (the other Ignite Cincinnati), you-name-it.  We’ll provide the space at little or no cost and a built-in network of potential participants. At Cincinnati Coworks, our mission as a professional community hub is to transform how people in Cincinnati with ideas get together and make the region a better place to live. Also, with the coworking visa program, coworking members in other cities know they have a place to work when they visit Cincinnati.

Our operations are supported by our coworking members. These members are freelancers, consultants, and independent contractors who are by definition cut of a different cloth. We provide them a place to work and collide with like-minded people. The whole business is structured so that these members build a community and friendships.  Did you ever become really good friends with someone you worked with?  Imagine the same thing, only now you’re your own boss, and you get to work with friends without the office politics, without the org chart, without superiors, without having to deal with others who really don’t want to be there.

Coworking is not unique throughout the country, but it is unique in this city.  I know of no coworking spaces open currently. In fact, with as many independent consultants and creatives buzzing around Cincinnati, I find it surprising and a bit of a shame that there has been no coworking space opened to date. We want to fix this problem. That is why you should vote YES for Cincinnati Coworks.

The Cincinnati answer begins in Columbus.  I am on some random Columbus mailing lists, and I one day I realized that Columbus has a lot going on.  If someone asked me if Columbus is more innovative than Cincinnati, I am tempted to say yes.  Why does Columbus have a GiveCamp and Cincinnati doesn’t?  PodCamp?  Wordcamp?  Freegeek?  Tech swaps?  A bootcamp program for startups?  Inexpensive community classes?  And yes, coworking.

I know of no less than four coworking spaces, apparently thriving, in Columbus.  It’s probably more like six, if you include incubator-type spaces, with probably more in the art/hacking genre.

(Now, I am primarily talking about web, tech, and design activities.  If you throw in things like gallery walks, street fairs, and festivals, I’m sure Columbus doesn’t hold a candle to Cincy.     )

Why aren’t these types of things happening in Cincinnati?  I used to think that Cincinnati and Columbus had the same things going on.  That they were just harder to find, smaller here.  Now, I’m not so sure.

But it’s getting better.  I know this firsthand because lately I could attend a different startup, technology, marketing, social media, or entrepreneurial event every night of the week if I wanted to here in Cincy.  In time, I think that Cincinnati can achieve the same kind of energy present in cities like Columbus, and even surpass them.  Starting with things like Jelly Cincinnati, our mission at Cincinnati Coworks is to be a part of that.

Does Cincinnati have some of these things, and I’m just not aware?  Let us know in the comments.