Services Archive

CoCo teams up with Carlson Ventures Enterprise

April 3, 2013 | By
dball
CoCo teams up with Carlson Ventures Enterprise

CoCo is working with the Carlson Ventures Enterprise (CVE) at the University of Minnesota to launch the Carlson Resource Desk at CoCo Minneapolis!

The Carlson Resource Desk will be staffed by full-time MBA students from Carlson School of Management, who will offer a wide variety of services in-person and via email to CoCo members , with a turnaround time of approximately one week. Some examples of services include:

  • Market sizing
  • Demographic information
  • Consumer insights
  • Market segmentation
  • Competitor analysis
  • Assistance with financial models
  • Assessment of tax incentives and policy influences on business

The Carlson Resource Desk Associates will hold roundtable conversations at CoCo Minneapolis to field questions regarding projects and learn more about what services CoCo members will need. Roundtable dates/times:

  • Tuesday, April 9: 12 – 2 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 10: 9 – 11 a.m.

A four-week long pilot program will begin on April 9, in which services will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis for a limited number of projects. During this launch period, each CoCo member will have access to three hours, sponsored by Carlson and CoCo, after which members will be charged $20/hour.

Carlson Resource Desk hours of operation:

  • Tuesdays  12 – 3 p.m.
  • Wednesdays  9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Fridays  9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

> Request project services online

Email questions and project request forms to: uofm@cocomsp.com

Gray Plant Mooty brings “Wise Counsel” to CoCo

December 17, 2012 | By
dball
Gray Plant Mooty brings “Wise Counsel” to CoCo

Gray Plant Mooty's Entrepreneurial Services Group includes Mike Cohen (front left), Karen Wenzel (front right), Dan Tannenbaum (back left), Max Bremer (back right) and Chris Carlisle (not pictured).

It was an offer we couldn’t refuse. Gray Plant Mooty, a law firm known for its support of Minnesota’s startup community, recently offered to pitch in to help out the startups and entrepreneurs that are part of the CoCo community. Given how important legal matters are to the survival of any business, this is a huge win!

Starting in 2013, Gray Plant Mooty will be a more visible and helpful presence at CoCo in a few ways:

Joining as members
You may have noticed that several members of the firm’s Entrepreneurial Services Group have been coworking on a regular basis as CoCo members.  This will continue in 2013. If you meet them, please extend them a warm welcome.

“Ask an Attorney” open office hours
One afternoon each month, a Gray Plant Mooty attorney will hold open office hours at CoCo Minneapolis. CoCo members will be able to get a free consultation on many business- or intellectual-property-related legal questions.

“Wise Counsel” class series
Starting Jan. 22, Gray Plant Mooty attorneys will teach a series of classes on startup- and technology-related topics. Held at CoCo Minneapolis, these classes will be free for CoCo members and available to non-members for a nominal fee. The firm will even provide lunch!

Survey results!
Thanks everyone who weighed in on potential topics. Below are the highest-rated topics, in order of popularity.
  • Most common mistakes in startups
  • Start me up! Practical advice on getting started in business (incl. formation, financing, IP, other legal & business issues)
  • Agreements for development work (Mike’s Marx Brothers schtick)
  • Business formation 101
  • Pitching/presenting to investors
  • Hiring: So, you’re making your first hire! Now what?
  • Building a board of advisors/directors
Next event:
“From Aristotle to Groucho: Negotiating Effective IT Contracts”
Instructors: Mike Cohen and Karen Wenzel

How you buy your tech can have a big impact on your company’s future.

Come for a lively and unconventional* discussion of key issues and concerns that organizations big and small should consider when acquiring computer software, systems or related technology and services. This session will help you to plan more efficiently for procurement and employ contract terms and conditions that help you lessen your risk in technology transactions.

*Warning: could involve attorneys doing Groucho Marx impressions

Eventbrite - "From Aristotle to Groucho: Negotiating Effective IT Contracts"

Give the gift of CoCo!

November 26, 2012 | By
dball
Give the gift of CoCo!

Giving the right gift to a client or colleague is sometimes a challenge. Why not give the gift of coworking?

2012 Holiday Bonus: $25 of every purchase will be donated to BRIDGEdotMN – a charity that provides broadband-enabled netbooks and tech training for eager and deserving youth.

Work Spa Package

The perfect gift for someone who needs to get away form their daily grind. They can spend a peaceful, productive day at CoCo to get caught up on work, to work on their novel – or even better to work on  the startup they’ve been dreaming about!

What’s included:

  • One day at any CoCo location
  • A gourmet lunch, delivered to your desk!
  • A schwag bag that includes CoCo Blend whole-bean coffee, a CoCo t-shirt and other surprises!
  • Optional: a discussion with a qualified mentor about your business or project
  • Bonus extra: new friends and coworkers

Buy now

Day Pass 5-Pack

Do you or a loved one suffer from a chronic case of cabin fever (or the dreaded cubicle fever)? With a Day Pass 5-Pack, you can come to CoCo whenever the mood strikes. The 5-Pack is a punch card that can be used up to 5 times a year from purchase.

Buy now

 

 

 

 

League of Extraordinary Coworking Spaces

June 8, 2012 | By
dball
League of Extraordinary Coworking Spaces

We’re pleased to announce the launch of the League of Extraordinary Coworking spaces. Or LEXC (pronounced “Lexie” – get it?).

LEXC is a network of coworking spaces that are banding together to give their members access to great workspaces across the country.

For CoCo members, this means you now have have preferred access to coworking spaces when you visit other cities. Your first day at another LEXC space is free. You can book subsequent days at a 20% discount.

There are six founding venue partners across the nation:

  • NextSpace in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area
  • BLANKSPACES in Los Angeles
  • Link Coworking in Austin
  • WorkBar in Boston
  • CoCo in Minneapolis
  • 654 Croswell in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Interested in working at any of these spaces? You can book a room or a day pass using your LiquidSpace account. The LEXC Coworking Visa system, powered by LiquidSpace, manages member access permissions and unlocks special member privileges across the network. Members of individual Coworking spaces that join LEXC are trusted across the network and can book and check in to any LEXC space in realtime using the iPhone, Android (coming soon) and web interfaces enabled by LiquidSpace.

For more information, visit http://lexc.org or ask your CoCo hosts!

CoCo welcomes The Foundation

October 17, 2011 | By
dball
CoCo welcomes The Foundation

Besides coffee, it’s technology that keeps our members humming. If the Wi-Fi is on the blink, or if a laptop is down, it’s an emergency.

That’s why we’re pleased to announce a partnership The Foundation, a company that is known for providing comprehensive IT support to creative businesses. Now they’ll be bringing concierge IT services to CoCo members.

The Foundation works with both Macs and PCs and all manner of networks and data storage. But what’s noteworthy is that as an Apple Value Added Seller, The Foundation is able to provide warranty repair services on all Apple products. What’s more, their repair depot is only minutes away. So, if your machine bites the dust, you don’t have to chase out to the Apple store. The Foundation comes to you.

In fact, The Foundation has gone so far as to create an outpost at CoCo Minneapolis. You’ll find them at the campsite nearest the front desk. Just look for the distinctive orange banners. On many days, you’ll see Matt Woestehoff and other Foundation crew members hanging out in the space. Matt is available for any tech questions free of charge, so feel free to approach him.

In addition to tech support, The Foundation is planning a series of educational classes, focused on personal and business technology, to CoCo. Look for class and workshop announcements soon!

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