Question: How does your co-working space fit in the ecosystem for economic development of startup businesses and what was the attraction of the Greater Phoenix area?
Francisco Aguirre
Founder
The Office Pile
Sector: Economic Development
The Office Pile is the first culturally diverse co-working space in the nation. Along with its not-for-profit arm, The TOP Foundation, TOP cultivates and educates by assisting with funding, capital, office resources and services during the critical Stage I early life of members’ business development and, with a landing platform for Stage II businesses, by offering its members co-working space.
The Greater Phoenix area is a rich and diverse environment for advancement of equal opportunity entrepreneurialism, which is why TOP opened its doors in Phoenix.
Jorge is a client who showed up one day at The Office Pile to sell ad space in his fledgling magazine. I asked if he had an office; he said no. I asked if he had a sample of his magazine; he did not. He only had a promise to sell. After he toured our office, he immediately fell in love. That day, Jorge became a member and Nosotros Magazine was born. Since then, Jorge has launched a real estate magazine and a social media services company whose primary emphasis is the Hispanic market.
Francisco Aguirre is the founder of The Office Pile and also serves as the chairman of the TOP Foundation. He has a BA in Marketing & Business Management and a MBA in Finance from the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. He is a recipient of the Wall Street Journal Award in Economics.
Gabe Gasca
Community Curator
DeskHub Scottsdale
Sector: Economic Development
DeskHub is committed to helping grow the Arizona startup ecosystem by creating an entrepreneurial hub of innovation, collaboration and synergy normally found in a larger city. We chose Scottsdale to open the first DeskHub because the time was right for a space of this magnitude in this location.
With more than 17,000 square feet, DeskHub features multiple meeting rooms and collaborative spaces, as well as desks and offices that can accommodate 150 people. We make it easy for entrepreneurs to go about growing their businesses. Our member agreement is month-to-month and we have an all-inclusive pricing model. By hosting Lunch & Learn seminars and networking events, we offer the community a location to mingle and make real connections.
While DeskHub has been officially open only since early January, we have multiple companies succeeding in our space here. These include SalesTalk, Allbound, Landscapely, Pledger, Adora, Local Lawyer Guide, Postmates and Gainsight (these last two are Bay Area companies).
Passionate about the startup ecosystem, Gabe Gasca enjoys helping people improve personal and business growth through making the right connections. As Community Curator of DeskHub, Scottsdale’s new co-working space, he utilizes his 20-plus years of business development, marketing and sales expertise in helping companies succeed. His specialties include co-working, entrepreneur, startup, business development, digital strategy, mobile, software development and video.
Jenny Poon
Founder
CO+HOOTS
Sector: Economic Development
CO+HOOTS, the first and largest co-working community in downtown Phoenix, has worked hard at being a collaborative leader in driving the Phoenix ecosystem for innovation. CO+HOOTS allows startup businesses access to a professional yet creative space that inspires innovation and to resources and knowledge that can be learned by collaborating with fellow members. The CO+HOOTS Foundation, our nonprofit arm, is extending our impact by providing pro bono service, youth programs and the first global co-worker/entrepreneur exchange program in the world that is rooted in service.
We believe Phoenix is a great place to live, work and play, and the downtown community is building something really special. One of our greatest success stories is Heckler Design, which started in our space with just one member and now employs more than 10 in two downtown Phoenix warehouses. Heckler Design has experienced consistent growth each year. It means a lot to us that even when companies grow out of our space, they still maintain a membership to remain a part of our community.
Serial entrepreneur Jenny Poon is the founder of CO+HOOTS, downtown Phoenix’s first and largest co-working community, and Eeko Studio, a graphic design and marketing strategy firm. Poon is also co-founder of the CO+HOOTS Foundation, CO+HOOTS’ nonprofit arm, and the Phoenix Coworking Alliance. She built CO+HOOTS so she could connect with like-minded folks who believe business growth comes from collaboration.
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