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Notes

Page history last edited by Sanford 15 years, 5 months ago

If you have any feedback, feel free to write it here - the password is "cafe"

 

September 13, 2007

 

Is there an IRC channel for CooBric?

 

August 7, 2007

 

Had problems with the netwok - I am including the network information on this page: Network Information

 

August 6, 2007

 

Jimmy - you were harrassed by staff member to order? That is not the way the space is intended. This is something we will follow up on. I am disappointed the wifi was not up - this is not usual. If this happens again, please send me an email at sdickert (at) gmail.

 

We followed up on the miosquitos issue - and learned that they fumigate every two weeks to ensure there are no bugs or anything. In terms of the payment, we are working to make the space better than Starbucks - and we appreciate any and all feedback. The challenge we face is that the Cafe needs to make revenue to thrive.

 

Sanford (and the CooBric Team)

 

August 3rd, 2007

 

I dropped by the CooBric's space at Cafe Fuego around 11am to find it completely empty. Not a big deal, but when I sat down I was hassled by the staff to order something, the wifi routers were down, and to top it off there mosquitos everywhere inside the space. I have a sprint evdo card and toughed it out for a few mintues but had to give up before long. Has anyone else had these types of experiences? I would love for this project to work out - but I don't see anyone paying for the environment that I visited.

 

JimmyC

 

July 27, 2007

 

(sedef) re:pricing. NOW you've got my interest. As a businessperson/entrepreneur w/a $20/month plan to Tmobile's hot spot wifi access, I wasn't tempted to trade this in for 1-2 days/month at CooBric's workspace. I think the $15/day amount may be reasonable for programmers or those w/o other wifi access means, but I would def take advantage of the 1 day/week free entry offer (read:show up once a week on free-day). I don't think you want ppl like me scamming the system, so maybe you qualify that -- say, for "all those w/memberships, or who have paid at least once in the past xx days, they get one free day per week." Just a thought. Otherwise, see you guys on free-days ;).

July 18, 2007

 

(Sanford) Tony, we are going to make some quick and dirty ones with the Hello/Shhh! design for the coaster. We need to discuss the membership cards. And I am looking for the punch device.

 

Here is some of the thoughts from the meeting last night:

 

  • Re: pricing - here are our thoughts - please comment on this:
    • $20 for single day use (with a specialized coffee)
    • $25 for single day use (with a specialized coffee and sandwich)
    • free coffee for the first week or so (drip coffee) and then potentially $1/cup later (honor system)
    • For the first month, $5 off each day pass ($15 / $20)
    • 5 day pass - 15% off base price (expiration date 30 days)
    • 1 week pass - 20% off base price (expiration date 1 week from purchase date)
    • 20 day pass and monthly pass - will determine if there is a desire/need - will make sure that if you purchase a 5 day or 1 week pass, purchase price for update pass will occur (right now thinking 25% for 20 day, 33% for 1 month)
    • If you sign on for being a charter member (provide a membership fee) - get a discount we will hold for period of time (like 3 months or so)
    • To see how this breaks down in a per day situation, check out: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pUxCYeVZNa5oqP1gZOluXZw
  • Re: sound levels - three sound levels - (front, middle, back) where people can talk easily in the front section, moderately in middle, very quiet in the back. Will also include the Hello/Shh! coaster (think of the Red/Green coasters from Brazilian restaurants) for signaling interest/disinterest in conversing.
  • Re: outside food - since the restaurant needs to generate revenue - and if you are going to eat outside food, you are more than likely going to head out for the food.
  • Re: guests - you can have guests in the community space, not in the work space - unless they pay the day rate. Might give a discount if you are a monthly member
  • Re: vendors - will have "Vendor Office Hours" where vendors can come to the space, and will list their time on a google calendar
  • Re: information on reservations - we are thinking of offering a google calendar for members to post when they want to be in the space so that we know who is there when
  • Re: cell phone usage - simply, take the call to the front of the space or outside the space (we have a patio space as well)
  • Re: opening - we will have a soft-launch on Monday aqnd Tuesday next week, aiming for full launch mid-week. We will be testing wifi and power constraints.

 

Any other thoughts: please publish on the wiki.

 

July 18, 2007

 

(Tony) Great to hear it! Once we get a solid name I will create final versions and get to work on the member cards and some other materials.

 

I'm creating a page we can refer to while making preparations over the next few days: ImmediateTasks .

 

Working backwards, Sanford when do you need final graphics to be ready in order to get the coasters/member cards printed in time? That will help us determine when to cut off further discussion on a name.

 

July 18, 2007

 

(Sanford) Tony, those images are AMAZING! Way to go! Thanks for the terrific work! If anyone has suggestions on the name/design - please add them to this page.

 

July 17, 2007 (late night)

 

Tony here-- I threw together some basic ideas for coasters; you can find them here.

 

I used a few different potential names and used the green/red color scheme as discussed. Tried a few different variations on the same basic design. Also made one with a mock sponsor.

 

Once we settle on one design (and a name) I'll make more finalized versions.

 

Let me know what you think.

 

**J****uly 17, 2007 after dinner

 

Thanks to all who showed - I will put up the thoughts from what we discussed:

 

  1. We need a name! If you have any ideas, please put them up on the Name Our Space page. If you like any of the names, please put your name next to it.
  2. If you are considering using the space, please send an email to Sanford at sdickert at google's email service, with your estimated usage or desire.
  3. We think that an soft-launch for the first two or three days might be wise with the Verizon wifi being put in on Friday, such that we ensure that the wifi issues are addressed properly.
  4. We will have to make do with extension cords and power strips for the time being - if you have some 6 foot power strips and are willing to donate, please bring them along.
  5. The question of guests is handled by the guest/vendor space - and we will have different levels of "quiet" space (kind of like the Amtrak trains idea)
  6. If the owner aagrees, we will have a free coffee option for the first week and then $1 regular coffee afterward (after the first free one with your membership)

 

And more to come....

 

J****uly 17, 2007

 

We will be meeting at Cafe Fuego - home of cooperBricolage - on 9 St. Marks at 7pm to discuss governance. Please be sure to sign up on the Charter List page to ensure who is coming.

 

Additionally, please look to join the google group (startup-garden) to get new and upcoming news when it happens.

 

July 16, 2007

 

Lots of stuff has happened since the last posting - including cooperBricolage Site Photos to the site as well.

 

We are needing to set up a conversation for people who wish to be part of the governance of the space - especially in terms of pricing, policies and other issues. If you are interested in being part of the charter membership/group, please put your name on this Charter List page.

 

My guess is that the Charter meeting will be on Tuesday or Wednesday night at 7pm at the location. If you have a preference, please list it next to your name on the Charter List page. (turns out Wednesday night is Social Media Club)

 

July 12, 2007

 

All -

 

Been having a load of conversations in the past week and wanted to keep you up-to-date on our progress. So I am including the notes from the email I sent out.

 

  • Due to telecoms and electric - we have to delay the launch by a week (we should have telecoms handled by them minimally).
  • The space (located on St Marks between 3rd and 2nd Ave) can seat 40+ people comfortably. We also have a bar space that can also handle an additional 8 people.
  • The space will be dedicated to startups, entrepreneurs and freelancers - though vendors and service providers (and guests) are welcome. The primary usage of the space is work, not for hawking services (not a shuk <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuk>). We will have space for meetings to happen away from the workspaces and friends can come in as your guest in the common area.
  • There will be a cover fee for coming in - to offset staff costs, telecoms and other expenses. We are thinking of making a membership pass for people who wish to get a group of passes.
  • We would like to make this a community group effort - so we would like to have people who would be interested in being part of the operations governance to consider becoming "charter members" and help with the social norms of the space. If you are interested in being part of this, please sign up on the Charter List page.
  • The space will be broken up into three parts (initially) - common area, private tables, community/programming space - with a single "conference space" (a booth). We are also investigating a "developers-only" space at Cooper Union in the Engineering Bldg.

 

I have had a number of people ask if:

 

  • A****ren't you competing with ?

No. The purpose for the space is to foster a "fertile environment for people who wish to grow companies". Making it low-cost and a community space focused on startups/entrepreneurs should help make it viable for companies to evolve into the other spaces which offer greater services at a higher rate. Additionally, some companies do not need a dedicated space, but do need JIT space. If you are an incubator space, please put your company/website on the sidebar of the wiki.

  • Can we have ? **

Not sure. We are negotiating with a company to provide a printer and a wireless print server for community usage (and a print jar for supplies) with a deal with Cooper for some initial startup supplies. We are discussing with a service provider to allow for temporary US mail delivery for companies who need a NYC address. And we have to discuss with the space owner about *small* locker storage and/or whiteboards.

  • Can I have my company staff be here?

Yes and no - this is a coworking space - not ACME's HQ for all 20 staffers. The goal is to support all of the fledgling startups/entrepreneurs we can, which usually number 1-3 people at a time. If things get bigger, we are happy to help with finding better space for your company - and will make having this idea become a priority in other locations.

 

July 10, 2007

 

We will be at the NY Tech Meetup and heading over to the space afterward to show others what we are planning. The meeting today had a number of people show up (thanks JP, Edwin and Dominic) which helped formulate a couple of thoughts including:

 

  1. The goal of the space is to offer a "fertile ground from which people with startup ideas can congregate and work on their ideas and meet other entrepreneurs and vendors/service providers".
  2. The Garden (as I have been calling it) will be a starting point for any company that needs to get anchored and then move to better spaces like the Sunshine Suites, 116 West Houston, or others. We think of this as a farm league for companies to get their feet under them and work to move to more formal spaces.
  3. The space is open from 8:30am to 5:30pm and will only allow companies and vendors in. This is not a place for "scoping", this is a work space where people come to make their vision come true. It is not a typical cafe or other space, our goal is to have serious coworkers show up.
  4. There should be an entry fee for coming in to pay for the space and the wifi (and other amenities). Our current thought is to set the prices at:
    1. $12 per person per day (comes with a free coffee/espresso/latte)
    2. $17.50 per person per day (comes with a free coffee and a sandwich)
    3. Have a weekly (5 day) and monthly (22 day) passes with or without sandwiches at REDUCED rates
  5. We are recruiting SPONSORS for the space (monthly) - including NY City and other tech companies in the area. The goal is to reduce the price of the entry fee and to add additional services like lockers and printers and such. Our initial take at the strucutre is:
    1. Platinum $2500+ - large name on space, on website, interior, permanent space
    2. Gold $1000-2499
    3. Silver $250-999
    4. Bronze $0-249 - name on list, icon of company on website
      The space will be managed by a cooperative of "charter members" and sponsors - anyone can become a charter member (usually purchacing a monthly pass or something) and we will make collaborative decisions on services and rules of the space. The space has existing constraints which we can not ignore, but for the most part, it is to be an entrepreneurial space for others to participate in - combining tech, arts, and design in one location.

 

Looking forward to meeting you at the NY Tech Meetup.

 

Comments (2)

Anonymous said

at 1:35 pm on Jul 24, 2007

Hope this is the right place to post this. Nice work, gents. I'm a freelancer here in NYC. This looks a really great place to set up shop every now and then. Even if to just get out of the clients' offices to hang out.

Curious, is there a RSS feed to subscribe to keep on your progress?

Anonymous said

at 8:41 am on Jul 26, 2007

Not yet - will have to create an RSS feed...

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