Imagine a place where creative, marketers, entrepreneurs, and software developers come together to help each other. A place that provides free office space to fledgling start-ups. A place where you can talk to venture capitalists and angel investors face-to-face. A place where you can get free seminars on Apple's new iPad! Sound too good to be true? In Chandler at the Headquarters for Gangplank, people are doing just that. They're coming together to one place to meet, dream, and share experiences and skill sets with each other. And it cost nothing!
When I first heard about Gangplank, I thought it was a bunch of software guys who sat around and talked about programming. What I found, when I dug a little deeper, is free office space where creative entrepreneurs are welcomed to collaborate about their ideas without the barriers found in traditional business. Their first sentence from their Manifesto says it all, "We are a group of connected individuals and small businesses creating an economy of innovation and creativity in the Valley." It doesn't stop there. They stress their core values which include the importance of collaboration, participation, boldness, and friendship.
"Gangplank is a ShowUp-acracy," says Chris Conrey who is in charge of "Humans to Geek Relations" at Gangplank Headquarters. He told me recently via email, "to just come down and show up and see where I fit in." The great thing about Gangplank is that you show up with your laptop, plug it in, and connect to the free wi-fi! I like to think of it as my new office space. On any given day, there may be 20-50 people there. Gangplank is home to several full-time companies: some of which are Integrum, Forty, Forty Labs, and HeatSync labs. HeatSync Labs is an Arizona nonprofit workshop which empowers engineers and artists to create and invent while promoting interest in expanding the limits of technology beyond its intended use. They host public meetings every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Gangplank in Chandler. You'll also find plenty of collaboration between members, a couple of start-ups, conference rooms that are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. A podcast studio where you can learn all about podcasting your own shows and great seminars that help you get all the information you'll need on how to finance and start-up your start-up.
If you're thinking about joining in the fun, visit their website (www.gangplankhq.com) and you can read all about how this fantastic local resource that's assisting anyone who wishes to learn and share in an innovative forum. GangPlank's Headquarters is located at 325 E. Elliot Street, Suite #34, Chandler, AZ. Just show up! I did!
Nick Nebelsky is President of Ideation at Intense Media, an idea development company. He is a certified Apple Developer and specializes in creating software apps and media for mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone and iPad.
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