GROWING SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN’S
KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY THROUGH
TARGETED BUSINESS ACCELERATION SERVICES
AND A NETWORK OF CO-WORKING CENTERS
The Problem We See
 SE Wisconsin needs to grow 21st Century
businesses – the “knowledge economy”
 Businesses need access to space, training,
support, and resources
 Local ED does not have the capacity
 Programs are too generic or mfg-oriented
The “Big Picture” Approach
 Target SE Wisconsin’s knowledge economy
 Form a regional collaboration (non-profit)
 Provide focused training and support
 Establish a network of co-working centers
The Targeted Knowledge Sector
 Provide intellectual and creative services
 Information
 Professional, scientific, and technical
 Management of companies
 Sell goods or services outside of the region
The Core Knowledge Market
 5,831 potential entrepreneurs
 1,924 emerging entrepreneurs
 5,267 sole proprietorships
 6,041 stage one small businesses
 Total = 19,063
The Broader Client Market
19,063
+ 121,253
(Core Market)
(Secondary Market)
+ 50,493
(Tertiary Market)
190,809
Potential Clients
Existing Service Providers
 Small Business Development Centers
 SCORE, WEN, WBIC, BizStarts, etc.
 Public and private incubators
 Regional ED organizations
 Local ED organizations
Knowledge Sector Services
 Start-up training and assistance
 Business management training
 Growth related assistance
 Marketing assistance
 Networking opportunities
Marketing Assistance
 Selling to the public sector
 Selling to businesses
 Subcontracting
 Building image and credibility (PR)
 Collective promotional opportunities
What is Co-Working?
 Alternative office space for one or more
 Office, cubicle, and open space
 Monthly, weekly, drop-in, virtual
 Conference rooms, workspaces
 Shared resources
Our Co-Working Concept
 A network of spaces in the region
 “Home base” and satellite desks
 VPN and online services (phone, fax)
 Shared resources (copier, scanner, printing,
binding, specialized software, AV equip.)
ECONOMIC
VITALITY
CLIENTS, RELATIONSHIPS
AND RECOGNITION
PRIVATE
SECTOR
SERVICE
PROVIDERS
ACCESS, PARTNERSHIPS
RECOGNITION
PUBLIC
SERVICE
PROVIDERS
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERS
INVESTORS
AND
SUPPORTERS
NEW BUSINESSES
CUSTOMER TRAFFIC
BUSINESS
FORMATION
UNIVERSITIES
AND
TECHNICAL
COLLEGES
STUDENT/FACULTY/BUSINESS INTERACTION
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION
COMMUNITIES
AND
BUSINESS
DISTRICTS
BUSINESS
GROWTH
ACCELERATION
SERVICES
JOB
CREATION
CO-WORKING
CENTERS
PROPERTY
OWNERS
NEW TENANTS
INCREASED VALUE
MEMBER
BUSINESSES
BUSINESS
SUCCESS
Next Steps – Immediate Needs
 Identify partners
 Establish organization (non-profit?)
 Fund research / business plan
Research: Training / Support
 Survey businesses and entrepreneurs
 Identify training needs and providers
 Identify support needs
 Prepare training and support plan
 Estimate cost and facility needs
Research: Co-Working Space
 Determine facility needs
 Siting / market optimization study
 Preliminary site identification
 Cost / space feasibility
 Co-working center plan
Creating a Business Plan
 Organizational structure
 Facility development plan
 Operational plan
 Initial / continuing funding plan
 Marketing plan
Measures of Success
 Start-up and growth activity
 Program and space utilization
 Program and space user satisfaction
 Organizational self-sufficiency