Florida Creatives – Creating a Community of Innovation

Coworking is cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents.

Or, it's like this: start with a shared office and add cafe culture. Which is the opposite of most modern cafes.

When & Where

Currently, Orlando Coworking meets every single Tuesday during the day at Stardust Video & Coffee off of Corrine Dr, betweeen Baldwin Park and 17-92.
1842 E Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32803

A home page for coworking orlando, on the official coworking wiki.

• wiki.coworking.info/CoworkingOrlando

Alex has also set up a coworking google group:

• groups.google.com/group/coworking-orlando

CoLab Orlando

Angebuilt Building
37 N Orange Ave
6th Floor
Orlando, FL, 32801

The owner of a downtown office building is working with one of his tenants to turn an entire floor of the Angebuilt building into a coworking space. I'm not sure of the size, but if I had to guess I'd say it's close to 10,000 sq ft. There will be some ad-hoc space, conference space, and finally private offices available. They are still working on official numbers for rates and plans, which I think is one of the reasons for the open house.

I have seen the space, it is huge and versatile and I know the time is overdue for this space to open. I couldn't think of a better place - it is right in the middle of downtown, walking distance to everywhere, and the same building where we held our April 2008 BarCamp Orlando. Also upstairs is the current location of the UCF Downtown Technology Incubator, which helps tech startups get cheap office space downtown, and access to some other useful services.

http://colaborlando.com/

Jelly

There's also an idea that's "coworking without the office" called Jelly started in NYC by a couple of dudes who've gotten some press. It seems to me their philosphy is that one doesn't need to pay in order to have a coworking environment. Also, I think the laws in NYC about working together in the same space are different than most places, so having "work parties" was a way to get around legal problems.

• jellynyc.pbwiki.com/
• www.wired.com/techbiz/people/news/2007/07/coworking

About

Most of the places where you can find Ryan's thoughts about coworking.

• floridacreatives.com/archives/category/coworking/
• floridacreatives.com/index.php?s=coworking
• ryanpricemedia.com/2006/10/13/being-spaces-coworking-brand-spaces-pop-up-marketing/
• flickr.com/photos/thickmints/2343712289/in/set-72157603373446505/

Posts by John Rife and Tim Welch about the "Big Orange Building"

• blogs.orlandosentinel.com/community_colonialtown/2007/07/whos-afraid-of-.html
• funkeemunkeeland.com/2007/08/18/more-thoughts-on-the-big-orange-building/
• findingjohn.com/2007/08/18/co-working-in-orlando-say-it-loud-could-be-your-new-home/
• funkeemunkeeland.com/2007/08/24/vimi-in-the-weekly/

John and Alex about Orlando Startup Investment

• findingjohn.com/2007/08/08/orlandos-early-stage-venture-capital-needs/
• alexrudloff.com/2007/08/11/orlandos-venture-needs/

Alex's Coworking category

• alexrudloff.com/tag/coworking/

Alex is also speaking about "The Orlando Scene" at BlogOrlando:

• blogorlando.com/sessions/index.php#rudloff
• alexrudloff.com/2007/08/16/my-blogorlando-session/

One guy Bryan has something available. He Organizes Web Developers on Meetup.com:

• webdesign.meetup.com/399/messages/boards/view/viewthread?thread=3006225

Jared Blank and David J. Sirois are UCF students who started a Facebook group aiming at a coworking space as well:

• Facebook Group: Community Fund?