KC coworking studios align to create cohesion, understanding
May 22, 2015 | Bobby Burch
A cadre of Kansas City coworking studio leaders are working together to bring awareness to their trade through a new alliance.
Twelve organizations thus far have banded together to collectively raise their profiles to attract more businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals to use the array of coworking studios in Kansas City.
“Coworking is really starting to grow in Kansas City,” said Melissa Saubers, chairwoman of the KC Coworking Alliance. “Our number one goal is awareness of what coworking is, what the benefits are to a coworker and what types of shared spaces are available.”
In addition to creating awareness, Saubers said that the alliance hopes to create a cooperative network between the studios to better serve independent workers. That collaborative approach will allow the group to share best practices, as well as create a “passport” system offering coworkers entry into each member’s space
“It’s about being cooperative, not competitive,” she said. “It’s really all about the shared economy and being able to offer services for people no matter what situation they’re in.”
Saubers said that the group currently is working to create a website to aggregate information on member spaces and what each has to offer.
Thus far, the alliance consists of:
- Cowork Waldo in Waldo
- Ennovation Center in Independence, Mo.
- KCK Community College’s Innovation Center in Kansas City, Kan.
- Village Square in Kansas City, Kan.
- Think Big Partners in Kansas City
- Innovation Café in Kansas City
- Plexpod in Lenexa
- Blue Valley CAPS in Overland Park
- InterUrban ArtHouse in Overland Park
- OfficePort in the Crossroads
- Iwerx Incubator in North Kansas City
- Small Biz Docs in Grandview
Featured Business

2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Ancestry.com founder-turned-AI evangelist says rapidly advancing tech can uplift humanity, families
People across the globe are caught in an internet malaise, said Paul Allen, and tech visionaries’ response should be to renew humans’ dependence on faith and family and friendship and local community. One of their most critical tools, he said: decidedly non-human solutions from the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Allen — founder of…
KC filmmaker sees pleasure as a prequel to dystopia hiding ‘In Plain Sight’; His brave new wake-up call
Thomas Rex’s new proof-of-concept film project envisions a near-future world where society is on the verge of totalitarian control, he said, describing a cautionary tale about being unknowingly controlled by a culture of escapism through pleasure and pharmaceuticals. “In Plain Sight” serves as a prelude to Aldous Huxley’s novel “Brave New World,” an acclaimed but…
New owner plans Vietnamese redux with modernized experience at Northland bánh mi spot
Quick service. Customization. Simple menu. Meals made-to-order in front of the customer. Chipotle was built on this service model. Now Peter Nguyen wants to bring it to his new Vietnamese restaurant, and even use that system to start a franchise of his own. In August, Nguyen purchased the former Bun Mee Phan restaurant at 4011…
Office with a pew: Coworking veterans hail ‘untapped potential’ of unused space within churches
A coworking space and a church — united around the idea of building community — formed a unique partnership earlier this year in Kansas City’s northland, said Bob Martin. The CO-OP at Shoal Creek — which Martin and Heather Heckroot opened in January — has taken up residence at Shoal Creek Community Church in Pleasant…
