Durham's new startup play: 'Smoffice' - world's smallest office

Posted Feb. 28, 2012 at 11:50 a.m.

Durham's new startup play: 'Smoffice' - world's smallest office

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By RICK SMITH, WRAL Tech Wire Editor

The Skinny blog is written by Rick Smith, editor and co-founder of WRAL Tech Wire and business editor of WRAL.com.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Durham is going really small in its efforts to land more small businesses with “The Smoffice.”

It’s pronounced smaa-ffice.

What is it?

Short for the world’s “smallest office,” “Smoffice” is the latest public relations effort by Durham to attract more attention as a startup capital for new and emerging businesses.

Created by the greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Durham, Inc., “Smoffice” is promising free office space, furniture, a tablet computer, technical support and advisory service plus a rent-free condo for six months. But the creators of the twice-run “Bull City Startup Stampede” that brought 30 businesses running to town have narrowed the focus this time around to one company.

The space is really, really small – it’s located in the front of the Beyu Caffe on Durham’s Main Street. Including a desk designed by Center Studio Architecture and built by McDonald York, the space is inside the front window of the coffee shop.

The condo comes courtesy Mangum 506, which is nearby.

Adam Klein, the “Startup Strategist” for the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, and Matthew Coppedge, director of marketing for Downtown Durham, came up with the “Smoffice” concept. They also created the Stampede, which over two programs has produced 15 companies that remain in downtown Durham. The Stampede packages included free office space, high-speed bandwidth and other goodies. There may be another Stampede later this year, they say.

Matthew Coppedge, left, and Adam Klein

“A Little Off the Wall”

However, the Smoffice is their focus right now.

“We were looking for new ideas. We want to stay fresh. A lot of people are imitating the Stampede,” Klein said. “We wanted to create something that’s a little off the wall that would also bring attention to Durham as a place to start and grow a business.”

Kelin and Coppedge hatched the Smoffice concept while returning from a speaking engagement in Rocky Mount where they brief leaders there about the success of the Stampedes.

“There is a lot of energy in Durham, no doubt about it,” Coppedge said, referring to the Stampedes and other efforts that have turned downtown into a high-energy hub that has attracted national media attention. “For Adam, and I, the purpose is to focus that energy.”

That “energy” led to discussion about including a window front at a café where the business operator could meet and interact with other entrepreneurs in a climate that encourages an exchange of ideas, Klein said.

“Don’t Tap the Glass”

Requirements include a one-page business plan summary and a 60-second YouTube video in which the applicants explain how the space would be used.

While joking that they won’t put a “Don’t tap the glass” or “Don’t feed the animals” sign on the window, Klein and Coppedge agreed that a special kind of entrepreneur(s) would be required to be able to work in such a public environment.

“That’s why the YouTube application video is such a key part of this,” Klein said.

Beyu owner Dorian Bolden

Extroverts will be needed. The video will indicate if an applicant can stand up to and enjoy interacting with the public.

Dorian “DJ” Bolden, owner of Beyu (pronounced “be you”) which is a hot spot itself, agreed to be the host. “Beyu has already been a hub for entrepreneurs,” Klein said.

The Smoffice space limit doesn’t necessarily limit the winning company to one person in size, either.

“We could probably fit two people at the desk,” Klein said. “And, honestly, with the condo nearby they could have people working there. But I do think we’ll limit this to smaller teams.”

Durham’s Startup Boom

They are hardly alone in efforts. A mix of private and public sector partners has created a near-frenzy of startup activity in Durham. The American Underground at the American Tobacco Historic District to the Triangle Startup Factory, Startup Labs and other activities have helped the Bull City attract some 70 startups.

Applications for Smoffice open Feb. 29 and close March 30. The winner will move in on April 30 and exit on Halloween.

The winner will be announced on April 13.

For more information and to apply, read here.

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Tags: Opinion Analysis, Venture & Innovation

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