Ask HN:  Free Office Space for Startups in Austin.  Good idea or not?
We came across a building that would be a great place for 40 or 50 early stage startups to hang their hat for, let’s say, 6 month stints at a time (we’re founders ourselves out looking for our own space). It’s in a part of Austin that you’d want to be in if you’re new to the city and young. The deal would be no strings attached…no rent…no equity…nothing. Why? Well, we love the feel of University Ave., Castro St. and SOMA just as much as the next guy, but we think Austin has a real unique vibe of its own and is a real, viable startup alternative to those other great locales…and we’re thinking maybe folks just need a little nudge to get here. How? We’d solicit some local funding…no VCs, attorneys, etc. When? Soon.

Maybe some folks would look at it as a poor man’s version of Y Combinator, TechStars, LaunchPad, Capital Factory, i/o Ventures or Dogpatch Labs. But we look at it more as a “put-your-nose-to-the-grindstone” and “just-get-it-done” kind of opportunity…a way to help you bootstrap as long as you can (we’re bootstrappers ourselves). Yes, it would come without the built-in cachet, cash, services and/or mentorship that those other programs provide…but would share key benefits such as the camaraderie, the sharing of ideas, the sharing of referrals, and the overall community that would naturally form. As we gain momentum, we believe could also attract key mentors, free services and maybe a little DIY cachet of our own. Plus, we could hold events with VCs, attorneys, other successful founders, etc. (even if they start out as simple Friday beer get-togethers).

We believe we could pull the money together to put this in play in fairly short order (i.e., months)…maybe we’re delusional…but, in our minds at least, the actual cost is just not that much as compared to the overall benefit to Austin where even only a handful of startups actually succeed, grow and stick around in some form or fashion over the next several years. Maybe you come here, gain some traction, attract funding, and move on out to SV…but maybe you don’t. And that’s where we think Austin benefits long term.

So, here are our back-of-the-napkin thoughts, plans and questions:

• Entry would be on a rolling basis when space is available…so no Summer or Winter sessions…or anything like that. No need for that in our mind.

•	We think 6 months is a good term, but what do you think? Perhaps an additional 3 month option?

•	1 to 4 founders per startup…very early stage.

•	Rent and connectivity would be free. Thoughts on the cost of good connectivity for 150 people?

•	Furniture is up to you; or maybe we’d seed it by buying a few hundred basic tables and chairs at Sam’s Club or Costco? Maybe a few hundred whiteboards as well?

•	Both private offices and open space available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Probably won’t have cash to reconfigure the space.

•	We would solicit a few key sponsors, but would avoid any startup-type service providers (e.g., VCs, law firms, PR firms, etc.) so that any and all of those types of service providers would feel equally welcome, and be on an equal footing, in coming around to mingle, present, advise, listen, etc. No one would have an “angle” in…totally open to all.

•	We would like the vast majority of startups to come from other parts of the country/world (we say world, but thinking there might be Visa issues?). Definitely want some Austin flavor, but would like this to be a melting pot of sorts as well.

•	Our startup would pay for its own space…we have no dog in this hunt…other than putting a deal together that might help our founder brethren a bit…as well as Austin’s startup culture. Plus, it would be fun.

So, any thoughts from you guys? Do you see any blind spots we might have? Anyone interested? Know anyone who might be interested? Any feedback would be much appreciated. Trying to get the balls to put this together, and your feedback may make me see things clearer. Thanks!