Founders Forum Group’s Post

The heart of NYC is beating stronger than ever with a 30% growth in business income in our area. This surge highlights the resilience and dynamism of the city's commercial real estate market. 📊 Key trends we're seeing: - New business developments: a significant increase in startups and small businesses establishing roots in NYC. - Flexible workspaces: a growing demand for adaptable and innovative work environments. - Sustainability focus: more businesses are prioritizing eco-friendly spaces. - Tech integration: advanced tech solutions are becoming a staple in commercial spaces. This growth isn't just about numbers; it's about the vibrant communities, innovative ventures, and the relentless spirit of New Yorkers. As we look to the future, NYC continues to be a beacon for business opportunities and commercial success. Stay tuned for more insights and updates on this thriving market! #falconproperties #nycrealestate #commercialgrowth #businesstrends #marketinsights #realestatetrends #nyceconomy

Out of Office: ON.   As we head into the end of the year, many of us will be shutting down, logging off, turning on Do Not Disturb, pulling down the shutters, and taking a well-earned break.   For founders, 2023 has been a challenging year, and our recent Founder Barometer survey told us that founders in the UK have struggled with startup/life balance this year.   That's why it's more important than ever to take a break from screens, shop floors, studios and offices and spend time recovering, reflecting and kicking back with the ones we love   At Virgin StartUp, we're taking a break too and our offices will be closed from Wednesday 20th December to Wednesday 3rd January 2024. During this time our phone lines will not be open and there'll be a delay in email responses.   For full details of support for founders over the festive season, head to the blog on our website: https://lnkd.in/ejz6_KMM   For now, here's to another year of starting and growing, striving and thriving. Founders: you've done us proud.

IT'S HAPPENING!!! (know this unicorn?) A couple months ago I posted about opening up an in person office in Austin. It took a little bit to line up the infrastructure, but we're getting closer to taking the plunge. We'll be ready to move in within the next 1-3 months and start staffing it out. Here's where the unicorn comes in... We're looking for someone with extra office space in Austin that we can sublease from for a few months. It only needs to hold 5-10 people or so. The goal is to test the concept for 3-6 months in a sublease. Once we've tested out the concept, we'll likely rent somewhere more long term or buy a building. Do any of my entrepreneur friends in Austin have an office with extra space? (and you're looking for an energetic/inspiring group to sublease and bring some new energy to it 😜) Or do you know someone here that might have extra space in their office? Tag them below! I know this is probably a needle in a haystack so any recommendations or tags are appreciated.

Adam Neumann's Impact on WeWork Let's take a moment to appreciate the positive impact Adam Neumann had on WeWork! 🚀 Under his visionary leadership, WeWork grew into a global community, revolutionizing the way people work, connect, and thrive. Here are just a few highlights of his remarkable contributions: 1️⃣ **Creating Vibrant Communities:** Adam Neumann's vision went beyond office spaces. He envisioned WeWork as a hub for collaboration, innovation, and inspiration, fostering vibrant communities where members could network, collaborate, and grow together. 2️⃣ **Innovative Spaces:** Neumann's creativity brought us innovative workspaces designed to inspire creativity and productivity. From cozy nooks to open-plan offices, WeWork spaces were thoughtfully crafted to cater to diverse work styles and needs. 3️⃣ **Global Expansion:** Under Neumann's leadership, WeWork expanded rapidly across the globe, bringing its unique blend of community and workspace to cities worldwide. His bold vision propelled WeWork onto the international stage, making it accessible to entrepreneurs and businesses everywhere. 4️⃣ **Empowering Entrepreneurs:** Neumann's passion for entrepreneurship fueled WeWork's mission to empower individuals and businesses to pursue their dreams. Through initiatives like WeWork Labs and Creator Awards, he provided support, resources, and mentorship to budding entrepreneurs, helping them turn ideas into reality. 5️⃣ **Social Impact:** Beyond business success, Neumann prioritized social impact, spearheading initiatives focused on sustainability, diversity, and community engagement. His commitment to making a positive difference in the world resonated throughout the WeWork community. Adam Neumann's legacy at WeWork is one of innovation, community, and empowerment. While the journey may have had its challenges, his vision continues to inspire millions around the world. Let's celebrate his contributions and the enduring impact he's had on shaping the future of work! #WeWork #AdamNeumann #Innovation #Community #Empowerment

My response to Jordan Kostelac of deploy. about how Adam Neumann's potential resurrection at WeWork draws valid parallels to Steve Jobs' return to Apple. This is part 2 of a 4 part debate where each of us gets 90 seconds to defend an opposing position. Aside from choosing the topic, neither of us knows what we're going to say before hand- you guys watching find out at the same time that we do. Part 1: https://lnkd.in/ghTUPGsV Feel free to jump into the debate in the comments, or even post your own video! --------------- Explore one of the largest directories of proptech, VC's, associations, and events: www.theproptechscout.com #PROPTECH #FOUNDERS: Think your proptech company is best-in-class in your segment and region and want to be considered for my consortium? Fill out this form https://lnkd.in/gpu9sk9D If your proptech company isn't in my directory, fill out this form and I'll add it: https://lnkd.in/gDCqNQtP

This is the story of Andrew Yeung—the 27-year-old Gatsby of Silicon Alley: Andrew’s story began far from the glittering lights of New York City. After two decades of living in four different countries, he finally made his way to NYC from Toronto. His arrival in August 2020 was met with the eerie silence of a city under lockdown. Despite these circumstances, Andrew was determined to create the experience he had always envisioned. In a city known for its creativity, inspiration, and connection. His goals were clear: to meet interesting people, build a community of like-minded friends, and create opportunities for career advancement. In two years, Andrew hosted 100 events for more than 15,000 people. He helped people land tech jobs, introduced founders to investors, and created a community job board. His first event, a picnic for 50 people from Reddit, marked the beginning of his journey. As COVID restrictions lifted, Andrew tapped into his love for electronic music, bringing together over 200 enthusiasts for concerts and shows. Andrew's strength as a vibe curator quickly garnered attention. Early tweets about his events went viral, since then he’s gained 100,000+ followers across platforms. He understood the power of intentionality, always aligning with the goals of the people he connected with. Andrew’s events range from small dinners and happy hours to large gatherings and Tech Summits, were more than just social gatherings. What started as small meetups soon expanded to grand events, including a notable rooftop mixer at The Williamsburg Hotel, drawing 1,000+ guests. But Andrew's story is not just about the numbers or the scale of his events. It's about the impact he had on the NYC tech community. From creating hobby groups to building a job board for those laid off in the pandemic, Andrew's efforts were always centered around giving back. Andrew's knack for finding the quietest corner at parties, his preference to watch from a distance, and his ability to slip out unnoticed added to his mystique. He became a symbol of genuine connection in a world often dominated by transactional relationships. Andrew’s parties were a testament to his belief in the power of community and the importance of authentic human connections. His approach earned him the title of "The Gatsby of Silicon Alley." Behind the scenes, Andrew faced challenges typical of a young immigrant striving for success in a new country. His relentless pursuit of an O-1 visa was finally approved a few weeks ago—America is lucky to have you, Andrew.

I work from a co-working space and was thinking about what a great arrangement this is. But that is not the universal experience. WeWork went supernova in 2023 after years of swagger and inflated promises. A friend of mine consulted with me as she considered taking a job at a co-working space in Southern California, used by a lot of start-up founders, and finally told me, "The members there are the most insufferable, arrogant blowhards I have ever seen. You could not pay me enough to work there." I'm at The Speakeasy in Indianapolis most days when I'm not on the road. We all work for different companies -- or are self-employed -- but we know each other. There are tech people and database wizards and web designers and salespeople and speakers and college students and marketing gurus and not-for-profit leaders. There are people in edtech and fintech and medtech and personal coaching and market analytics. There is a historic document specialist and magician and a filmmaker and more. It is a remarkable collection. We send each other leads, provide tips on technology and many aspects of normal life (like apartment-hunting), ask and answer questions on the Slack channel, and generally have each other's backs. You can engage or be left alone. You can get in on things like member lunches and Thursday afternoon happy hour or you can just keep working. We celebrate milestones in our lives. We have a chili cookoff every year. And since the space is frequently rented out for weekend events, the monthly membership cost is modest. All of this is to say that I wish all co-working spaces could achieve this dynamic. The synergy of that much talent in one place is too good to pass up. #coworking #coworkingspaces

From earning ₹3 lakhs a month to investing the same amount on rent, we've come a long way. When we started Quantel, we counted every penny. A spacious office seemed like a distant fantasy. We rented a tiny, affordable space, prioritizing cost-efficiency over everything else. I remember those early days vividly. Our team was huddled in a small room. But those tight quarters brought us closer and taught us invaluable lessons about resourcefulness and teamwork. Today, I'm incredibly excited to announce a major milestone. Our very own handpicked office space! This isn't just any office; it's a 1500-square-foot haven in a prime location. We're pouring our heart and lakhs in investment into building a vibrant and inspiring space that reflects our company culture and fuels our future growth. This new space signifies the dedication, hard work, and sheer grit of our amazing team. It's not just an office; it's a symbol of our ambition and a launchpad for the next exciting chapter of our startup story. Here are some key takeaways from our journey: ✅Don’t be afraid to start with what you have. Focus on your goals, and let your dreams guide you. ✅A motivated and cohesive team can overcome any obstacle. Invest in your people, and they will invest in your vision. ✅No matter how small, every achievement is worth celebrating. It keeps the momentum going and boosts morale. Stay tuned as we reveal more about this exciting new chapter! Thank you for being part of our journey. Ab aur aage jana hai! #NewOffice #Quantel #Milestones

In one of the recent interactions with Indiantelevision.com, Henna Misri shared insights on “How Coworking space has emerged as a haven for Mid-sized enterprises, SMEs and startups seeking an alternative to the conventional office environment. Coworking spaces harness the power of social media platforms to amplify their community building efforts, reaching a broader audience and attracting like minded professionals. Click to read more  https://lnkd.in/gb-qW9uK Vipin Suree | Aryann Suri #SpaceCreattorsHeights #IndianTelivison #IndustryVision #CoworkingSpaces #FutureOfWorkspaces #RiseOfCoworkingSpace #MarketInsights #FlexIsTheFuture

Yesterday, the Editorial Board of the Financial Times offered their opinion on the patchy record of returning #founders and went on to say that Adam Neumann’s potential comeback at WeWork is a double-edged sword (https://lnkd.in/e2h9R8Cu). Let me be brutally honest at the outset: Adam Neumann isn't Steve Jobs.   History is full of failed returning founders: Superdry’s co-founder Julian Dunkerton; WeWork founder Adam Neumann; and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou of easyJet; to name a few. So, the question is: what can these returning founders learn from Steve Jobs?   A few weeks before Steve Jobs passed away, I was in San Francisco having dinner with a senior executive at Apple. We revisited the story of Steve Jobs returning to a bankrupt Apple. Jobs could have tried to maximise #profits by squeezing every cent out of each of the existing product lines. Instead, he led the charge to remove scores of products. Jobs cut out profitable business lines at a time when the company appeared it could least afford to do so, culling the business down to four clear product lines. We agreed that this unusual move was typical of Jobs #transforming the company to what is the most valuable business on this planet today. But then my dinner companion said: “Why don’t more returning founders bring greater clarity to what their companies should not be doing?”   I’m surprised by how often returning founders pursue the opposite approach and keep their options open. Yet, by pursuing too many options, these founders are risking future success even more. Deciding to cut options can be terrifying for the timid. But it is the very essence of what we mean by making key decisions. Often, I see returning founders go back and forth on the strategic clarity. They argue that their companies could not be compared to Apple because Apple is a consumer products company with a simple product line. They argue, their businesses are much more complex.   But such logic is deeply flawed. Apple doesn’t enjoy product clarity and customer loyalty because they’re lucky. They didn’t drift into #simplicity: they selected it by design. And by ‘selected,’ they wrestled with the #complexity, and arrived on the other side of complexity with the kind of simplicity people know and love.   I remember Jobs once said, “People think focus means saying ‘yes’ to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s nonsense. It means saying ‘no’ to the hundred other ideas that there are. You must pick carefully.” Since my dinner with the senior executive of Apple over a decade ago, I have made a point of asking returning leaders to define their key priorities. Not one returning founder has opted for Jobs’ definition. This should tell us all that Steve Jobs wasn’t any returning founder – he was unique and will remain so for decades to come. #ReturningFounders