What are some ways your incubator builds community?
Groundswell is a place built with the intentions of aiding the startup community within Space Coast. It was founded by three eager serial entrepreneurs who wanted to generate more startup activities within Melbourne. Groundswell offers a variety of commodities that allows the community to thrive on different levels.
Over time, Groundswell managed to bring in over 40 companies to co-work within their space by reaching out to the community.
They managed to do this by hosting more than 30 focused events per year. In doing this a strong entrepreneurial community was born. This incubator strengthens the culture of community through the yearly focused events that take place to cater to the needs of groundswell members and attract prospective technologists, entrepreneurs and innovators.
Groundswell also offers a variety of mentors with their membership program. Throughout the year Groundswell also hosted programs and workshops specifically tailored to the needs of the surrounding community.
The café within Groundswell also offers a variety of ways to relax and take a break from work. This space allows the members to unwind and fellowship by creating a comfortable atmosphere. The café is hosted with ping pong, foosball, beer and many other snacks and activities.
As an intern here at Groundswell, me and other interns have came up with community projects to promote the culture of the community within Groundswell.
My personal project that I have came up with to strengthen the culture of community is “Groundswell Bucks”. Groundswell buck is considered a form of currency that can only be used within the community. This currency system works in a way of participation within the community in exchange for currency. This form of currency is valuable to the members in the community because they would be able to exchange the money for office spaces, dedicated desk and memberships. For example, if you were to earn a hundred groundswell bucks, you would be granted a dedicated desk for a week or perhaps if earn two hundred Groundswell bucks, you would earn an explorer membership for a month and etc. To earn these groundswell bucks a member in the community would have to participate in various activities throughout the week.
Other interns in Groundswell are also encouraging a sense of community by advancing the app that the community uses to communicate with one other. Doing this promotes the online community and elevates the use of the app.
Groundswell builds the community in a number of ways to ensure that the culture of community is vivid and that members feel welcomed and comfortable and that their needs and expectations are exceeded.
