By Catalina Ayubi, Photographer and LAB Rat
As the very first member of The LAB over the past year, not only have I found a place from where I can conduct a majority of my business, but it has also allowed me to make connections with people whom, under other circumstances, I may have never met. I think Tony Hsieh, Zappo’s CEO, at Start-up City Miami was right, we need to “collide.”
Take for example the many times I have been able to “collide” with different members of The LAB that ultimately lead to business opportunities. From doing art photography for one of the investors, to shooting headshots for Matthew Lewis Studio, to getting referrals from Sew Love, and receiving great business advice from the many business people who “collide” here on a daily basis.
The LAB’s “Cirque Du Cowork” opening party was an example of just this. Nearly 500 mostly independent startup owners, turned up and were able to partake in different activities such as:
* The Idea Jam, run by the Knight Foundation and hosted by Matt Haggman, Chris Barr, Chris Sopher and Ben Wirz. During the Jam people where broken up into small groups where they joined forces to develop open government solutions for city issues.
* Followed by the “shark” dunk tank, where entrepreneurs had 60 seconds to pitch their ideas to a group of “sharks” or investors while in a carnival-style dunk tank full of water. The “sharks” included Marco Giberti, Angel Investor; Peter Kellner, Endeavor Global Co- Founder; Auston Bunsen, 1 Sale A Day CTO; and Matt Mahan, Causes CEO. Eleven brave entrepreneurs dangled at the mercy of these “sharks”, but Perfectore was named the winner and walked away with $500 “cool” ones, dedicated space at The LAB and already scored follow-up meetings with serious investors. Unfortunately, the only cool thing the other 10 entrepreneurs got to take was a cool dip in the water!
* Office Hours with New York’s Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator were packed and 25 local startups took advantage of the expert feedback and advice of Murat Aktihanoglu, ERA’s Founder and Managing Director.
*And last, but not least, let’s not forget the beer-pong tournament for which 20 teams signed up.
Aside from all these businesses getting together for a celebration of the development of entrepreneurial collaboration in our community, The LAB invited several other businesses to be part of the day. Fitmap, a personalized social fitness planner that allows users access to multiple
fitness venues and activities locally, had a booth at the space. Even film buffs had access to a series of cult and B-movies like Joey Halegua‘s Gutter Films. Finally, let's not forget the farmers market, serving vegetarian food through out the day.
The energy throughout the day was palpable and I was glad to be part of it! I am elated to see how the city, which I have called home for the past 14 years, has evolved and will continue to evolve towards a more proactive and exciting place with The LAB in our neighborhood.
(Pictures provided by CVOX Group show Leon Gomez of datingcircles.com in the tank and investors Marco Giberti of Reed Exhibitions/LAB Miami and and Peter Kellner of Endeavor Global casting their votes.)