Collider Foundation Q2 Quarterly Report

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Collider Foundation Announces Rebrand and Updated Website Reveal

Collider Foundation is pleased to announce the recent rebrand for the organization and launch of our new website! This exciting transition has been ongoing over the past few months as we worked with website designer, branding specialist, and local entrepreneur, Izzy Waite, to present what we feel is a warm, welcoming and authentic new look and voice for Collider. 

Why make the change? Well, as many of you may know, Collider started as a for-profit coworking space in 2016. While passionate about the community they were creating through coworking, the Collider team at the time found that the greatest value they were bringing to the table was education, mentorship, and storytelling for Rochester entrepreneurs. Collider was reborn as a nonprofit in 2019, with a mission to serve our community’s early stage entrepreneurs and make entrepreneurship more approachable and accessible, particularly for those who face the greatest barriers to business ownership. That’s a big change! And although significant changes came to the organization through its mission, who it was serving, and new staff coming together to serve Rochester’s entrepreneurial community - the website and branding largely stayed the same, creating some inconsistencies and a dated look and feel for the organization. This ultimately led to having a brand and website that did not reflect Collider as it is now and we faced common confusion about who we serve and what we provide as a nonprofit. 

What changed? Izzy Waite did an incredible job digging into the core elements of what we think makes Collider tick - things like being an organization that is supportive, empowering, welcoming, collaborative, innovative, and inspiring - and created new brand guidelines that reflect those qualities. Once we had a strong framework - we got to have some fun! Updated colors, quirky designs, and font choices were all considered on this journey to presenting Collider in an authentic, new way! 

Our ultimate goal around this rebrand and new website was to create a cohesive brand strategy that clearly communicates Collider’s mission and vision and appeals to those we wish to serve. Whether an individual comes to our website seeking flexible coworking options, 1:1 startup support in English or Spanish, a comprehensive business education course, or some inspiration from the stories of other local entrepreneurs - we want that information to be clear, accessible, and appealing! 

Our greatest hope is that this rebrand reflects Collider as an organization that is inclusive and innovative, led by open-minded experts on entrepreneurship, that provides a welcoming and collaborative community where ideas can grow.

Thank you for being a part of our journey! 

Have thoughts on the new website? We would love to hear what you think! Please fill out this brief survey.

Beyond the Home Office: The Power of Coworking for Remote Workers

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, remote work has become more prevalent than ever. According to a March 2024 report by USA Today, 22 million working adults (roughly 14% of the entire workforce) work from home all of the time. With COVID changing the landscape of work and advancements in technology improving one’s ability to work remotely, many individuals have embraced the flexibility and freedom that comes with working from home. However, despite its many benefits, remote work can sometimes be isolating and lacking in the collaborative environment that traditional office spaces offer.

This is where coworking spaces step in, providing a creative solution for remote workers seeking a sense of community, collaboration, and productivity. A CoworkingCafe 2023 survey reported that there were approximately 6,163 coworking spaces in the United States, providing a spot for remote workers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners to stop in, access resources, and build a shared sense of community.

One of the most significant advantages of coworking spaces for remote workers is the opportunity to escape the confines of their homes and work in a professional environment. According to a survey conducted by Deskmag and highlighted by Booth and Partners, 71% of respondents reported increased creativity when working in a coworking space, while 62% said their standard of work had improved.

Additionally, coworking spaces foster a sense of community and belonging among remote workers. Working alone can be lonely at times, leading to feelings of isolation and disconnection. A study by Harvard Business Review found that 89% of people who use coworking spaces reported feeling happier, and 83% reported feeling less lonely.

Coworking spaces such as Collider play a crucial role in supporting the needs of remote workers in today's digital age. By offering a sense of community, collaboration, networking opportunities, and access to essential resources, coworking spaces empower remote workers to succeed in their careers while enjoying the flexibility of working remotely. 

Interested in learning more about Collider or its coworking memberships? Contact Sam Gill at sam@collider.mn today.

Collider to Host Demo Day for Community Incubator Graduates

Collider Foundation is excited to announce that we are hosting our first ever demo day to celebrate the graduates of our inaugural Collider Community Incubator, a twelve-week program which helps participants refine their business model into a viable product or service, enhancing their idea’s potential with dedicated workshops, mentorship, networking, and support to advance their business visibility and connections.

This program launched in April of this year with five participants, each with strong business ideas which they have grown and developed over the past twelve weeks through a series of in-depth educational workshops, mentorship from experienced business owners, and cohort-based support. 

The Collider Community Incubator Demo Day will take place on Thursday, June 20th  at Collider’s space in the Minnesota BioBusiness Center from 9:00AM-10:30AM. This event will serve as an opportunity for program graduates to showcase their products or services and celebrate the end of their journey within the incubator. Opening remarks will be given by Rochester entrepreneur Dr. Allisa Song, MD, CEO of Nanodropper, which offers value-based solutions to close health equity gaps while promoting patient education and advocacy. We encourage the community to come and learn more about emerging entrepreneurship and support these innovators as they take these important next steps.

Interested individuals can learn more and register for the event here. 

Collider Foundation believes that the support, education, and growth of our entrepreneurial ecosystem is a pathway to a more prosperous and inclusive future for the Rochester community. We as an organization aim to identify and assist local innovators in overcoming barriers to success by empowering an impactful, inclusive, and entrepreneur-first ecosystem. We are excited to have had the opportunity to fulfill our mission through the Collider Community Incubator Program and offer assistance to local entrepreneurs through this cohort. 

For additional information contact Amanda Leightner at amanda@collider.mn or call (507) 722-0306.

Current cohort of Collider Community Incubator participants.

Mayo Clinic Awards Grant to Collider Foundation

Collider Foundation was recently awarded a grant by Mayo Clinic through their Community Contributions Program. This grant will support Collider’s ongoing work to empower early stage entrepreneurs throughout Rochester, Minnesota. Collider Foundation aims to identify and assist local innovators in overcoming barriers to success by empowering an impactful, inclusive, and entrepreneur-first ecosystem. This grant award will allow for programmatic and operational support of the foundation’s ongoing activities throughout 2024.

Collider Foundation supports its mission through events, education, a coworking space, and storytelling for the community to help foster an inclusive, diverse, and healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem. Collider is a grassroots organization that started as a for-profit coworking space in 2016. While passionate about the community they were creating through coworking, the Collider team found the greatest value they were bringing to the table was education, mentorship, and storytelling for Rochester entrepreneurs. Collider was reborn as a nonprofit in 2019, with a mission to serve our community’s early stage entrepreneurs and make entrepreneurship more approachable and accessible, particularly for those who face the greatest barriers to business ownership. 

Today Collider provides 1:1 startup support to early stage entrepreneurs, a framework for business development through low-cost education, a supportive community work environment, and a platform for the stories of local entrepreneurs. Collider Foundation believes that the support, education, and growth of our entrepreneurial ecosystem is a pathway to a more prosperous and inclusive future for the Rochester community. 

“We are so grateful for the continued support of our work by Mayo Clinic. Entrepreneurship and support of entrepreneurs is a community wide effort to diversify our local economy and see new solutions brought to market. Support such as this from Mayo Clinic allows us to continue our efforts in a sustainable manner to keep our work free or low cost and help entrepreneurial dreams turn into those real solutions in our local community,” said Amanda Leightner, Collider Foundation Executive Director. 

If you have any questions about Collider Foundation or our work within the community, please contact Amanda Leightner at amanda@collider.mn or call (507) 722-0306.