OmniStudio and Social Driver Launch the District I/O Community for Startups
Small tech firms seem to be popping up like wildfire these days. Social media tools and the Internet make it much easier to connect to the world from wherever you call your office. These days that might be your kitchen table, Starbucks or the local 
library.
When Anthony Shop, director of client services at Social Driver, a digital strategy and development firm, approached OmniStudio about forming a co-space for entrepreneurs, he knew that working physically apart from others wasn’t ideal for his own firm’s growth.
Shop’s research showed that there were less than a dozen co-sharing spaces in Washington, and most were full or not set up as the community he envisioned.
Zvi Band, principal of skeevisArts, Shop and Eileen Kessler, President of OmniStudio began collaborating on the best way to offer space that was available in Omni’s building near Dupont Circle. In June 2011 the idea for District I/O was born and its doors opened in August.
“I had started looking at turning our space into an incubator for other creative firms when Anthony approached me,” Kessler said. “But I knew that the success of the space depended on the people who would be the first to come in. There was no doubt in my mind that with Anthony’s vision and Social Driver’s reputation we could develop a place that would attract other innovative entrepreneurs.”
Within the first two months of operation, District I/O has filled close to half of its seats. Memberships range from $99 for a virtual membership, to $499 for a corner desk, and there are other levels in between. The space comes with a small private office that is shared, as well as a larger conference room that is available by reservation.
“Our goal is not to just sell seats, it’s to build a community of the right kind of people,” said Shop. “We want to complement the great things that are going on in the tech community in D.C., and we want to benefit the startup community here.”
District I/O plans to have brown bag lunch workshops and larger events to share information and showcase the talent in its community.
District I/O’s goals included bringing in students as collaborative resources for District I/O. Shop, who earned his MBA from The George Washington University, helped to solidify a partnership with the GW Office of Entrepreneurship, making District I/O the university’s official student business incubator.
“We see it as a really great partnership opportunity. Their students do really exciting things and “starters” really find a way to work together, so this space is very conducive to that,” Shop said.
“The D.C. area is just becoming a more vibrant area for startups, and a student incubator is a great bridge to connect what’s going on in the entrepreneurial student community and the tech startup community, and I think it will be a great channel to make those connections even stronger,” said Jim Chung, director of the GW Office of Entrepreneurship.
Another important and natural outcome of having this community is the business transacted between District I/O members.
Piotr Steininger didn’t expect business to flow so soon after he reserved desk space in District I/O a couple months ago, but he says that’s just one of the many benefits of working in this kind of co-working environment.
“It’s not that cut-throat competition. It’s completely opposite—it’s collaboration,” said Steininger, co-founder of the small web-based technology consulting startup, Tapangi. “When one person benefits, we all do.”
A co-working space like this can also have a positive impact on the community, helping to keep startups in the area and benefiting the local economy.
“I think [co-working spaces] are also important for keeping our startups in D.C. In the past we’ve had a problem with startups leaving D.C. and moving elsewhere, like Silicon Valley, so the more we can provide these kinds of avenues and vehicles for startups to be successful in D.C., the better,” Chung said.
Who’s Who at District I/O:
Social Driver – This digital strategy and development firm, founded in 2009 by Thomas Sanchez, creates custom solutions, including web and mobile applications and communications strategies.
skeevisArts – Founded in 2008 by principal Zvi Band, the web design and development company specializes in CMS and application development and consulting.
Contactually – Another startup run by Zvi Band, Contactually is a CRM tool that helps you make the most of the contacts you have made with people through email.
Tapangi – This web-based technology consulting firm, founded by Piotr Steininger in 2011, specializes in product development, UX development, content management and HTML5 development.
Usability Dynamics – Co-founded in 2011 by Reid Williams, this company specializes in advanced web application development, interface design, CMS integrations and CMS plugin development.
FastrackMedia – Andres Cavelier founded his social media and digital content strategy consulting firm aimed at the U.S. Hispanic and Latin markets in 2009.
62 Cents Software – Justin Emond founded this boutique software firm in 2010. The company is the maker of Droptor, a Drupal management tool designed to save time and make your site faster, more secure and more search engine friendly.
OmniStudio – Eileen Kessler co-founded District I/O. OmniStudio is a 30+ year design and marketing firm.
District I/O is looking for new members to join its collaborative, innovative environment. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about membership options, contact Eileen Kessler.
Need More Information?
If you have any questions about what OmniStudio can do for you, write to Eileen Kessler at ekessler@omnistudio.com. Thank you for your suggestions, comments and continued interest!
