Co-working space for women launches crowdfunding campaign
Aug. 30, 2019
A new concept called The Kitchen aims to create a shared office space for women offering unique features such as child care.
It’s the brainchild of Jen Kolb, whose background is in cabinet design.
“My surroundings have always been super important to me, and I found that I was not effective in my work if I did not have the right physical environment,” she said.
“I wanted to create a space that was peaceful and inspiring.”
As a working mother, she also experienced struggles and responsibilities that affected her work, she said.
“And it was hard for my male counterparts to be understanding of this,” she said. “The idea for The Kitchen came from my own desire to have a space that not only could I be an efficient worker, but also would help me fulfill my duties as a mother at the same time.”
She envisions The Kitchen as a membership-based organization with multiple tiers of membership, from a $50 event-only monthly cost up to $300 per month for a dedicated desk. The Kitchen would have 24-hour access for members and be staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Child care would be available for an hourly charge during staffed hours and events.
“I think the biggest factor that sets The Kitchen apart is that we are solely focused on catering to the needs of women and the specific issues that they face in their professional and personal lives,” Kolb said.
“We have an amazing support network for our entrepreneurial community in Sioux Falls, but there is a gap here that can be filled through specialized programming and amenities like our child care services.”
She envisions an open, coffee shop-style space that also includes some private rooms for dedicated desks, conference space and recording areas.
Kolb is hoping to lease a space downtown but said the location and the timeline depend on the support she receives through crowdfunding. The campaign, which launched today and lasts 30 days, seeks to raise $100,000 toward startup costs and is offering founding memberships for a discount.
“The crowdfunding is critical to getting this business going in a timely manner,” she said. “The more money we raise right off the bat, the quicker we can get this service in place for our members.”
She is committed to self-funding the venture either way, she said.
“Because I truly believe that there is a need for this concept in Sioux Falls. The timeline will just be more unclear if we don’t raise enough through this campaign.”
