The climate tech sector is blossoming in the Pacific Northwest, attracting new innovators eager to tackle what some see as an existential crisis. But the scope of the problem can be overwhelming — especially if going it alone.
A venture called 9Zero plans to open a co-working space in Seattle where people can create community, collaborate and brainstorm climate solutions.
“Climate change can be daunting to the point of paralysis for a lot of folks,” said Lowell Bander, the Seattle 9Zero project lead. “It can be very helpful to feel like you’re on ‘team climate.’”
9Zero opened its first co-working site in San Francisco in April and hopes to launch a Seattle location as early as August.
The company offers physical spaces reminiscent of other co-working sites, with desks open for long-term or day use and permanent offices available for rent. The San Francisco office also hosts weekly events for members and guests. 9Zero’s tiered membership system is currently $25 per month for students needing occasional access, while all-access memberships start at $150.
There are about 100 people on the waiting list for the Seattle office. Bander has organized events at Seattle cafes and bars for climate tech entrepreneurs and enthusiasts to test local interest. About 150 people have participated, suggesting demand for a permanent space.
Bander said 9Zero is exploring a partnership with CoMotion Labs, the University of Washington’s innovation hub that supports startups within and outside the university.
Anson Fatland, associate vice provost for innovation strategy and venture at CoMotion, couldn’t elaborate on the proposed arrangement, but called the prospect of a Seattle location for 9Zero “extremely exciting.”
“Giving people a space to help realize their vision, to make a dream come true, and to help make a positive impact on our region and our planet,” said Fatland, “I think that’s a pretty compelling reason to try and figure something like this out.”
Aina Abiodun, president and executive director of VertueLab, a Portland, Ore.-based nonprofit supporting the climate tech sector, agreed with the general idea that the region needs communal spaces for this work.
VertueLab recently issued a report, she said, calling for “physical places where folks can gather” and provide support for entrepreneurs and education for investors learning more about the sector.
Next week, climate tech in the Pacific Northwest takes center stage with two events. PNW Climate Week kicks off Sunday with events in Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver that cover everything from climate culture to cutting-edge tech. There will be lightning talks, speed dating, clothing swaps, forest walks, and more.
On Wednesday, the Bloomberg Green Festival begins, drawing an international audience of climate professionals to Seattle. Speakers include Gina McCarthy, who served President Biden as the first national climate advisor; voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams; drag artist and environmentalist Pattie Gonia; and many others.
This convergence of climate work in Seattle marks the region’s progress. For years, startups have worked to push the needle toward zero-carbon emissions and clean energy, giving rise to big names in battery technology, nuclear power and climate software.
Bander envisions the planned 9Zero space serving two personas: those who want to work in climate but don’t know how to get started, and those who have been laying the groundwork for years.
“For folks who haven’t started working on climate, it can seem a little foreign,” Bander said. They might assume they don’t have the right background or credentials to contribute. Meeting other people with diverse backgrounds who are making a difference can inspire newcomers, Bander added.
9Zero joins several other companies providing co-working spaces in the Seattle area. While some shuttered during the pandemic, others expanded and new spaces emerged.
And there’s room available: office vacancies keep rising in Seattle, reaching nearly 18.4% by the end of the first quarter of this year, according to real estate firm Kidder Matthews.
9Zero was founded last year by Duncan Logan and Matthew Joehnk to accelerate innovation through collaboration. 9Zero aspires to be “ground zero” for climate work, and the name’s ‘9’ refers to the number of zeroes in a gigaton, a metric used to measure carbon emissions and removal. Before launching 9Zero, Logan was the CEO of RocketSpace, a company offering “office as a service,” before it closed in 2020.
Bander worked for Facebook as a software engineer for several years before pivoting to community organizing with unhoused people in Seattle, followed by a stint in the clean energy startup world. Bander saw 9Zero as an opportunity to meet the needs of climate tech innovators and stave off burnout in the sector.
In Seattle, 9Zero is considering leasing a floor in the 28-story Financial Center in downtown, Bander said. Vacancies in the surrounding floors would allow for expansion as needed.
“We already know that there is demand from folks wanting to spend time working together,” said Bander. “I think initially, it will be very much focused on getting folks through the door.”
https://ift.tt/ENXWbuj July 05, 2024 at 02:30PM GeekWire
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