Spark Charleston Ignites Local Knowledge Economy with Free, Downtown Communal Workspace

Spark Charleston, a small group of diverse local professionals dedicated to the development of high-potential start-ups in the Charleston region, announces plans to open a collaborative workspace in the heart of downtown Charleston. The space will be unveiled during an open house for media and other interested people on Monday May 3, 2010 from 4-7 p.m. and will begin official operations on June 1, 2010. This first Spark Charleston facility is located at 480 East Bay Street, Suite E and will provide desk space, basic office amenities, and strategic support at no cost for 12-16 ambitious people representing high-potential companies from all industries.

Spark Charleston believes that bringing smart and motivated people together and providing them with access to basic business tools will create the extra "spark" needed to ignite success. "Many entrepreneurs are isolated in garages and coffee shops throughout Charleston. By uniting them under one roof, we hope they can inspire and learn from each other, create a local community of entrepreneurs and ultimately build successful companies," states Chris Clark, the project's coordinator.

While there is no one type of start-up or industry Spark Charleston wants to focus on, the group expects all the companies to possess the potential to create jobs, a clear path to revenue, and a demonstrated work ethic. "We want to provide free space for free thinkers who will contribute to the local knowledge economy," summarizes Spark Charleston founder John Rivers.

The group emphasizes that the Spark Charleston Facility is an altruistic venture and, while there may eventually be a way to monetize the effort, there are no immediate plans to generate a profit. "It sounds too good to be true," adds Rivers.

Selected businesses will be given six month tenancies and must define a measurable goal to accomplish during their stay and provide a midway progress report. At the end of six months, Spark Charleston will hold an event to introduce the start-ups to the public and potential investors.

About Spark Charleston: Spark Charleston is a group of entrepreneurial-minded Charleston professionals from diverse backgrounds who are working to ignite the local knowledge economy. The Spark Charleston team was brought together by local investor and Spark Charleston founder John Rivers and also includes: Larry Burtschy, Chris Clark, Mindy Diehl, Will Evans, Kristen Hawkins, and Tim Tipton. For more information, please visit: Spark Charleston